ABSTRACT
The concept of mindfulness is not new. Meditation, for instance, is ancient, but recent research has improved the people grasp of its uses. The father of research on mindfulness, psychiatrist Jon Kabat-Zinn, says it is "the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience". In one elementary school in Baltimore, Maryland, for example, students practice mindfulness regularly to help them regulate their emotions and achieve a sense of calm. Mindful Listening and Describing Setting After reading, students should share their pictures with a partner and discuss what stood out to them in the setting description to support their illustration. Students should make an effort to use specific colors for their pictures, as colors are symbolic of emotions within literature. Learning and practicing mindful, active listening is an essential skill for maintaining relationships.
