At the Heart of the Matter: The Emotional Ecologies of Teachers' Mindful Moments

• In Event: 16.037 - Reclaiming Spaces for Teacher Dispositions: Challenging Pradigms in Teachers' Lives

Abstract

Teacher dissatisfaction and turnover levels are rising precipitously in the U.S. Recently, mindfulness has gained popularity as a way to support teachers’ well-being. This study used a Mindfulness Theory framework to identify the emotions associated with teachers’ mindful moments. Data for the analysis was drawn from a two-year ethnographic research project on members of a professional inquiry group. Findings revealed that when teachers engaged in mindful moments alone (isolated from community), they experienced feelings of sorrow and frustration, yet when teachers collaborated with others or produced creative work, their moments of mindfulness fostered feelings of hope and helped teachers create spaces of emotional freedom in their school. The findings carry implications for teacher educators, mindfulness practitioners and scholars.

Author

• Kira J. Baker-Doyle, Arcadia University