We had a great Terry Fox Run today and as a class we raised over $35 dollars! What an accomplishment. Thank you to everyone who donated, took part, and even came to cheer us on. It was such a great feeling to see all those kids out there today running for a common cause and doing their best.
Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about mindfulness and practicing some simple mindfulness techniques. If you are not aware of what mindfulness is, it is allowing ourselves to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings at the present moment. We practice techniques such as breathing, visualization, and class discussions. We often do this after we have had a really exciting time, such as gym, lunch or a big group activity. We have all found that this helps us refocus and get into a better mental state to learn. We will continue to do this through the year and share with you how this improves our learning and focus.
If you are interested in reading more about the research behind mindfulness in schools, this article is really good. http://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/research/
There are also several great you tube channels such as Zen Den and apps such as Smiling Mind. Here is a link to some other good websites and apps for kids.
Have a great weekend everyone! See you in October ;)
