9th Grade Focus

At the start of the year our focus was providing an instructor to model the Mindful Moment for each first period class. With 48 first period classes this presented a challenge for scheduling instructors to visit all 48 classes. Each class would have two instructor visits per month. This created opportunities for students to easily fall back into old habits of ignoring the practice when instructors were not in their classroom. We needed a more focused group toward which to direct of efforts and since the 9th grade group is the newest to the practice, they were the obvious choice. We began visiting each 9th grade class at least 3 times a week.

The Administration allowed our Ambassadors to join the effort by convening in our room at 10:00 AM and joining staff to model the Mindful Moment within the 9th grade classrooms. One of our strongest Ambassadors, Christopher Bowman, led other Ambassadors into 9th grade classrooms like our instructors. With Christopher, and the Mindful Moment Staff we were able to cover each 9th grade class twice a week, and some 3 times a week as there are only ten 9thgrade first period classes. This made a significant difference in the behavior of the 9th grade classes during the Mindful Moment time. This also increased our interaction with the 9th grade teachers as we were now seeing them at least twice a week in the morning and afternoon. Many of our Ambassadors are from the 9th grade cohort so we expect buy in to increase next year as we focus on both 9th and 10th grade.

In 2014, Patterson students and teachers have increased their involvement with the program, with students demonstrating enhanced interest in learning about yoga. Teachers and staff are visiting the Mindful Moment room comparatively more frequently; as such, greater support is being generated for students at all levels. 2014 also marked the first year the program has been offered with elementary-aged students. The expansion built upon a well-established relationship with Robert W. Coleman Elementary School and should ensure an increased impact on the staff and students of this school and the immediate community.