We are “noticers” in our class. Often, when we are reading a book, or learning about any given topic, a child will truly see something new, or understand a deeper meaning in our lesson. They make a connection. I will proclaim enthusiastically, “Good noticing!” This extends to what we see around us and what we are curious about, but lately I’m thinking that it’s bigger than that. Something about myself and my students (and all of us) that I am aware of (mindful) is that at the core of how everyone is feeling is self awareness and understanding.  We work hard in JrK to give meanings to our feelings right at the moment.  So, not only are we noticing new ideas in our classroom but we are noticing feelings inside of ourselves. See? We are noticers.

The two questions we all can ask ourselves at any given moment are “What do I notice?” followed up with “What happens next?” I’m noticing that I can use these important questions both in unit work and in mindfulness. When we are reading a new story, or examining a pine cone, or creating a pattern, I can remind my students to notice differences, similarities, new ideas.  We are in the moment. The follow up for this question is “What’s next?” What can we do with this information?  How can we use it? What connections can we make?  How can we get ourselves to understand more?

Let’s apply these noticing skills to mindfulness and awareness in our classroom.  What are you feeling in this moment and what will happen next? The truth is, we don’t really know what will happen next but we play a big role in it. When we pause to notice the now, we take a breath and create a space.  We don’t have to react right away or understand right away.   And when we don’t respond right away, we realize that we get to choose what happens next. Time and awareness give us what we need.

I believe that we are all right where we are supposed to be, with the skills and challenges that we each have. The mindfulness begins when we accept each other, and ourselves, at that moment but still wonder about how to move forward. I am learning about each of your children.  I am noticing what they can do and what they are working on.  Their similarities and differences. The question for me is then “What’s next?” How do I take each child as far as they can go in my classroom. Mindfulness is a guidepost in our learning. This guidepost reaches through our own awareness and right into early academics and big ideas.  And the outcome will be that we will own our feelings and our awareness just as we will own our learning because, with practice, we will learn to answer the two most important questions for ourselves.