Sessions

Mindfulness: Making the Most of Class Time

While what we do as teachers is undeniably important, how we do it might be equally important. Keeping focus when a student is disruptive, knowing when to end an activity, and motivating students all take skill. While experience and knowledge of pedagogy can make situations easier to manage, teachers can also benefit by staying in the moment with a heightened sense of awareness. A mindfulness practice can help a teacher achieve a greater level of awareness and improved decision making on class day. At the same time, there are things we can do to encourage our students to be mindful. Research indicates, for example, that subtle changes in the way teachers give instructions could make students more mindful. Moreover, some schools are introducing mindfulness meditation training for students. Japanese professors based in Hikone have instituted a U.K.-based mindfulness program here in Japan. The “mbsr study group” conducts research and offers mindfulness workshops for teachers in Tokyo and Kansai with an aim to introduce mindfulness in Japan's public schools. This presentation identifies several approaches to cultivate mindfulness in education and provides brief descriptions of their efficacy. Journal entries written by teachers involved in mindfulness meditation will be shared.