![]() ![]() ![]() MindUP is currently being used in schools in the US, in Canada, Britain and Venezuela. ![]() Truly, this type of focusing is important for learning. In quieting down, the prefrontal cortex lights up and this is where executive functioning (creating, innovating, retaining information, and making connections) takes place. They took “brain breaks” to breath and to relax, to quiet down their emotions and focus (3 or 4 times a day for two to five minutes). In learning “mindfulness” the children were learning about HOW they think. They even taught the practices to their siblings and parents. It helped them to calm down, to focus and to evaluate situations more clearly. As you can see in the video, the students really felt the benefits of mindfulness. I was most struck by the children and their reactions to MindUP. These lessons fit into any schedule and require minimal prep time they are geared towards grades 3 through 5. Her program called MindUP has conducted research into “mindfulness” in the classroom, provides mentors for participating schools and has developed a book and curriculum to give teachers the tools to use in their classrooms. She wanted to “bring children back to a sense of well-being”, and was distraught over the high dropout rates, violence in schools, the culture of bullying and was looking for a way to improve kid’s focus, energy and to help teachers to build classroom community. Goldie Hawn has started a foundation that focuses on the social and emotional learning of children. In these days of celebrity excesses and their often and very public demonstrations of questionable/objectionable behaviors it is refreshing to see that one celebrity is throwing her weight towards children’s success in school. ![]()
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