Food for Thought: Mindfulness in the Classroom

Mindfulness was more than a meditation and a soothing chime. We considered pausing before hopping into the car to take in the noise of the neighborhood and the smell of the trees around us. We did the same while coffee was brewing in the morning—the sounds, the smells, the calm. We also explored using art, toys, or whatever the heart and mind could get lost in for a moment to recenter.

We reflected on the powerful benefits of this kind of mindfulness for ourselves and our students.

For those new to these practices or looking for better ways to integrate mindfulness into the instructional space (or life), we gathered for the next installment of Food for Thought: Mindfulness in the Classroom for dinner, learning, and hands-on mindfulness practice, led by James Butler (University of Texas, Austin ISD).