Developing Mindfulness and Happiness in Primary School Children

Developing Mindfulness and Happiness in Primary School Children

(Cost €69, EPV Days Approved)

Go to www.MayoEducationCentre.ie to enrol

and click on Online Courses

Developed through Mayo Education Centre in association with Athlone Education Centre, Sligo Education Centre and Carrick on Shannon Education Centre.

This Online Course is designed to provide the course participant with the necessary knowledge and understanding to remain effective and balanced as a teacher in the context of daily classroom management. It focuses on the social, personal and healthy wellbeing of the teacher and child.

Module 1 – Self Esteem and Self Confidence

·  Introduction to the course.

·  Introduction to self esteem and self confidence.

·  Valuing individuals characteristics and abilities.

·  Resources on best websites.

·  Personal self esteem inventory and positive visualisation.

Module 2 – Physical Wellbeing

·  An introduction to the central nervous system including the stress and relaxation responses.

·  Body posture and breathing patterns.

·  The importance of diet in relation to personal wellbeing.

·  The implication of regular exercise on health and wellbeing. Participation on a 20 minute awareness walk.

Module 3 – Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

·  Developing awareness of the emotions through facial expression, gesture, movement, tone of voice.

·  Provision of tools to balance mental and emotional responses.

·  Mid course review through journal analysis. The value of response versus reaction.

·  Identifying stressful classroom situation experiences and exploring appropriate responses.

Module 4 – Communication/Relationships

·  Self awareness – learning to listen to self – body, thoughts and feelings.

·  Communication through music and the art of listening with five senses.

·  Exploring relevant resources – websites, videos, etc,.

·  Exploring friendship communication and the dynamics of good listening.

Module 5 – Self Management

·  Quiet time with a focus on solutions to problems. Learning the importance of a balanced approach to problem solving.

·  Exploring children’s decision making processes through story telling.

·  Goal setting and visioning for teacher and children.

·  Review of the course creating a personal wellbeing plan for 2011-2012.

·  Devising an SPHE classroom action plan for 2011-2012 incorporating course material Evaluation.

Online Courses – video of exercises with verbal guidance from tutors, discussion forums, You Tube, web links to articles and bulletin boards for class assignments. Teachers will complete the exercises and journal their experience. Feedback will be written into database on the website.

All courses will be monitored by tutors dedicated to monitoring the interaction of participants. Monitoring will have a synchronous and an asynchronous element. Times of the elements will be fixed later and communicated to participants.