Building Learning Communities 2014

During the 2013-2014 school year, Upper School and Middle School teaching colleagues at Zurich International School joined together in a groundbreaking program that focused on actively bringing Mindfulness techniques into the classroom. The course was led by Philippe Goldin, a research scientist in the Department of Psychology at Stanford University.
Mindfulness has powerful effects in any classroom, and serves to break down many barriers, allowing students to ""own their writing"" and take pride in celebrating their authentic voices, without fear or anxiety. They become more in-tune with their own senses, able to connect to the environment, describe their own feelings and emotions, and relate to others' experiences on a global scale.
Through incorporating Mindfulness exercises and writing strategies into class time with students, teachers can boost confidence and trust in a community of empathetic learners. Mindfulness involves being fully present, in the ""now"" moment, able to connect to the external world, while quieting the internal chatter that can stymie a learner's development and sense of freedom.
This hands-on session will focus on the many ways to incorporate Mindfulness into teaching practices, both in and out of the classroom. We will share active in-class techniques that apply Mindfulness to the practice of engaging students as empowered writers, learners, and global citizens.