In recent decades, there has been a surge of interest in the American academy in exploring mindfulness meditation. There is an urgent challenge in schools and communities — rising stress, emotional dysregulation, and attention deficit, to name a few. Contemplative meditation can help alleviate these problems. In this workshop, we will share stories about the contemporary crisis of well-being amongst our students. I will provide instruction on how you can incorporate five minutes of contemplative meditation into your classrooms. Administrators, teachers, and students who are happier, more focused, emotionally-regulated, and less affected by stress perform better. Evidence from thousands of schools now shows how a culture of mindfulness is directly correlated to raising test scores, fewer outbursts and incidents, and a more connected, supportive community. Explore how mindfulness and its many approaches to practice can transform stress and conflicts into opportunities for connection, creativity, and deeper wellbeing. Work and school do not need to be disheartening and burdensome; they can be uplifting and gratifying. This workshop includes teaching, guided exercises, conversation, storytelling, and laughter, as well as clear, simple skills and practices that can be applied right away. Whether you have a lecture class of 500 or a small class of 10 students, you can invest in your students and in yourself by taking five minutes of class-time to allow them to settle in, transition to this new space of learning, and breathe mindfully.

Facilitator: Lisa Grunberger, Assistant Professor in English and First Year Writing, CLA