with Natalia Fister, Heidi Bornstein, and Stephen Chadwick
This skill-based, experiential workshop for teachers explores what is required to creatively imbed various mindfulness practices to inspire, educate, and support existing curriculum. The workshop will look at a variety of ways for educators to bring mindfulness into the classroom:
- How to enhance existing curriculum with social, emotional and academic learning.
- When to best employ mindfulness practices.
- How to create a nurturing learning environment that supports curiosity, innovation, non-judgement and kindness.
- How to use mindfulness to help manage test anxiety and social anxiety.
Through a combination of mindfulness practices, interactive discussion, and small group conversations, participants will:
- Explore various mindfulness activities that provide students with a rationale for practicing mindfulness: “THE BUY-IN”. For example, understanding mindfulness as an evidence-based practice to promote positive health and wellness.
- Engage in creative activities that inspire and explore ideas for bringing mindful awareness into existing curricula, using readily available mindfulness cards, games and apps.
- Acquire practical examples of using mindfulness at times of transitions – beginning of the year/day/high stress tests and exams, etc.
- Participate in mindful listening activities.
- Help students to recognize boredom as an attitude, not an emotion.
- Apply the attitudes of mindfulness to the attitudes of learning.
- Feel more confident in managing initial resistance from students.
Participants will leave with a comprehensive toolkit of simple, practical strategies to support them in creating a mindful classroom.
Natalia Fister is a high school English teacher and a yoga and mindfulness teacher. She has been teaching in high schools since 1990 and Hath yoga since 2002. Natalia pioneered a CREDITED yoga and mindfulness course in high schools in Ontario, Canada. She currently teaches a grade 11 “Yoga and the Art of Happiness” course and a grade 12 “Yoga and the Philosophy of Wellness” course. She is a certified facilitator for SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques for Educators). She had facilitated numerous professional development workshops for educators on mindfulness in the classroom. She embeds mindfulness practices not only in her yoga course but all her English courses.
Heidi Bornstein is the co-founder and executive director for Mindfulness Everyday, a Canadian registered charity that has been delivering mindfulness programs in the community since 2010, to students, parents, and educators. Heidi is an MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) teacher, a Hatha yoga and meditation teacher. She is the co-creator of The Mindful Edge™ – Stress Reduction and Life Strategies for Teens. Heidi is a certified facilitator for SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques for Educators). Heidi has been teaching yoga and meditation in Toronto since 2002 and continues to support yoga, meditation, and mindfulness programs for children, youth, teens, and adults.
Stephen Chadwick is the co-founder and educational director of Mindfulness Everyday. He is an MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) teacher, and has received his certification as a Yoga Ed Instructor for High Schools, Working with Those At-Risk, Level II Curriculum Training of Mindful Schools. Stephen is the co-creator of The Mindful Edge™ – Stress Reduction and Life Strategies for Teens and is a certified facilitator for SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques for Educators). He has three decades of experience as a public school teacher with the TDSB, specializing in working with Children with Special Needs and ESL, and bringing contemplative practice to students.