Welcome to the Cambridge English Mindfulness

Challenge #2!
 Welcome to the Cambridge English Mindfulness Challenge #2!

Tune in to this great song we chose for the second challenge! Do you remember that in
our previous challenge we practised how to use breathing as our anchor? Try listening to
this song while you practice conscious breathing… just focus on the movement of your
body while you breathe…
You will notice that the music and lyrics come alive!

Do you do sports, play a musical instrument or
have a hobby you are totally passionate about?
Close your eyes and remember how you feel when you
are immersed in that activity you feel passionate about.
In general, we are completely INTO the activity, focused,
enjoying what we are doing… THAT is a Mindful state.
Consider what can happen in the classroom if we invite
the practice of Mindfulness into it … things are looking
up!
Once we cultivate a positive `inner´ classroom, we can
move on to offering these skills to our students.
Founded on your own personal practice, the
transformation in your teaching has already begun. In
this challenge we will discover together how to build a
classroom environment conducive to Mindful teaching.

:
For Teachers
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E n h a nc e s
Once you start practicing Mindfulness, positive qualities will start to arise. Of course
we feel positive qualities throughout the day, but in many cases these qualities are
hampered by our stress or lack of external support. Hopefully you will begin
experiencing these healthy states arising more and more during your days. Check out
this list of positive teaching qualities that could arise as a result of your Mindfulness
practice being applied in your classroom:

s ion
C o mp a s
n d e r s ta ndin g
U
h y b o u ndaries
H e alt
Attention
Intention
ity
Au th entic

All these qualities can be amplified by sustained Mindful Teaching practices.

Check this link for more on positive emotions in the classroom:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i2B44sLVCM&t=26s

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 Life skills: caring, connecting, accepting Challenge 2
Target ages: all ages

Before the school day begins, remember to do your own Mindfulness practice: listen to some music while you
anchor on your breathing, have a mindful walk focusing and concentrating on the present moment, etc. Maybe you
can invite some other teachers to share these activities and create a Mindful Teachers Club!

Creating a Mindful moment at the beginning of the day in your classroom is extremely important. This Mindful
moment can take many forms: it can be a moment to sit together with your students in silence, or you can use a
song to help them focus on their breathing. Another possibility is the following activity that we have selected for
our challenge: the talking piece.

Before the challenge

Create a special 'atmosphere' in the classroom for this Mindful moment. You can light a small candle, use some
incense or nice fragrances, and maybe even bring some cushions to sit on. Students need to understand that this is
a 'different' moment. Ideally, make seating arrangements so that students can sit in a circle (don't worry if you
can't!)

Tell them you will play a game that will help them get to know and understand each other better.

You will need to bring 'the piece', which can be a pebble, a stick, a squishy ball, or any other object that one holds
when you are speaking.

Remember that ALL Mindfulness activities are optional. Students should volunteer to be part of the circle. They
may even sit there and not feel ready to talk. That's OK! It is part of ACCEPTING this moment as it is.

During the challenge

Explain that you will pass round the talking piece. When the talking piece reaches you, you can put into words a
thought, an emotion, anything that you want to share with your classmates.

Ask your students to sit relaxed, and invite them to close their eyes and focus on their breathing.
After 3 or 4 breaths, tell them to open their eyes.

As a teacher, you will start and lead the activity. Take the piece, hold it and share your reflection, thought or feeling
with them. Not only will you be modelling the activity, but also you will be showing your students you can open up,
and this will build their trust and sense of security.

When a student finishes talking, they should hand the piece to the student next to them, until everyone has
spoken.

Remember that this is a Mindful moment of acceptance: no judging should be involved. There are no good or bad
thoughts or emotions. Monitor that students tune in to the acceptance mode, avoiding comments, reactions, etc.

After the challenge

When you finish, ask students how they felt, and if they would like to share something else.
Things will surely 'look up' after you begin your class with a Mindful moment!

Extra! to obs erve your students and take notes on situ

ations you noticed while you were
, and
Remember how in the first cha llen ge you had of the things you wanted to change
take ano ther Min dful mom ent to go back to your notes, select one e acti ons that will help you
mindfully present? Now ting to possibl
Goa l. Foc usin g on you r brea thin g, close your eyes and start connec and the acti ons you crea tive ly
turn it into a Mindful acti on. Kee p a jour nal whe re you write your goal
, jump into
achieve your Mindful Goal. After this bring!
… kee p a trac k of the resu lts and observations those actions
produced. And