Mindfulness Based Social Emotional Learning (MBSEL) is extremely important for everyday learning in schools. MBSEL helps students with anxiety, stress, improved focus, and overall health. E-Therapy has created a webinar based on tactics, activities, and lessons that you can use in your classroom to create a positive learning environment that students can use both in school and at home. Below are a few definitions and activities we have curated. Also, don’t forget to watch our wonderful webinar for more information and tips.
Get access to our FREE on-demand webinar on MBSEL for your classroom.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing. It helps us to not become overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us in our environment and community. As a human being we all have the ability to bring our mindfulness into our everyday lives. Being mindful and teaching mindfulness to students can help students relax and reduce the stress they might be feeling from their home environment, learning environment, and overall health.
What is SEL?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. ~ CASEL
Mindfulness Based Social Emotional Learning
The practice of mindfulness benefits everyone! When incorporating MBSEL strategies, teachers and students have better educational outcomes in the areas of overall productivity and performance.
Mindfulness in the Classroom
Some basic types of mindfulness can include breath, body, thoughts, and emotions. Using exercises and activities in the classroom that incorporate these types of mindfulness can help students feel relaxed and calm. In turn, the students can use these at home when they are feeling tense or stressed about their environment. Here are some activities to use in the classroom: Relaxed Breathing Training Video – This video of a puffer fish teaches students how to pace their breathing to calm their mind and body. You can find this relaxation exercise here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLbK0o9Bk7QGo Zen Videos – This YouTube channel has a wide variety of videos for anxiety, meditation, and stress. There are also videos aimed at parents to learn to help their children cope with emotions and stress. Go Zen is aimed at boosting a child’s well being. Find these interactive videos here.GoNoodle is one of our favorite websites filled with videos, games, and activities. Not only do they have videos that get the littles moving, but the videos have thoughtful messages behind them. We especially love the video by Blazer Fresh called Emotions Grow and Shrink. See how fun this video is. These are just a few of the examples that our webinar is laced with. We have activities, demonstrations, and fun content packed in this 45 minute presentation. To learn more, please visit us at our website to get access to our MBSEL webinar and receive a wide variety of free resources. We hope you enjoy these techniques that you can use in your classroom to make a more meaningful place to learn.
About the author
Diana Parafiniuk, M.S., CCC-SLP
Diana Parafiniuk, M.S., CCC-SLP Co-Founder/Chief Marketing OfficerDiana founded E-Therapy in 2009 after finding herself driving hundreds of miles per week. She knew there must be a better way to deliver speech therapy to students and schools. Today, E-Therapy is an established market leader in teletherapy. We provide the highest quality services and reach students and schools across the United States. Read more about Diana.
