Wauwatosa Montessori students practice mind-body awareness with help from Growing Minds program

Wauwatosa Montessori students added "mindfulness" to their vocabulary this week after a non-profit teaching organization, Growing Minds, kicked of its 10-week series on mind-body awareness at the school.

The goal of the program is to improve the Montessori classroom environment for kids and teachers by teaching social and emotional skills. This week, students learned how a still body and straight back can posture them for better focus in class.

"We're not only teaching the students, we're really teaching the teachers because the teachers are the ones who set the tone for the classroom," said Susan Solvang, executive director and founder of Growing Minds, based in Milwaukee.

Growing Minds instructors visit each classroom twice a week for 15 minutes to present "mindful" techniques.

All grades are included in the series, which was paid for by Montessori and the Parent Teacher Student Association. This is Growing Minds' first time working with Wauwatosa's Montessori, which is located in the district's administrative office, 12121 W. North Ave.

"We're looking for a way to empower students to engage in learning, but to be mindful of how they respond to situations," said Principal Bill Anderson. "We want to help transform our culture."

Shannon Kobinsky, a teacher, said she hopes this series will help her class of four- and five-year-olds to "keep focus so we can learn." The mindful seated position that students learned aligned with Kobinsky's instruction to raise your hand before speaking, and work on not interrupting other students.

Growing Minds instructor Amy Gardner defined mindfulness as "paying attention to what's happening right now."

She said her role is to "present an experience" that students can model and feel the effects of. Later in the series, Gardner said she will teach basic brain science and its affect on the body.

For homework, students were asked to practice sitting with a mindful body in the car, on the couch or at the table.

Gardner has a teaching background and also works as a yoga instructor. She said all 10 Growing Minds instructors are required to have a personal mindfulness or meditation practice.

Maggie Burmeister, a teacher, said she thinks the program will help her class during transitions between activities and also help in preventing conflicts.

"This program will be good when kids feel out of control," said Burmeister. "I think it's beneficial for every child individually. They'll each get something a little different out of it."

After the 10 weeks, Montessori teachers and students will continue the mindfulness practice in school.

Anderson said, "We believe these practices will really be there for a lifetime."