Getting started

Getting started books in Mindfulness in Education

Hello there! I started this blog as a way to share some of the great resources I have come across in my studies.  I often get asked: "What would be a good book to get started with?"

So here you are - any of the following recommendations will provide a good grounding for you, your classroom and your school.

Some tips : Be mindful in reading about mindfulness  ……..

1. A good technique to make your reading a deeper experience is to read and reflect as you go.  Keep a reflective journal that might explore questions like:
What does this mean for me?
What does this make me think about?
How might I use this in my life, classroom or school?
Do I dis/agree with this?

2. When the author suggests you do an exercise – do it! Give yourself the space and time to do it – remember if you want to really understand something you need to experience it, be it.

3. Another powerful way to learn is to form  your own book club and read, explore, and learn together.

4. Finally just be curious and have fun!

BOOKS 
The Way of Mindful Education – Cultivating Wellbeing in Teacher and Students (2014)

Daniel Rechtschaffen

Rechtschaffen  is an experienced and well respected authority in this space and this great book  provides a practical guide to cultivating mindfulness in our classrooms and schools.  It starts with exploring why Mindfulness matters in education, with some good references and examples to research.   In Part 2, the focus shifts to  developing your own mindful practice so that as teachers and educators we can ensure that we are mindfully teaching mindfulness.  Part 3 examines how you can integrate the techniques  into your teaching environment, and in the final part,  Rechtschaffen shares 18 ready to teach mindfulness lesson ideas  for use in schools (K-12).  His resource section is particularly good as he also includes sample material from the likes of Mindful Schools, The Mindfulness In Education Project, Mindfulness Without Borders (to name a few) and comprehensive resource list of helpful websites .  His website also gives an insight into his work.

Mindfulness for Teachers – Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom (2015)

 Patricia Jennings

Jennings is an internationally recognised leader and researcher in the field of Mindfulness in Education and her book is timely and beautiful.  Jennings started life as a preschool teacher and her passion and commitment to transforming schools is evident in this highly accessible book.  The aim of the book is to provide teachers with skills to be fully aware and present.   This book really taps into the ‘emotional art of teaching’ and underscores the energy and potential a teacher brings to a classroom and hence why their own wellness and mindfulness is vital.  If you are after a book that provides simple, practical and real skills to having a calm, creative, collaborative classroom, Jennings' work will speak to you.  I love this book and her ongoing research in this area.  Again there are some great techniques you can use and an abundance of resources and reviews of mindful training programs to explore as you develop your interest in this field.

Mindful Teaching& Teaching Mindfulness – A Guide For Anyone Who Teachers Anything

Deborah Schoeberlein David

This is a book that encourages you to teach as you learn. It provides a gentle and supportive process to get you started and provides excellent tools to introduce mindfulness into how you teach.  The book develops in a manner that builds and scaffolds awareness and skills as it  requests the reader to experiment and adapt  the methods to suit.  This book would be a great one to work through with a peer learning group as it provides a graceful pathway to bringing mindfulness to your unique environments and circumstances.

The Mindful Child – How to Help Your Kids Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder and More Compassionate - Susan Kaiser Greenland(2010)

This little book is a treasure chest of creative ideas and techniques to help students/ children manage their stress so that they can lead happier lives.   Susan has woven together, from her vast experience and wisdom in this field, a plethora of age appropriate fun exercises, songs, games and fables that help build kids resilience, performance and empathy.  This book would be a great guide for you on your journey and to quote from the book – ‘there are some things that you might need to pack’

• Find a friend/colleague to join you
• Find a guide who knows the territory
• Don’t forget your maps – or classic teachings of mindfulness and most importantly keep your eye on the compass, which can be found by looking inward to discover the new world that’s always been here. (pg 208)

The Invisible Classroom – Relationships, Neuroscience and Mindfulness in Schools – Kirke Olson (2014)

This powerful book shines a bright beam of light on the web of neurological and human connections that create the context for teaching, learning and living (pg xiii) Olson with his years of experience as a clinical psychologist and over 40 years of working with teachers to improve student learning outcomes through neuroscience and mindfulness, has produced a book that articulates the depth of stuff that goes on in every classroom every day.  He provides teachers with tools to create safe classrooms through understanding and working with attachment theory. He provides techniques on how we can teach kids about their own brains so that they can better manage their stress, regulate emotions and improve their attention.  This book is loaded and every page will prompt you to pause and reflect.

Mindful Learning – Reduce Stress and Improve Brain Performance for  Effective Learning  - Dr Craig Hassad & Dr Richard Chambers (2014)

Hassad and Chambers are two inspirational leaders in this field and the bonus is they are based in Australia – They both have a great commitment to sharing their knowledge and they offer a wealth of free resources.

Their book provides a wonderful exploration into developing the foundations of mindfulness to improve the way we learn.  It underscores that by recognising how and what we pay attention to, (and are open to), impacts on our experience and engagement with any type of learning.  The book explores how developing our ability to be mindful teaches our brain to be calm, curious and compassionate and more receptive to learning, questioning and engaging with our world.  This book provides inspiration to understanding how we already hold the wisdom and how we can seek to ignite that in our students, so that they also become effective lifelong learners.

Some helpful websites for information and courses about mindfulness in schools
Kidsmatter
Mindful schools
MindUP
Mindfulness in Schools
Smiling mind