All kids benefit from practicing mindfulness. Who wouldn't love the kids and young adults we work with to become more focused, calm, in control, and self-aware? Mindfulness is a technique that can help teach and strengthen those abilities over time. By practicing mindfulness, people can learn to bec

Ever felt like your students could benefit from slowing down and taking a moment calm? Well, you're in for a treat. Mindfulness isn't just a buzzword; it's a game-changer. It's about hitting the pause button, taking a deep breath, and diving into the magic of the present moment. And here's the kicker – it's not just for adults; it's for kids too! So, picture this: A classroom where calm reigns supreme, thoughts find their chill, and focus becomes a superpower. That's the power of mindfulness. And guess what? We're not stopping there. We're bringing you the tools to create a Calming Corner that'll turn your classroom into a sanctuary of serenity. Let's dive in! (GREAT NEWS! I've put together exclusive FREEBIES for mindfulness. Click here to receive them!) Mindfulness meditation is a way of focusing the mind so that it is fully attending to what’s happening right now, to what we’re doing, and to the space that we’re currently in. Cultivating mindfulness means to be present, to pay attention, and to be aware of our emotions and the way that we respond to them. Recent neuroscience research points to many benefits of mindfulness meditation: ➧ increased focus ➧ a sense of calm ➧ decreased stress ➧ decreased anxiety ➧ improved impulse control ➧ greater empathy for others ➧ improved conflict resolution skills Our students need opportunities to practice mindfulness mediation. Since the human mind often wanders from the present. Our brains have a tendency to become absorbed with thoughts about the past or the future. This kind of thinking makes us anxious. Academic pressure now affects kids as early as kindergarten, resulting in less time for play and other stress-reducing activities. Today’s students are faced with an unprecedented amount of anxiety. The pressure only grows greater in middle and high school. Surveys have found students reporting stress and fatigue as much as 75% of the time. What’s needed is a way to decrease anxiety and help students to manage their emotions. That’s where mindfulness comes in. Infusing moments of mindfulness in the classroom is not only powerful, it’s also quite simple. In general, to practice mindfulness, have students start by bringing attention to their own body. Then, have them breathe in through their noses and out through their mouths. When they notice that their mind has wondered away from the present moment, they should gently bring their attention back to their breathing. It’s also a great idea to intentionally plan moments of mindfulness in the classroom! Here are some simple ways to do just that… 1. A Mindful Moment At the beginning of class, or after a transition, have your students close their eyes and take several deep breaths. Ask them to pay attention to their breathing and what it feels like. 2. A Mindful Break Once or twice during a standard length class, just stop. Have your students stand up and stretch and then sit back down and do 30 seconds of mindful breathing. This takes no more than a minute, and it gives everyone a needed break. 3. A Mindful Quote Use motivational and inspirational quotes to help focus students’ minds during a moment of mindfulness. It’s as easy as sharing a quote, or you can download this free set of mindfulness quotes and put together a container to pull from all year long. If you'd like me to send you a free set of 24 mindfulness quotes and the materials to make a container like above, add your name and email address below: Yes! Please send me MINDFULNESS RESOURCES! 4. Attention Check During a long lesson, stop and ask your students to pause and “check their attention.” Is their mind on what is being done in class, or has it been wandering? This gives kids the chance to deliberately redirect their attention to the matter at hand. 5. Finger Labyrinths Traditionally, labyrinths are used for mediation and relaxation. Often, people walk through labyrinths. Give students the same sensation with finger labyrinths. I’ve made a collection of them that students can use when they need to focus their minds. Students simply trace the spiral paths as they practice mindfulness. Add your name and email address below to receive the finger labyrinths and mindfulness quotes in your email inbox! Yes! Please send me MINDFULNESS RESOURCES! 6. Mindful Closure At the end of class, have students close their eyes and focus on their breathing again. Ask them to think of what they have learned and perhaps congratulate themselves on their progress and accomplishments. As teachers. we have many opportunities to introduce students to mindfulness practices. Of course, one of the most important ways we can do this is by cultivating mindfulness in ourselves. If we, as teachers, are present and aware of our own emotions and responses, we set an invaluable example for our students. Many of these mindfulness activities work well in a Calming Corner in the Classroom. Add the quotes or labyrinths to the calming corner to help students when they need to take a step back and become more present in the moment. Find more ideas for creating a calming classroom environment here. Thanks so much for stopping by! Mary Beth

You’ve probably tried all the commonly recommended ways to quiet a chatty class, only to be left frustrated by the lack of results. If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried everyt…

Playful breathing activities for kids, a fun list of 18 mindful breathing exercises to try with your kids, great for parents and teachers.

English Language Learners (ELLs) often struggle in the mainstream classroom. Learn tips from an ESL teacher to help reach those students' needs better.

These free focus mats have been created to help you get your students ready for standardized testing or other stressful days in your classroom.

Fun and simple mIndfulness activities for kids: Learning How to Regulate Emotions, Calm Down and Improve Focus.

7 awesome strategies for digitizing your worksheets using Google Apps. Perfect for saving paper and managing student work in Google Classroom

Are you looking for a calm classroom theme? I have five beautiful and unique classroom decor bundles that will help create a peaceful, engaging, and beautiful home away from home in your classroom! These five bundles will be a perfect way to create a calm classroom vibe!

Have you been searching for the perfect classroom color palette? These 5 modern classroom color palettes are just what you need.

Classroom discussions are a powerful instructional strategy that all teachers should use. Combine it with Google tools and the learning will soar.

Have you ever had a class with so many difficult, disruptive students that you felt that you could barely even teach? What can you do to get past it? In this post, I am going to address this problem with my best advice, and some advice from others as well.

Classroom procedures review can be dull and boring. This post is loaded with fun and engaging games that will make students want to practice the all important classroom procedures. The more they practice them, the more smoothly your classroom will run.

Practicing mindfulness is a great way to calm your child and make them attentive. Here're 10 simple and quick mindfulness exercises your child will enjoy.

I want to discuss seating charts, but first let's start with some definitions. Heterogeneous is to be diverse in character or content while homogeneous is to be the same kind or alike. It is very

Use these covers to make your student’s their own personalized assessment folder and/or assessment binder. Use each student’s assessment folder/binder to store their data and assessment paperwork for RSA, RTI, progress monitoring, report cards, etc. These covers are editable in PowerPoint so you can insert each child’s name, their student number, the teacher’s name, the grade level, the school year, or any other information you choose. (You cannot edit the Assessment Folder/Binder text.) Please note that assessments are not included in this download. These are just covers to make individualized assessment folders/binders. Click HERE to view assessments that would be great to use in your folders/binders. Included in the Download: Assessment Folder and Assessment Binder Covers which include: 31 Different Boy Cover Options 38 Different Girl Cover Options 10 Mixed Boy/Girl Cover Options 2 Pencil People Cover Options Basket/Bin Signs – in 2 different sizes. Assessment Binder Spines for each kid character (made for a 1-inch binder) Check out my matching Kid Labels, Name Tags, and Classroom Labels! Also check out these matching folders and binders: TAKE HOME FOLDERS TAKE HOME BINDERS HOMEWORK FOLDERS COMMUNICATION FOLDERS Have questions? Contact me at [email protected] Check out my: BLOG · FACEBOOK · PINTEREST · INSTAGRAM · ETSY

There are endless ways to use Hexagonal Thinking in your classroom! Here are some examples, and even a time-saving suggestion for using AI!

Students work at different paces. There’s no problem with that! But what do you do with a kid that is an early finisher?

How to have hygge in the classroom. Warm and cozy classrooms.

Ideas for making your classroom cozy and comfortable.

November is the perfect month to focus on teaching the social-emotional learning element of gratitude! I have seven activities on gratitude that you can use with your students or even your own children to promote thankfulness this month and all year long! These gratitude activities for kids help us be mindful of what we have! […]

We should encourage and celebrates each child's successes. There are so many ways to celebrate students. Here are 60 free and cheap rewards.

An Upper Elementary Collaborative blog written by 13 teachers. Includes teaching ideas and resources for grades 3, 4, and 5.

Don’t get me wrong — I love candy. And, a jolly rancher, a tootsie roll, or a starburst can work wonders in the classroom for student motivation and enthusiasm. So can pizza parties, and cupcake days, and brunch, and…I’ve had so many types of food parties I can’t even keep track! Recently, however, I’ve been […]

Streaming and downloads for the guided meditations of Eline Snel's Sitting Still Like a Frog, read by Myla Kabat-Zinn

Calming corners for teens are an incredible way to offer a safe space in your classroom for students to reflect and regroup

Imagine setting up task boxes in the special education resource room that allow hands-on practice AND progress monitoring!

Five lamination hacks for teachers that will blow your mind and save you time. Read to learn more or watch the video! Only at Mrs. D's Corner.

My name is Kaleigh Richards, I am an Upper Elementary Teacher at a Montessori charter school in Reno, Nevada. I have been teaching at this level/in this school for 5 years. I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. I have 34 students. Our school is tuition-free for all students in elementary and middle school. We are a Montesso

Looking for Wordle classroom ideas? Incorporate Wordle into your classroom with this activities, ideas, and templates.

Whether you're a homeschool mom looking for a great book for your 5th grader or a classroom teacher trying to build a great library, finding texts that are engaging and a great fit for your readers can be tough. I've compiled this list of the best books for 5th graders to help save you time and give you a

Tips for Classroom management! Behavior is the most important aspect of a strong classroom. Learn how to get control of your new class- even the tough ones!

A bundle of free zones of regulation printables that you can download and use as a supplement to the Zones of Regulation curriculum.