• New Mindful AISD Videos
  
• Mindfulness Room Starter Kits
• 5 Types of Awareness Activities
• HCP Spring Mindfulness Courses--Now Available!
• Social & Emotional Learning Newsletter
• Mindful Happenings in AISD

Reminder: For more regular mindfulness updates, please follow me on Twitter, @mrbutler629. I post regularly, providing tips and highlighting mindfulness happening across the district. Also, feel free to use #mindfulAISD when posting about mindfulness.

Below are videos recorded around the city with brief guided mindfulness sessions. These practices are beneficial for all ages.

Body Scan: Focusing on parts of our body can help us focus and relax (5 min.)

Highlight Reel: Focusing on personal accomplishments/proud moments can help boost self-esteem (3 min.)

Counting Down: Focusing on our breath can be tricky sometimes, but counting with the breath can help (4 min.)

All of these videos can also be found on the #mindfulAISD YouTube Playlist. Remember, you can also add these to your GoNoodle account and use mindfulness to help your champ grow stronger.

The Social & Emotional Learning Department was able to purchase 20 Mindfulness Room Starter Kits for schools who have a space dedicated to mindfulness in their school. The kits include...

• Bluetooth speaker
• Mini Hoberman sphere
• Growing Mindful deck of mindfulness cards
• Oil diffuser
• Calming Lavender oil

If your school is interested in acquiring one of the kits, please fill out this application.

Last week, I had the honor of visiting with Ann Richards students to share mindfulness practices. We did activities that focused on 5 different types of awareness. I think these activities, plus ones you come up with, can be used in class, advisory, after school groups, etc. The activities have videos for you to use if you'd like, or you can create your own activities that have to do with the different types of awareness. More videos will be added in the future.

• Surroundings--5 4 3 2 1, Loving Kindness
• Body--Tension Release, Slow Down, Chest Opener, Crossing the Mid-Line, Body Scan
• Breath--Fingertip Breathing, Square Breathing, Roller Coaster, Wrist to Shoulder, Counting Down
• Feelings--Happy Memory, Loving Kindness
• Thoughts--Highlight Reel

The Social & Emotional Learning monthly concept is "Goals." Check out the newsletter below for ideas and resources.

Here are a few mindfulness highlights from across the district.

I had the honor of visiting with the Lanier Girls Basketball team in December. We discussed how mindfulness can benefit them on the court and in life and did some practices too. I'm also excited to start a 4 week mindfulness for athletes program at Lanier at the end of the month.

I had the honor of sharing space with Refugee Students at Walnut Creek last month. We talked about the brain and how mindfulness can help calm us down when we feel nervous. A few of them even helped me lead some exercises when I went back for an assembly with the whole school. See tweet for more.

Rodriguez Elementary has announcements broadcasted on TVs throughout their school, and 5th graders recently helped lead the Mindful Moment for the broadcast. So cool! See tweet for more.

Students at Cunningham Elementary count how many belly breaths it takes for the glitter to settle in their glitter ball. This is a great way to use those glitter jars that are in so many peace areas throughout AISD. See tweet for more.

Sarah Krier, 6th grade counselor at Small, emailed me about a mindfulness group that meets during advisory. She said the students are loving the opportunity to gather and practice mindfulness together. Way to go, Sarah!

December 2017 Newsletter (Videos, Research Supporting Mindfulness, Picture Books)

November 2017 Newsletter (Free Retreats, Class Dojo, Teens, Mindful AISD in the News)

October 2017 Newsletter (Videos, Meditation Bar Gift, Mindfulness Challenge)

September 2017 Newsletter (Mindfulness Videos)

August 2017 Newsletter (Starting mindfulness from Day 1)

2016-2017 Newsletters (One link to access all newsletters from last school year.)

If you haven't filled out the #mindfulAISD Google Form (below) and want to highlight your work and/or receive mindfulness support, please check it out. It only takes a moment to complete. Know someone in AISD interested in mindfulness? Send them this newsletter for them to fill out the Google Form.