Mindful Student, Masterful Student

Abstract

Educators have long understood that in order to engage with academic content, students' mental and emotional fitness are prerequisites to active learning. Unfortunately, many students come to school lacking basic skills in how to form healthy relationships, exhibit empathy, and practice self-care. Approaches grounded in social emotional learning (SEL) are focused on teaching these important social skills, with the goal of enhancing overall student success. One approach that has been increasing in popularity is known as mindfulness. This chapter will provide an overview of mindfulness programs implemented in the schools, strategies for use in the classroom, and examine several different programs actively in place across the country, specifically with ELLs and ELLs with disabilities.