Imaged sourced from Pinterest using Google. I use charts like these embedded in google forms to give students a quick check list of emotions to choose from or reference.

Google Forms for Emotional "Check-In Check-Out"

Google forms are useful in a variety of ways in the high school classroom, and I would recommend any new teacher to be comfortable using apps on Google Suit. I originally created a google form with the purpose of doing an emotional check-in, check-out during remote learning due to COVID-19. This allowed me to monitor and assess the emotional wellbeing of my students remotely, but I am excited to use this during the regular school year as well. Students fill out the form in less than 2 minutes, and each form will ask them to rate how they are feeling while referencing a type of emotion scale or chart. The prompt may change each week to keep the check-ins engaging, but I will usually promote mindfulness by asking students to identify something positive they are feeling or experiencing, something that they can look forward to or reflect on positively in the week, and what steps they can take to improve on any negative experiences (academic or otherwise) that they may have experienced that week. This is a useful tool that allows me to genuinely assess how my students are feeling and what issues or challenges they may be facing, and allows me to intervene appropriately. 

Setting Goals and Habits 

This mindfulness activity is one I adapted from a variety of goal and habit setting exercises from Positive Psychology. In this exercise, students are asked to identify four goals they would like to accomplish by the end of a certain time period (this can be set to the month, quarter, semester, year, etc- whatever works for your classroom!). Then students are asked to identify one habit they can keep, or a new habit they can form in order to help them reach each of their specific goals.  Students are often aware of the goals they would like to accomplish, but are left feeling hopeless or frustrated when it comes to identifying the actionable steps needed to reach those goals, and this can lead to a mindset of learned helplessness. In this assignment students are also asked to illustrate their goals in order to spend more time reflecting on them in a creative way, as well as to summarize where they want to see themselves at the end of the assignment time period. Students are prompted to write about what they want to have accomplished and what they will be looking forward to at the end of the time period. Lastly students are asked to pick a quote that inspires them to achieve their new goals. 

Student Work Sample

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I used "mindful minute" videos from Mr. Colin Dodds on Youtube

Mindful Minutes

I have found mindful minutes and short guided meditations to be very effective in setting an intentional and mindful tone in my class periods. There is a plethora of short meditations with verbal guides, as well as one minute silent meditations or "mindful minutes" on Youtube. Before using these resources I set expectations for behavior during the videos. It takes practice for students to feel comfortable enough to remain completely still and quiet, so it takes several tries until they are ready to receive the benefits of mindful exercises like these. When using these resources I dim the lights in my room, ask students to find a comfortable position in their seats, and if they feel comfortable enough, to close their eyes. I then play the video, and may play it it a second time after giving students a "practice round". Mindful minutes are great because they are short and effective, and can be used as an opener or closer to class. After consistently using these in "Mindfulness Monday" exercises, students began requesting them and looking forward to them!