Stress, anxiety, and the trauma of a pandemic are overwhelming issues that are affecting our teachers and students this year and beyond. We know that overstressed and anxious minds are rarely prepped and ready to learn. These realities aren’t new for many of our students pressured by the constant strain of other life events such as poverty, academic pressure, social media, etc. To help support our students, we want to create a safe, calming environment for students to de escalate, practice mindfulness and calm their bodies so they can return to class recharged and ready to dive into their learning!
The Zen Zone will allow students who may be experiencing strong emotions to take a mental break, practice mindfulness breathing exercises and utilize calm down strategies that work for them in a safe and welcoming environment. When entering the Zen Zone, students will practice a deep breathing exercise of their choice and then have the ability to choose a calm down activity for 10 minutes using a sand timer. Calm down activities will include a comfy reading corner, fidget toys, kinetic sand table, water beads, yoga/meditation area, building blocks, art station and brain teaser puzzles.
When practicing these calm down strategies and mindfulness exercises, students will work on slowing down, being more intentional and doing things with purpose and increasing their awareness and attention to what is happening in each moment around them. Proven benefits of these practices include focused attention, increased ability to regulate emotions and demonstrate executive functioning skills, increased self-esteem and a more positive attitude in relation to school work.
My hope is that by teaching students these strategies now, they will be better equipped to handle and persevere through real life challenges in their future.
About my class
Stress, anxiety, and the trauma of a pandemic are overwhelming issues that are affecting our teachers and students this year and beyond. We know that overstressed and anxious minds are rarely prepped and ready to learn. These realities aren’t new for many of our students pressured by the constant strain of other life events such as poverty, academic pressure, social media, etc. To help support our students, we want to create a safe, calming environment for students to de escalate, practice mindfulness and calm their bodies so they can return to class recharged and ready to dive into their learning!
The Zen Zone will allow students who may be experiencing strong emotions to take a mental break, practice mindfulness breathing exercises and utilize calm down strategies that work for them in a safe and welcoming environment. When entering the Zen Zone, students will practice a deep breathing exercise of their choice and then have the ability to choose a calm down activity for 10 minutes using a sand timer. Calm down activities will include a comfy reading corner, fidget toys, kinetic sand table, water beads, yoga/meditation area, building blocks, art station and brain teaser puzzles.
When practicing these calm down strategies and mindfulness exercises, students will work on slowing down, being more intentional and doing things with purpose and increasing their awareness and attention to what is happening in each moment around them. Proven benefits of these practices include focused attention, increased ability to regulate emotions and demonstrate executive functioning skills, increased self-esteem and a more positive attitude in relation to school work.
My hope is that by teaching students these strategies now, they will be better equipped to handle and persevere through real life challenges in their future.
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