St. Louis Park Elementary School Counseling Program
  • Home
  • Meet Our Counselors
    • Contact Us
  • Digital Calm Corner
  • Classroom Lessons
    • What Is An Upstander?
    • College and Career Exploration
    • Growth Mindset
    • Kindness
    • Conflict Resolution
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Distance Learning
    • Mindfulness
    • Trauma
    • Tools for at Home
    • Middle School Transition
    • Testing Tips
  • Conference Resources
  • More About Sparks
  • Minute Meetings
  • I LOVE MY SCHOOL COUNSELOR... Tell Us WHY!

Mindfulness

Picture
Mindfulness is defined as paying attention on purpose, to the present moment, without judgment. 

In short, when our brain is calm and focused, it works better.

What is Mindfulness?

Short introduction to this practice:

Mindfulness Tools:

Mindful Minutes during distance learning
Spring 2020

 Meet your 19-20 SLP School Counselors:

Mindful Minute #1: Below, Mrs. Rachel Nelson talking briefly about what mindfulness is and an introduction to deep breathing.
 Mindful Minute #2: Below, Mrs. Stoks is walking you through a very brief guided imagery.
Mindful Minute #3: Below, Mrs. Moore is walking you through a very brief guided imagery.
Mindful Minute #4: Below, Mrs. Nelson is walking you through a very brief guided imagery.
Mindful Minute #5: Below, Mrs. Stoks is walking you through a very brief guided imagery.
Mindful Minute #6: Below, Mrs. Moore is walking you through a very brief guided imagery.

Websites for At Home:
Calm
Headspace
​GoZen!
Mind Yeti
Insight Timer
Smiling Mind
GoNoodle (SEL & Mindfulness section)
​Child Mind Institute
​

Apps for At Home:
Breathe
​Calm


Books:
I am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness ​by Susan Verde (click here for the read aloud)
Breathe like a Bear (short guided imageries) ​by Kira Willey
I Can Handle It (Mindful Mantras) by Laurie Wright
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids by Eline Snel

A Handful of Quiet by Thich Nhat Hanh
Program Websites:
Mind Up
Calm Classroom 
Mindful Schools
​Mindful Life Project
​

In the Classroom: 
Collaborative for Academic, Social & Emotional Learning​
The Free Mindfulness Project

​Mindful Teachers
Move with Me

Parenting Books:

mindfulness_resources_for_parents.pdf
File Size: 37 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Extension Activities:

mindfulness_exercises_2.pdf
File Size: 342 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

mindfulness_exercises_1.pdf
File Size: 67 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Printables:
Marzano Research​
23calmingstrategiestouseathome.pdf
File Size: 92655 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Mindful Coloring: 
Find some on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) 
Pathway to Success store:
mindfulnesscoloringfreebie.pdf
File Size: 5516 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Recap of Aquila's SEL program for the 2019-20 school year & an extended Mindful Minute with Mrs. Nelson

A Sample of Relaxation Tools:

YouTube channel: Fablefy


4 Different Breathing Exercises
The first step to calming our brains when feeling big feelings is to practice breathing. Watch the video to learn a few ways to slow their inner speed!

​


Mindful Minute by GoZen!
This is a one minute exercise that uses a gong to focus on while take deep breaths - good tool if you have little time. You could also use a chime or bell you already have in your room!



Belly Breathing
Again, the first step to calming our brains when feeling any big feelings is to take a DEEP belly breath. This is a strategy that we practice every single guidance lesson because it is so easy, but also happens to be the most important!

Neuroplasticity & Mindfulness

The word neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, comes from the fact that our brains are able to bend and flex like plastic. With enough time and effort, we can create new neural pathways. This idea is very much related to Growth Mindset, but is also an essential piece to consider when implementing a mindfulness practice with yourself and/or your students. 

Mindfulness is a skill just like any other one, so there needs to be the time to build up to a higher level of focus. 
Over time, our brains become trained to be aware of certain stimuli. If we are not careful, we can become too hyper-sensitive to noises and motions around us. With the practice of mindfulness, we can re-learn to hear the stimuli in that moment, but then learn to let it go with no judgement in order to be ready to learn.

​

​Body Scan by GoZen!
Body Scans are a wonderful way to ground our body by acknowledging each body part and the little things around us.
Picture

  • Home
  • Meet Our Counselors
    • Contact Us
  • Digital Calm Corner
  • Classroom Lessons
    • What Is An Upstander?
    • College and Career Exploration
    • Growth Mindset
    • Kindness
    • Conflict Resolution
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Distance Learning
    • Mindfulness
    • Trauma
    • Tools for at Home
    • Middle School Transition
    • Testing Tips
  • Conference Resources
  • More About Sparks
  • Minute Meetings
  • I LOVE MY SCHOOL COUNSELOR... Tell Us WHY!