Namaste in School: Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness Practice for Kids

Source: Sitting Still Like a Frog

A frog is a remarkable creature. It is capable of enormous leaps, but it can also sit very, very still. Although it is aware of everything that happens in and around it, the frog tends not to react right away. The frog sits still and breathes, preserving its energy instead of getting carried away by all the ideas that keep popping into its head. The frog sits still, very still, while it breathes. -Siting Still Like a Frog

My first year of teaching was absolutely incredible but it was also very exhausting. I got to work early and stayed late and spent most of my free time working on lesson plans or thinking about how to improve my classroom. The first semester, I left no time for myself. My life was a constant stream of Go, Go, Go. During winter break I had the major realization that in order to be the best teacher I could be, I had to make time for myself. I had to relax. I had to find time to just be still.

As a full-time dream chaser, this wasn't easy for me. I found that it was difficult to do nothing--I felt like I always had to be doing something. I'd practiced yoga on and off throughout high school and college but last year I made a commitment to myself to practice yoga every day. I noticed such a huge change in my energy and attitude (no surprise there). I was able to focus better, teach better, and sleep better. I soon started practicing yoga in the morning with my students with the hope that it would help them prepare for their busy days. I wasn't sure what to expect but they ended up LOVING it and it soon became part of our morning routine. And science doesn't lie. Check out this article from Teaching Tolerance about yoga in public schools.

source: Teaching Tolerance

This summer one of my friends introduced me to a very special book: Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel which emphasizes the importance of mindfulness exercises for kids. Eline writes "The practice of mindfulness at any age is both simple and profound. Above all, it involves learning--learning how to cultivate greater self-awareness and greater awareness of others and the world."

In addition to practicing yoga we also practice mindfulness daily, using exercises from Sitting Still Like a Frog (which I highly recommend)! It may be the only silence they experience throughout their day and it's so important for them to be able to get in touch with their feelings and set positive intentions for the day.

Because mindfulness is really about attention and the awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally, it is at its core universal. It does not belong to any culture or tradition or belief system. And, as we have seen, it is basic to learning anything. For this reason, and especially given the growing evidence of its efficacy in different domains, more and more teachers...are bringing mindfulness to K-12 education. -Sitting Still Like a Frog

Want more? Check out this powerful video about the effects of mindfulness practice.
Aliza and the Mind Jar from Hover on Vimeo.

Do you practice mindfulness or yoga with your students or children? Comment below to let me know! 

Namaste,

My FIRST Five for Friday

hi y'all! 

Happy Friday. I'm so excited to participate in my first Linky Party and Five for Friday! Thanks, Doodlebugs Teaching!

Introducing: my new classroom library! We used to be required to use a leveled book system but after adopting Daily 5 and teaching the process of choosing good-fit books, we were able to restructure our classroom libraries. Now I have a mix of leveled books as well as genre, series, and authors. The kids are so much more excited about choosing books for their book box! I'm so glad I took the time to change things up. 

This week I used Amy Lemon's fabulous "It's About Time" bundle! The kids have loved all the activities so far and I love how organized everything is. I highly recommend grabbing this bundle which can be used all year long. :)

I'm a huge fan of Skype Classroom and try to connect my class with speakers or other classrooms as often as possible. This week we had the opportunity to Skype with world-changer Emily-Anne Rigal, founder of We Stop Hate! My kids interviewed her and she gave them awesome advice on bullying prevention and how to spread kindness. Thanks, Em! 

This week was the first week of my afterschool class called Books in the Garden! Each week we'll taste organic, locally-grown food, learn about gardening, read books related to gardening, and of course--when it's warm enough--work in the garden beds of our school. Next week the kids will be designing fairy houses and creating them on our school's playground. To say they're excited is an understatement. :)

This week we launched our new classroom job system--Classroom Crews--thanks to Teacher Trap! Several teachers in my school are implementing this new system which goes along perfectly with the sense of choice and accountability students have been practicing through our implementation of Daily 5. They filled out job applications and met with their crews to designate specific responsibilities. Today my Kindness Crew came up with the idea to make a "Caught Being Kind" poster. Students can give "shout outs" to their peers by writing acts of kindness on sticky notes. By the end of the day, there were probably 20 sticky notes on the poster. I'm always impressed by their creativity and huge hearts.

I hope you enjoyed these pics! I'm excited about Read Across America and Dr.Seuss Day next week, What are you looking forward to next week? Let me know in the comments below. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a relaxing weekend!

Meet Becca.

hey ya'll. 

I'm so excited to officially launch my Happy Apple blog! I've been blogging for years at Teach and Touch Lives, but now I'm excited to share what's happening in my classroom through Happy Apple. 

Here's a little bit about me...

I'm Becca Wertheim--a teacher, author, lover of all things education, and full-time dream-chaser. This is my second year teaching 2nd grade at my dream school. I've wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember--can any of you relate? ;)--and I am so happy to be living my dream. Connecticut born but Carolina raised, I'll always be a mountain girl at heart.

things I love...

• Writing. I wrote a book in high school called Live High on Life and have guest blogged for over a dozen websites/magazines including Huffington Post, WNC Women, Cambio, Differences Magazine, FearlesslyGirl, and GirlsOnIt. Check um' out if you feel like it! 
• Education Equality. Did you know that only one in five girls in the developing world finish primary school? That's why I love all things She's the First, a non profit organization that sponsors girls' education in developing countries so they can be the first in their families to graduate. If you're passionate about women's rights and want to get involved, visit shesthefirst.org. 
• Molding Little Leaders. During my student teaching experience I wanted to find a way to bring the magic of She's the First into my classroom. That's how GOAL Getters was born. GOAL stands for Global Opportunities, Action, and Leadership. We provide teachers will free resources to teach kids about global citizenship and social responsibility. Want to help foster some world-changin' love in your classroom? Check out the GOAL Getters site for more info. 
• Global Connections. I'm a Skype Classroom Master Teacher, passionate about connecting and collaborating with classrooms and speakers around the world. Hey, if I can't bring my kids out into the world, why not bring the world to them? 
• Inspirational People. I couldn't be more grateful for the awesome community of people I'm surrounded by each day, both near and far away. As the one and only Oprah says, "Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher." 
• Doing what I love. Make what you love be what you do. We're so lucky to work in a profession where we get filled up with love from little people every day. 
• Coffee, chocolate, and all things Whole Foods or Target. What?! you mean I'm not getting paid for two more weeks and just emptied my bank account buying black bean hummus and cute things from the Target dollar section? Ooops. Off to make more TpT products.

Seriously though, what inspires you? Why do you love to blog? Let me know in the comments below. I'm excited to get to know you!