ELIZABETH THOMPSON, PHD
Healing in the Classroom
As a former English professor at several universities over two decades, I saw the great potential in using mindfulness approaches in my classroom and in teaching the practice to students. I had witnessed burnout in students and colleagues, serious declines in student focus and engagement, and increases in incidences of mental/emotional illness in students and colleagues. I saw mindfulness-based approaches to learning, or contemplative-based pedagogy, make classroom learning more connected, vibrant, and relevant. My recent work with neuro-divergent middle and high school students showed me that practices such as embodied listening, slow reading and looking, and mindful reflection can improve attention and increase engagement.
Please contact me at findingmindfulpeace@gmail.com.
Workshops for Teachers
Teachers today face inordinate pressures. Already stretched thin, they now are being asked to teach more classes, more students, and to take on wider responsibilities. In a post-COVID landscape, students are showing more signs of a wide range of cognitive and emotional problems, which many teachers haven’t been trained to work with. A number of teachers also are expected to engage such students in various modes: face to face, synchronously, and asynchronously, all of which require different approaches. It is no wonder that many teachers say they feel burned out, exhausted, and unappreciated.
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This workshop is designed not to be one more task teachers must complete, but a nourishing and inspiring experience that will give teachers strategies to enjoy moments of calm and relaxation throughout their day. This approach encourages teachers to work mindfully in short sessions, reducing focus on self-imposed outcomes or expectations and softening the volume of the inner critic. This approach helps teachers work more efficiently and reduce stressful, negative thought patterns, leading to more freedom and enjoyment in the classroom as well as clearer teaching and better communication with students.
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The Workshop will focus on five key topics:
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Listening to/through the Body
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Slowing the Pace
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Mindfully Preparing to Teach
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Regulating Emotions in the Classroom (for teachers and students)
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Teaching through Inquiry
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Each class will consist of talks from the instructor, hands-on exercises working with examples from participants' classrooms, reflective free writes and journaling, small and large group discussion, and suggestions for how to incorporate these tools into the classroom and daily life.
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The Workshop can be tailored to the needs and time constraints of particular groups. Please contact me below to schedule a consultation.
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Please contact me at findingmindfulpeace@gmail.com.
Consulting
I'm available to consult with university, college, and high school administrators about the particular challenges their organization faces and how mindfulness-based teaching approaches can help address them.
I'm also available to offer individualized support to teachers for their mindfulness-based teaching approaches, which they may combine with support for their meditation practice, if desirable. These sessions will draw on the exercises and talks I've developed for workshops but will be tailored for the teacher's particular needs and interests. I see my role here as one of offering close, embodied listening and creating a platform for a rich exchange of problem-solving ideas.
Please contact me at findingmindfulpeace@gmail.com.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities to share ideas about curriculum development. Let's connect!
707-706-3213