ABSTRACT

The Mindful Practices classroom activities are broken up into two SEL categories, SELF and SOCIAL. Within each category there are two types of activities, Energizing/Warm Up and Focusing/Cool Down. Typically, the energizing activities include more movement and team-building, while the focusing activities include more mindfulness and breathwork, although some activities, like yoga, draw from multiple disciplines and include both movement and stillness at different points throughout the practice. (See the POP Chart diagram in Figure 2.4.) These practices are designed for whole-class implementation (Tier 1), not for a few “problem students” to implement on their own or only with a social worker. Once the POP Chart is established, the activities become part of the morning check-in routine. The teacher may cue students who need help controlling their behavior to visit the POP Chart for a few minutes before returning to class, or the teacher may proactively insert a practice into the school day to help positively shift student energy towards being Ready to Learn. For students with exceptionalities, offer extended time in the POP Chart and include activity modifications to guarantee inclusivity. Guaranteeing an emotionally and physically safe and accessible environment is crucial for program implementation to be inclusive for all. The activities are either written as “Extended Scripts,” which include extensive classroom management cues and pacing suggestions, or are written as “Activities” (often as sequences), to be read aloud by the teacher or implemented as directed.