everything curriculum | April 2019


doing during register, lining up for assembly or walking to dinner. 10 minute meditation sessions are a great way to calm down after lunchtime and get ready for the afternoon’s learning. Walking through a school at the start of an afternoon session when everyone is meditating produces a very powerful atmosphere, children are really switched on, ready to start the next lesson. The time ‘lost off’ the lesson is more than made up for when children are focussed and calm. More learning occurs in that shortened session than there would have been without the meditation. Research proves how meditation and mindful breathing enhances children’s learning.


Using tranquil music during the meditation session and an electric essential oil burner helps all senses to focus. Once the children have learned how to relax then these hooks can be used during other lessons to help the brain focus. During SATs just the scent of lavender can help reduce anxiety if previously associated with the calming feeling produced during meditation. Playing music during an extended writing session can help the children focus on their work.


Feedback from those who have tried this for half a term is very promising with children self–regulating when needed – perhaps before a test to help them relax and focus or after an incident on the playground. Some children use it at home when facing a difficult time or show parents or siblings how to do it when they have been upset.


Treasure box of feelings


Having a chill space where children can go to when everything just gets on top of them is a must in any classroom. This space has different textures for the children to touch, mindful colouring, affirmation cards and listening stations with calming sounds of nature. And yes, these may be abused at first as a ‘get out of lesson card’ but the child will benefit and be ready to focus, as the work still needs to be finished when they return to their seat. Sometimes children are just not in the right place to learn and if pushed will end up being disruptive to everyone else’s learning as well as their own.


How about trying mindful eating in the dining room? Just a minute at the start of lunch to really taste the food you’re eating. Children who can focus on the present moment will absorb more of their lesson. Finally, not all children enjoy team sports so why not have a tai chi or yoga after school club as an alternative?


As schools start to look at their PSHE provision, there are many great resources out there to support them. Sites like Mentally Healthy Schools: www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk and Anna Freud: www.annafreud. org/what–we–do/schools–in–mind. YPO have courses to help support this area and you could become a champion for mental health in your school which gives you the skills to support mental health issues. My website www.educationguru.co.uk has lots of ideas and free activities to download such as ‘the treasure box of feelings’.


Perhaps this all seems a little bit hippish but why not give it a go and see how your classroom becomes a calmer more focussed learning environment.


About Hester


Throughout her teaching career, Hester has had an interest in wellbeing and mindfulness to reduce stress, anxiety and other mental health issues that are barriers to teaching and learning. She’s been involved in the design and delivery of several wellbeing programmes in schools and behavioural units. As behavioural manager, she has used techniques such as guided meditations and breathing to successfully help children cope. She is also a Mental Health England First Aid Trainer. She runs her own consultancy business, Education Guru. To find out more and for some ideas, visit educationguru.co.uk or on Twitter @education–guru


7


In an average classroom, seven will have been bullied1


12.8%


12.8% of young people aged 5–19 meet clinical criteria for a mental health disorder2


1in6


As many as one in six young people experiencing anxiety at some point, it is very common to have anxiety3


2. Sadler K, Vizard T, Ford T, Goodman A, Goodman R, Mcmanus S. Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017: Trends and characteristics [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2019 Jan 7]. 3. https://youngminds.org.uk/find–help/conditions/anxiety/


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