Class 8: Mindfulness

Note for teachers: Before commencing the class on Mindfulness, kindly read this chapter carefully. It would help you to conduct the Mindfulness class the entire year. What is Mindfulness?

To understand this, you need to get the meaning of two words.
Are you mindful or is your mind full?
  • The meaning of being mindful is being completely aware of the present.
  • The meaning of having your mind full is that you are distracted by multiple thoughts and are not aware of the present situation.
Hence, to live in the present and be aware of what’s happening now is mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the basis of happiness.

Understand a few important points of this class:
The Mindfulness class will be held on the first working day of the week, either on Monday or on the successive working day, in case Monday is a holiday. The 35 minutes of this class will have three main phases:
1. a. Mindfulness check-in like every day (3-5 minutes)
1. b. After this exercise, hold a discussion about the students’ experience for 10 minutes. Each week engage different students in talking about their experiences and how mindfulness has impacted their work or behaviour.
Teachers are requested to not suggest any expected/desirable answers, in fact let the students find the answers from their own experiences and share authentically. 2. a. As part of the mindfulness exercise, get the students to do various activities given to make them aware of the various processes within their bodies or thoughts for about 5 minutes. These exercises will vary each week.
2. b. A discussion on the exercises for about 15 minutes should follow. The teacher is required to encourage different students to speak about their experience, and ensure that each student gets a chance to put his/her point forward.
3. At the end of the class, the usual exercise on mindfulness should be conducted for 1-2 minutes.
Mindfulness is a scientific process. This practice is being followed all over the world with teachers and students. It is an easy exercise that can be done by anyone anywhere and at any time.

The benefits of mindfulness exercise:

  • It is helpful in keeping the focus on studies in the classroom.
  • It helps the students to listen to the teacher carefully.
  • While studying at school or at home, it helps in maintaining focus.
  • It improves retention power and memory.
  • It helps in focusing on any activity we are doing right now.
  • It helps in being aware of our surroundings at all times.
  • While talking, eating or doing any other work, it helps in being aware of our actions, so as to not do anything inappropriate.
Things to remember:
  • The students should not be asked to chant any mantras or words while doing this exercise.
  • There should be no expression of stress in the classroom, for example, no student should be scolded or instructed in an unpleasant tone or pressurised over anything.
  • Ensure all the students participate during the discussion.
Some special aspects to be taken care of by the teacher:
  • Be an active participant in the process. For example, while getting the students to practise mindfulness, do it yourself too.
  • Be aware of your mental state when you enter class and try to keep your thoughts and feelings stable. Remember, children notice the teacher’s behaviour.
  • Before you get the students to reflect, ensure the class is peaceful and each student is comfortable. Ensure that the children share their experience afterwards. Children would need a pleasant and safe environment to share their experience.
  • The whole idea of this exercise is not to get away or suppress our thoughts and feelings. The idea of this exercise is to make the children aware of their environment, emotions, thoughts and feelings so that they can give a better response in their usual behaviour.
  • This section has 24 sessions. According to the requirement, the teacher may want to repeat a session.
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