A Mindful Approach to Yoga and Behavior

Management

A Teacher Leadership Project by

Shantel Van Pool
Inspired by Jacki Sawn
Presented for AGM K-6
Teachers, April 2019
The Standards and Main Objective
• NBPTS Proposition 4.2: Teacher uses feedback and research to improve
their practice and positively impact student learning.
• Teacher Leader Model Standards Domain 2a: Assists colleagues in
accessing and using research in order to select appropriate strategies to
improve student learning.
• CSTP 2.2: Creating physical or virtual learning environments that promote
student learning, reflect diversity, and encourage constructive and
productive interactions among students
• CSTP 6.5: Engaging local communities in support of the instructional
program
• Provide tools and resources to my colleagues needed to select
appropriate strategies in mindfulness and yoga to improve student
behavior and learning.

Standards and Objective

Think of a Time One of your Students Reacted
to a Stimulus in a Negative Way.
How has a lack of
mindfulness
created behavioral
issues in your
classroom?

Educational Hook
What are the Positive Effects of Using Yoga
and Mindfulness in the Classroom?

Dual Coding
The Positive Effects of Using Yoga and
Mindfulness in the Classroom
• Reduced anxiety
• Better problem-solving
• Positive coping tools
• More energy
• Increased focus
• Calmer environment
• Happier students
• Stress-release for teacher
How Can I Teach Yoga When I Have Never
Been in a Yoga Class?

There are plenty

of resources to
help teachers
start rigorous
yoga
implementation in
the classroom.

Yoga Kids
Pinterest

Dual Coding
5 Ways to Bring Mindfulness and Yoga into
Your Classroom

Dual Coding
Step 1: Invest in Your Curriculum
A cost-efficient starter pack
to implementation:
Step 2: Map Out How You Will Incorporate These
Techniques in Your Daily Routine
Best Times to Implement Yoga:
• Transitions between subjects
• After a physical activity
• When there is tension in the
classroom
• Before and/or after testing
• To gain attention
• As a winding down activity

Best Times to Implement Mindfulness:

• Trick question! Mindfulness should be a part of every activity. It should be incorporated in all
discussions and a normal part of your teaching practice.
Step 3: Introduce Mindfulness/Yoga Breaths
• Deep Breath
• Bunny Breath
• Darth Vader Breath
• Wood-Chopper Breath
• Bumble Bee Breath
• Rainbow Breath
• Cobra Breath

What is your favorite of these breaths? How do you think your students will react to
learning them?

Dual Coding
Step 4: Introduce Yoga Poses and
Mindfulness
• What is mindfulness? Mindfulness as defined by dictionary.com “A mental state achieved by
focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting
one’s feelings.
• Establish your expectations straight off the bat
• Start with simple poses
• Choose poses you have tried and know how to walk your students through them
• Break out your yoga and mindfulness
activity cards
• Try reading a yoga pose book
• It’s okay if they don’t get it at first
• Be patient
• Be consistent
• Be willing to try new things
Step 5: Use Yoga and Mindfulness as a
Behavior Management Tool
• Create a behavior management program that works for YOUR
students with YOUR students
• Your program will slightly differ from your colleague’s in a different
grade level
• Map out standards of practice and how students can self-regulate
• Provide mindful moments and optional yoga activities
• Be consistent!
• Long-Term Goal: Implementing a school-wide behavior policy
How are Yoga and Mindfulness Linked?

Dual Coding
Build on What Yoga Practices

you Know: What

do You
Remember?
Self Regulation Physical Fitness

Now You
Behavioral, Mental
Try: Mind-Body Awareness State, Health and
Performance

Progress Monitoring Questions-Smart Table

Finish Your KWL Chart: Now You
Try:

Progress Monitoring Questions

Let’s Try Some Standing Poses and a New
Breath!
Now You Try:

• Rainbow Breathing

Dual Coding
Reflection

• How did this

exercise make you
feel?

• Where did your

mind go while you
were in this flow?

Culminating Questions
Now You Try:

Journal Your
Reflections

What effect would yoga

and mindfulness have on
your students? On you?

Culminating Activity
A few additional resources

• Having students
journal helps create
the mind-body
connection.
• Implementing a daily
journal is a great tool
to help them
compare and
contrast their day-to-
day feelings.
• It also connects the
students more
concretely with why
they are feeling the
way they are.
Please Take the Survey Below as Your
Exit Ticket

Survey of Understanding