Mindfulness Strategies Used at SPFA
By discussing mindfulness on a regular basis, and using the same set of go-to strategies, students will become more accustomed to mindfulness. Here are SPFA's go-to mindfulness strategies:
- Ask "are you hungry?" - Attend to hunger
- Ask "are you tired?" - Attend to fatigue
- Anchor breathe - See video below
- Talk about the problem
There are many ways to implement mindfulness into the classroom. Check out these links for some unique and fresh ways to help your students cope with every day life:
For a list of games and crafts that you can do with your students, please check out our students: games and crafts page.
Self-Regulation Strategies for the Classroom
Self-regulation strategies will help your students become more attentive to the here and now. You many find these strategies particularly useful during assessments.
- Thought Bubbles - This strategy can be used whenever a student is feeling upset or anxious. For example, if a student is stuck on a question, or "goes blank" use the thought bubble strategy. Students can draw a thought bubble on their exam and write down everything they know about that topic or question. This way students can actively engage in the moment, and avoid freezing or panicking. Another time to use the thought bubble is when students are upset about something. Writing in the thought bubble will help the student identify the problem and how it is making them feel.
- Brain Gym - Have students stretch out various parts of their body to help combat anxiety or nervousness. Advise your students to use brain gym as a go-to strategy during any high-anxiety situation such as exams, quizzes, competitions, or public-speaking. Check out the video below for some examples on implementing brain gym.