Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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I have been inspired by the teaching of the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. His final book was written in conjunction with Professor Katherine Weare "Happy Teachers Change the World." This book's focus is on how teachers can use simple forms of meditation in their own lives for personal growth along with teaching these simple techniques to their students. Throughout the book they give many examples of how different techniques have been used with students of all ages around the world by real teachers. The one constant that the teachers have found is that the students are happier, calmer, more focused, and have fewer behavior problems. I would love to be able to give these gifts to my students.
Breathwork is an important jumping off place! Children do not automatically know how to breathe deeply. They do not know how to use their diaphragms. Using visual tools will help them to see and feel how to correctly take deep breaths. While lying on their backs, they place a bean bag on their stomachs and watch the breath rise and lower it. A long-controlled breath will make the pinwheel spin for an extended time. Controlled breaths will produce bigger bubbles. When people take long deep breaths, we stimulate our vagus nerve that sends a message to the brain to calm down. There is physical reaction to breathing deeply.
The books and lava lamp are important for helping the children focus. While they are learning to breathe and ignore other simulations, they can focus on the stories about breathwork. The lava lamp will provide a calming visual for them to watch and focus on during the breathing practices. It can be challenging for kindergartens to sit and just focus on their breathing. A story and a lava lamp will help with this process.
About my class
I have been inspired by the teaching of the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. His final book was written in conjunction with Professor Katherine Weare "Happy Teachers Change the World." This book's focus is on how teachers can use simple forms of meditation in their own lives for personal growth along with teaching these simple techniques to their students. Throughout the book they give many examples of how different techniques have been used with students of all ages around the world by real teachers. The one constant that the teachers have found is that the students are happier, calmer, more focused, and have fewer behavior problems. I would love to be able to give these gifts to my students.
Breathwork is an important jumping off place! Children do not automatically know how to breathe deeply. They do not know how to use their diaphragms. Using visual tools will help them to see and feel how to correctly take deep breaths. While lying on their backs, they place a bean bag on their stomachs and watch the breath rise and lower it. A long-controlled breath will make the pinwheel spin for an extended time. Controlled breaths will produce bigger bubbles. When people take long deep breaths, we stimulate our vagus nerve that sends a message to the brain to calm down. There is physical reaction to breathing deeply.
The books and lava lamp are important for helping the children focus. While they are learning to breathe and ignore other simulations, they can focus on the stories about breathwork. The lava lamp will provide a calming visual for them to watch and focus on during the breathing practices. It can be challenging for kindergartens to sit and just focus on their breathing. A story and a lava lamp will help with this process.