Mindfulness for Preschool and Kindergarten: The OpenMind Program to Boost Social Emotional Learning and Classroom Engagement

Mindfulness for Preschool and Kindergarten offers an effective SEL mindfulness program to help kids self-regulate,foster social and academic engagement,and bring peace back into the classroom. The program's five foundations promote a positive classroom experience by providing wellness and mindfulness training for teachers,practices to help kids build self-regulation,executive function,and engagement,planned practices and lessons in response to individual and learning environment needs,scaffolding and modification of practices and lessons,and a process for transforming challenging behaviors into opportunities for learning,growth,autonomy,and agency.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2022
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

As a teacher, you are well aware that preschool and kindergarten are challenging phases in a child's life. This is especially true in today's world, where young children are facing numerous challenges, including adverse childhood experiences, trauma, social disconnection, systemic discrimination, and a global pandemic. Students are struggling to manage their emotions and adapt to the classroom environment, making it essential to provide them with the necessary tools to succeed. Mindfulness for Preschool and Kindergarten offers an effective, adaptable, multisensory, and skills-based social emotional learning (SEL) program designed to assist preschool and kindergarten-aged children in learning to self-regulate, creating a peaceful and prosocial learning environment in the classroom.

The hands-on OpenMind program featured in this book is designed to help children cope with stress and trauma, process and understand difficult emotions, and interact positively with others. By incorporating mindfulness practices into their daily routines, kids will develop resilience, learn how to bounce back from challenges, and experience greater social and academic engagement.

The OpenMind program's five foundations go beyond traditional lesson plans and strategies to promote a positive classroom experience. These foundations include:

Wellness and mindfulness training for teachers: Teachers receive training in mindfulness practices, which helps them develop their own self-awareness, manage stress, and create a supportive learning environment.

Practices to help kids build self-regulation, executive function, and engagement: The program provides practical strategies and activities that help children develop self-regulation skills, improve attention and concentration, and build positive relationships with their peers and teachers.

Planned practices and lessons in response to arising individual and learning environment needs: The program is designed to be flexible and responsive to the unique needs of each child and classroom. It incorporates planned practices and lessons that are anchored to social and academic content, ensuring that children are learning and actively engaged in meaningful activities.

Scaffolding and modification of practices and lessons to promote learning and active mindful engagement: The program provides teachers with the tools and guidance to scaffold and modify practices and lessons to promote learning and active mindful engagement. This includes providing differentiated instruction, using visual aids, and incorporating movement and sensory activities to engage children's diverse learning styles.

A process for transforming challenging behaviors into opportunities: The program emphasizes the importance of addressing challenging behaviors in a positive and proactive manner. It provides teachers with a process for transforming challenging behaviors into opportunities for learning and growth, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.

By implementing the OpenMind program in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, teachers can help their students develop the social and emotional skills they need to thrive in today's world. The program's adaptable and multisensory approach ensures that children of all abilities and backgrounds can benefit from its teachings, creating a more peaceful and inclusive learning environment for all.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 252 x 178 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781684039258