“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child" -Carl Jung
Communication
“As I reflect on my 12 years as a teacher and the 350+ I’ve been blessed to work with, I think about what I could’ve done better. Children came to me as young as 4 and 5 years old with issues that adults struggle to handle. Death of loved ones, divorce, abuse, and the never-ending cycle of stress. No matter what issues they come in with, my job is to teach them to the best of my abilities. Besides reading, math, writing, social studies, and science…I teach them how to communicate, how to handle anger, how to foster positive relationships, and how to problem solve. I have limited resources, but using personal knowledge and experiences I do my best. I want my children to succeed in my classroom as well as in the real world. A program like, Metamorphosis: Effective Thinking (grades 1-4) isn’t just a want, it’s a need. My students need this foundation to build their lives on. I am a true believer in fostering life long learners. My students need skills to reduce and handle stress, anger, etc. This isn’t something you learn from TV, a computer, or video games. It’s something that needs to be taught and implemented on a consistent basis.” -Angela: Elementary School Teacher in Mesa, AZ
Social Competence
“Mindfulness has the opportunity to become a part of our daily lives through our children. Gaining momentum in the media lately and attention from the scientific and medical communities, Mindfulness programs have been validated in their roles for recovery from cancer, addiction, and trauma. Now, we need the power of prevention, and, at its root, children. Introducing mindfulness curriculum into schools will give our kids a chance to harness tools for empowering themselves against anxiety, stress, and the effects of life’s over-stimulation; tools for self-nurturance, for life.” -Moira: Mother of 2 and R.N in Gilbert, AZ
Spatial Awareness
“The only source of knowledge is experience.” -Albert Einstein Spatial awareness is both psychological and physical. Because it is a part of our overall perception and is linked directly to motivation, it can be a powerful education tool. The Metamorphosis: Effective Thinking (grades 1-4)curriculum was built with this understanding. Our 12-week program includes mindful movement, challenging children to experience a broader perspective in terms of their impact on the immediate environment, the very space around them. The physical exercises are merely an infrastructure for children to safely experience a deeper knowledge of themselves. When our kids understand themselves, they will better understand one another.
Self Confidence
Scientists and scholars, like those at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness are forging ahead in this relatively new arena of study. Mindfulness is becoming a mainstream subject of interest and initiative in this country, and professionals from a wide variety of practices are turning their attention to the benefits of mindfulness training in schools. Metamorphosis: Effective Thinking(grades 1-4) is the answer to our need for a mindfulness curriculum at the elementary level, right here in Arizona. Introduced as early as 1st grade, and incorporating a variety of methods, including: open discussion, storytelling, movement, and meditation techniques, Metamorphosis gives children an opportunity to decompress, de-stress, and renew their sense of confidence.
P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }
The benefits of
mindfulness are many, not the least of which are
better self-regulation and higher levels of concentration,
culminating in greater self-confidence.