Teaching (REALLY is!) Self-Care, Part 3
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.” ― Gregory Maguire, A LION AMONG MEN
Welcome, splendiferous snackers!
This is Part 3 of a series that outlines ways to "find the self-care" on the daily in our classrooms.
The breath. It's hard to know where to start, because nothing is more fundamental to life. Not even teaching or learning. Before the greatest of all time in any field need to focus on any task...they breathe deeply. Before our most troubling moments and hardest conversations? You guessed it. So, why does it seem like a strange choice to some not to begin here in our classes?
This is one of my classroom slides.
The 4-7-8 breath is a fave because it's easy to teach, and it's long enough to encourage focus without me having to ask for it (I typically do four near the beginning of class). But really--honestly, asking our students to take any type of deep breath with us when WE need a moment is truly powerful.
Imagine being able to say, "Class, I need to pause and take a breath before we continue." You reach for your trusty Hoberman sphere, lead a short deep breathing sesh, and BOOM! Back to quantum physics!
Of course, there will be (particularly older) students who will or cannot buy in for whatever reason. I find that most will join if it is part of a classroom routine. I remind them that this is useful at any time they need a quick break to de-stress, and I don't wait for those who haven't yet bought in.
Holistic practitioners and somatic workers the world over understand and leverage the power of the breath. The science behind it (for those who need it) is, unsurprisingly, overwhelmingly positive.
So, why is this not a standard classroom thing? If it isn't, I think we need first add it to our own lives before we can offer it to students. I had a seventh grader run up to me and announce, "Mr.A, I was really stressed before a math test today. I did that deep breathing, and it made me feel a lot better!"
It made a difference for that one.
Snackers...breathe in. Breathe out. Have a beautiful week. Check back for more snacks! Oh! It's MOTHER'S DAY in the US. Happiest of days to whom that applies!
This article is Part 3 in a series designed to help teachers focus on self-care at the end of the school year, or whevever they need reminders of their greatness. So...in case you missed them:
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Happy snacking!
Chef Charles
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