Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Sept/Oct 2017 | Page 4
Back to School: Mindful techniques help Walter Bickett Elementary students embrace the present
More than 200 Union County Public Schools staff members
During the Mindful Movement class, which is taught by WBES
were trained on the importance of mindfulness and self-care for
Behavior Modification Teacher Ashley Covington, students explore
educators and students. The training taught the employees a set
mindfulness through games, activities and creative expression.
of strategies intended to help students achieve success through
The class incorporates yoga poses to help the students increase
focus based on the Five
their strength, balance and flexibility
Principles of Health and
while also helping to establish and
Wellness: body, breath,
improve emotional recognition and social
mind, attention and
skills.
engagement.
Ashley integrates literacy into the
Since then, the
class by reading aloud to the students.
therapeutic techniques
And specific poses and postures help
have been practiced in six
the students alleviate emotions and
schools across the district,
feelings related to frustration, anxiety,
including Walter Bickett
hyperactivity and more.
Elementary (WBES),
“I enjoyed the exercises because it
where Principal Dr.
made me feel calmer,” said fifth-grade
Jamie Benfield hopes her
student Isabella Armenta. “I like the
students will ultimately
tree pose the most because it made
learn how to integrate
me remember my grandma’s favorite
mindfulness into their
tree. When I leave, I feel like I can
lives.
concentrate a little more in my class.”
“If students are
Dr. Benfield said it’s important to
dealing with anxiety or
teach strategies that students can use
other issues that children
now in their academics, in the future as
aren’t used to dealing
they prepare for college and careers,
with, then they can’t get
and in their communities.
down to what they’re here
“We are teaching the youth of
to do. And their job is to
America. These kids are going to grow
learn,” she said. “The first
up and become adults in the workforce,”
priority is to make sure
she said. “If we can teach them
that we are teaching the
strategies to be present in the moment
whole child, that they feel
and not dwell on their past and to make
safe while they’re here
an impact on others by being kind,
Top: The Mindful Movement class incorporates yoga poses to help
and that we’re giving
peaceful and mindful, then they will
the student