Just Breathe and Write - Mindfulness Journaling for Teens: Mindful Breathing Techniques and Focusing

In this ongoing course, learners will practice mindfulness.  Mindfulness means paying full attention to something. It means slowing down to really notice what you're doing. Being mindful is the opposite of rushing or multitasking. When you're mindful, you're taking your time. You're focusing in a relaxed, easy way. Mindfulness happens naturally sometimes, but it's also great to make space to practice it too.

This class will be taught via dialogue with students. I will briefly teach them a concept to use to focus on mindfulness. Then, learners will implement the focus task while taking turns, sharing with others, and working on their projects.

A journal can be purchased before class. However, I will also have the option of printing a journal template and will send this through email before class begins.

No prior experience is needed. This is an ongoing class that does not build on each other so students can drop in and out when they have time.
 
Class structure:
1. Welcome + Introduce the theme and generate conversation (5 minutes)
2. Mindfulness question for students to keep in mind throughout (2 minutes)
3. Breathwork (3 minutes)
4. Implement Focus Activity ( 13 minutes)
5. Closing (Revisiting the mindfulness question) (2 minutes)

Week of June 11: What is mindfulness? Students will discuss what mindfulness is and why it is important. Students will be given a prompt that they will respond to in their journal. Practice and modeling will be done through screen sharing on the teacher's computer. A youtube clip of mediation sounds will be played during focused work time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqC1lMa10eE.

Week June 18: Coloring for mindfulness. Students will be emailed a specific coloring sheet before class to print. The focus of this class will be to use coloring to relax the mind and practice deep breathing. A youtube clip of mediation sounds will be played during focused work time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqC1lMa10eE. 

Week June 22: Confidence and why it is important. Students will be given a prompt that they will respond to in their journals about confidence. A youtube clip of mediation sounds will be played during focused work time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqC1lMa10eE

Week of July 1: Positive Self Talk and why it is essential in being mindful. Students will be given a prompt that they will respond to in their journals about confidence. A youtube clip of mediation sounds will be played during focused work time https://youtu.be/NqC1lMa10eE.

No class July 9th.

Week of July 16: Being mindful of situations. Students will practice techniques in class to increase mindfulness. The students will listen to pieces of music and stay focused on one instrument for the duration of the song. This class is to focus on how mindfulness can change experiences. A journal prompt will be given to the students for listening before the directions and how their experience changed after focusing.

Week of July 23rd: This class is focused on nature and preferably outside if there is pretty weather. Students will focus on the senses such as the temperature, humidity, smells, colors, and sounds of the situation around them. A journal prompt will be given for students to write about their experiences and how they can be mindful of various scenarios.

No class on July 30th

Week of August 6th: This class will be focused on gratitude. More info to come.

Week of August 13th: This class is focused on using senses with the foods we eat. Students will bring three snacks to class to use for this activity. Instead of inhaling the food we ingest, students will use their senses to think about texture, taste, and feelings as they eat each bite. A journal prompt will be given to focus on mindful eating and focus on the experience.

Week of August 20th: A gratitude Scavenger hunt. More info to come....

Week of August 27th: Bubbles

Week of September 3rd: Dancing and Movement

Week of September 10th: Puzzles 

Week of September 17th: Walking

Week of September 24th: Body Scan and heartbeat

Week of October 1st: Swirling Jar

Week of October 8th: Forgiveness 

Week of October 15th: Confidence 

Week of October 22nd: Gratitude 

Other topics will be added as the course progresses.