4 Seasons of Mindfulness
I would like to do a group that targets anxiety through the lens of mindfulness and being present in the moment (rather than worry about past or future situations). I will combine this approach with our beautiful school grounds so that students can experience mindfulness and relaxation in nature. I am also a certified yoga instructor for Yoga in Schools so I will incorporate some basic postures in these calming/mindfulness sessions. Project: Using our school camera, students will have the opportunity each term to take mindful/peaceful pictures of nature. A culminating celebration each term will be to put them on display in the school. This display board will then become an interactive display. The Hillcrest community (staff, students and parents) will have the opportunity to share and pin their “Mindful Moments” on this board. In keeping with the gradual release of responsibility, students will be encouraged to photograph a mindful moment in nature during the final season, summer.
Counselling Session components: Total of 12 thirty minute sessions (4 per term)
• 5 group members
We are creating a mindfulness relaxation room in the school so that whole classes can visit it and all students will benefit from this initiative.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
School Wide: Students had mini lessons on mindfulness. Some classes read stories about it, explored the 5 senses, and completed their Fall “mindful moment” on a leaf. All students were encouraged to take a leaf and share their mindful moments so they can be added to the bulletin board. Highlights include the following: "I like to look someone directly in the eye when having a conversation. That way I know I am connected" (middle school student) and "Hearing a bird sing a merry tune" (second grade student).
A small group that focuses on mindfulness strategies had the opportunity to explore mindful moments outdoors on Hillcrest school's beautiful grounds. They chose to take a picture of the fall image they wished to capture and be mindful of in that moment. Pictures are on display below the bulletin board.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Green Zone Room
As part of our exploration of the Zones of Regulation by Leah Kuypers, Hillcrest school has created a “Green Zone Room” where students can enter as a whole class, small group, or as individuals in order to have a quiet and calming space where they can choose a strategy that works for them in that moment. We have many sensory options, including sand and various fidgets. There are also a variety of breathing and thinking strategies available to students, which they have all practiced in class prior to using the Green Zone Room independently.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Yoga
In the Green Zone Room, students can practice yoga by following videos online, being guided by a trained teacher, or choosing from the basic postures on display in the room. Pictured here are only a few mats but Hillcrest School boasts a class set of them!
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
The Zones of Regulation by Leah Kuypers
Featured in this photograph are a teacher-created poster of the Zones of Regulation (templates included in this resource), complete with pictures and words identifying the feelings in each zone. Below are mirrors so that students can see how their faces change from one zone to the next. There are four zones (Blue, Green, Yellow and Red) and specific feelings and energy levels are associated with each of them. The Zones of Regulation has been studied as a school-wide approach at Hillcrest School and the program was the inspiration for this Green Zone Room.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Sensory bins and stories
Sensory bins which contain a variety of items with different colours and textures have been placed in the room. At Hillcrest, we hope to add to these bins as the year progresses. We have also purchased several picture books that illustrate concepts of mindfulness and understanding our feelings. A binder of relaxation scripts has been created so that teachers can use visualization techniques for calming and focusing students which also helps students to become more self-aware and gives them another strategy for self-regulation.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Breathing, Thinking and Self-Awareness Strategies
On display in the Green Zone Room are breathing strategies, thinking strategies that include problem solving techniques, and an interactive feedback form for other strategies that staff and students find helpful but that are currently not included in the Green Zone Room activities or are more appropriate strategies for other environments. This self-awareness poster serves as a brainstorming sheet of other possibilities for self-regulating and it is on display so that those who are still looking for options can benefit from the ideas of others.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Writing and Colouring Activities
Students may wish to relax by colouring our nature-themed mandalas and colouring pages. They may also chose to write, draw pictures, or create Zentangles.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Relax!
Seen in this photo are posters that review the Zones of Regulation, strategies for relaxing, including an acronym of strategies (RELAX), yoga information and images of basic postures.
Mise à jour
(30 novembre 2015)
Sand
Hillcrest students have shown us that they love to relax by molding sand!