"Just notice your breath, the sensation of your air coming in, going out," says Christa Turksma, a Dutch woman dressed all in white with silver-white hair. She's one of the co-founders of Cultivating Awareness and Resilience for Educators, or CARE for Teachers.
For the past nine years at this annual five-day summer retreat, and now within schools, CARE for Teachers teaches what's called mindfulness: calming the body and mind through breathing and movement, and using insights from psychology to better regulate your emotions.
They do a series of role-playing activities to practice listening and conducting difficult conversations with a boss, fellow teacher, parent or student. It's the first mindfulness program to be partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education — and aimed at teachers, not directly at students.
CARE Techniques to try in the classroom:
Mindfulness for students and teachers
1. Calmer Transition
2. Take 5
3. Quiet Corner or Peace Corner
4. Mindful Walking and Centering
To read Anya Kamenetz article, please click here.
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