Teens Work It Out: A Middle School Mindful Movement, Relaxation, and Thinking Pilot

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Educational Change in Support of Every Young Adolescent

Abstract

With teens in mind specifically, we developed a trio of daily mindfulness lessons and practice in a) yoga/mindful movement through brief, classroom-based, chair yoga flows, b) mindful breathing practices aimed at relaxation and focus, and c) mindful thinking strategies designed to complement the movement and breathing practices in a way that maximizes internalization of the intended lessons and help with better emotional regulation. This was a whole school intervention with 457 middle school students across 6th-8th grades. The program was run by teachers and integrated into daily activities schoolwide. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention on myriad outcome measures. Implications of alternative approaches such as this for improving middle school students’ readiness to learn will be gleaned from these data.

Authors

• Cheryl Leigh Somers, Wayne State University

• Nathan A. Mccaughtry, Wayne State University

• Jeanne M. Barcelona, Wayne State University

• Erin Elizabeth Centeio, University of Hawaii - Manoa