Increasingly, classroom teachers and school staff are being asked to guide and instruct children experiencing trauma and trauma-related responses. These adverse childhood experiences (ACES) can include any traumatic event, like abuse, caregiver addiction, and divorce. The more ACES a child experiences, the more likely they are to suffer from physical health problems (like heart disease and diabetes), substance abuse, and poor academic achievement. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the trauma that children experience, with caregivers falling ill, schools closing, and parents losing their jobs. Our children are showing up to school without the tools or experience to navigate the inner turmoil, leaving our educators with the daunting task of not only teaching the prescribed curriculum but also supporting the mental and physical health of their students (and themselves).

In West Virginia, school staff have turned to mindfulness practices. A project supported by West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services (Project TRAIN) aimed to help students regulate emotions and focus more on classroom instruction through mindfulness. According to their study, “The purpose of this project was to offer elementary school personnel in WV training in mindfulness-based curriculum, Kidding Around Yoga, and to assess the impact on the classroom experience, compassion fatigue/burnout, and mindfulness in teaching among school personnel.” More than 300 school personnel completed the training in EduKAY and the findings were impressive:

1. Educators reported a significant increase in the ability of students to regulate their emotions following the implementation of EduKAY strategies in the classroom.
2. Teachers reported that mindfulness strategies in the classroom allowed them to spend more minutes on classroom instruction time.
3. Educators reported an increase in feeling equipped and knowledgeable in strategies to support students, recognizing kids in crisis, ability to de-escalate situations, and resources available to them to support students in the school and community.
4. There appears to be a declining trend in disciplinary actions and referrals for behavioral/emotional challenges.

EduKAY, the training that the WV educators and staff participated in, is a six-hour professional development opportunity. It provides educators with the skills necessary to introduce yoga, meditation, and mindfulness into today’s demanding academic environment by guiding participants through methods to integrate yogic concepts throughout the school day as they pertain to behavior, stress management, and health awareness, all while increasing student engagement in a positive environment.

One West Virginia principal participated in an EduKAY training and was so excited, she brought the workshop to her entire staff! “Just wanted to share that the Tuesday after training I went all through the school and yoga, mindfulness and little brain breaks were EVERYWHERE! It is amazing the change in all my staff. We always had mindfulness built in, but the teachers and staff are taking it to a whole new level! Yay! Thank you!!”

Jenny Harden, School Principal – Rupert, West Virginia

Imagine that! A thousand year old practice being used in today’s modern classrooms to support and transform our youngest generation. Want to try a couple of the strategies taught in EduKAY and in classrooms across West Virginia? Try these:

Four Finger Meditation: Using both hands, touch your thumb to each finger (index, middle, ring, pinky) and say each word: “Peace begins with me.” Keep moving your fingers as you repeat the words several times out loud, then as a whisper, and then only in your mind. Continue as long as you’d like.

Starfish Breath: While deeply breathing, make a starfish with one hand (fingers spread out wide). Using the pointer finger of your other hand, gently trace the outline of the starfish hand, slowly going up a finger as you inhale and slowly down each finger as you exhale. Let all of your attention focus on what you feel. Repeat on the opposite hand.

Zip Zap Zop: Students stand in a circle, palms together at their hearts. The first player says ZIP and points one of their hands toward anybody else in the circle. That person receives the ZIP and sends a ZAP to another person, making the same movement with their hand. The third person catches the ZAP and sends a ZOP to another player. This keeps going, faster and faster, until someone makes a mistake. Then, simply start again.

Ready to learn more about bringing yoga, meditation, and mindfulness into your school and classrooms? EduKAY (and other courses, including full Kids Yoga teacher certification) can be found at www.kiddingaroundyoga.com. Listen to our podcast, Mindful Conversations with KAY, for more discussion of behavior management through yogic practices.