Teach, Breathe, Learn

by Srinivasan, Meena

• ISBN13: 9781937006747
• ISBN10: 1937006743
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2014-08-10
• Publisher: Parallax Press

Summary

In Teach, Breathe, Learn, Meena Srinivasan highlights how mindfulness can be an effective tool in the classroom. What makes this book truly unique is her perspective as a classroom teacher, wrestling daily with the conditions about which she writes.

"Teach, Breathe, Learn provides accessible, practical application of mindfulness to overcome challenges faced during the school day." Testimonials from students and colleagues are woven throughout the book. Teach, Breathe, Learn is designed for educators at all levels, parents interested in sharing mindfulness with their children, and anyone curious about how to cultivate their own mindfulness practice and eventually teach mindfulness to others.

Part 1 helps teachers develop compassion and shift from "reacting" to "responding" to demands.

Part 2 offers techniques for cultivating loving-kindness, gratitude and seeing students, colleagues, and parents as oneself.

The last section of the book introduces a curriculum teachers can use to incorporate mindfulness into their classroom, replete with lesson plans, handouts, and homework assignments.

Author Biography

Meena Srinivasan is an experienced international educator and public speaker who is passionate about bringing mindfulness into education. She is one of the youngest educators to be awarded the prestigious National Board Certification. A contributor to United Nations publications and education curriculums, Srinivasan earned a Masters degree in education from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the London School of Economics and Amherst College. After five years of being based in India, she taught sixth grade in Oakland, CA, before working for the Oakland Unified School District's social emotional learning and leadership development department. She lives in Oakland, CA.

Table of Contents

Contents
Preface
Introduction: What Is Mindfulness?

Part 1 How Do I Implement Mindfulness in My Life?
Chapter 1 Mindful Breathing
Chapter 2 Mindful Walking
Chapter 3 Deep Relaxation
Chapter 4 Mindful Eating
Chapter 5 Doing Everyday Activities Mindfully
Chapter 6 Watering Helpful Seeds

Part 2 Sharing Mindfulness
Chapter 7 The Mindfulness You Already Practice
Chapter 8 Loving Kindness Practice
Chapter 9 Seeing Students, Colleagues, and Parents as Yourself
Chapter 10 Interbeing
Chapter 11 Starting an Educators’ Mindful Practice Group

Part 3 A Curriculum for Mindfulness Educators
Chapter 12 Lesson 1: Being Present through Breath Awareness
Chapter 14 Lesson 2: Being Present through Body Awareness
Chapter 15 Lesson 3: Interconnection, Kindness, and Gratitude
Chapter 16 Lesson 4: Working with Emotions
Chapter 17 Lesson 5: Making Healthy Decisions and Mindful Speech
Chapter 18 Lesson 6: Mindful Use of Technology
Chapter 19 Lesson 7: Peace

Final Reflections

Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author