Union Street students practice mindfulness

Students in Ms. Harty's third grade class at Union Street School in Springfield took time out recently to stop and smell the roses.
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Union Street students practice mindfulness Nov 17, 2014 Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email More Sharing Services 0 Photo by: Courtesy Students in Ms. Harty's third grade class at Union Street School in Springfield took time out recently to stop and smell the roses. SPRINGFIELD — How do we slow down and just be present in the moment? Children are bombarded daily with each moment scheduled for them. They go to school, homework, sports, dance, afterschool activities, daycare, etc. Mindfulness skill building is being role-modeled and taught by Mrs. Rounds, school counselor at Union Street School. Zadah, a third grader said, “Laying in the grass on a blanket felt cool to me. I focused on the leaf and the tree bark, all annoying thoughts were out of my brain.” “It’s all about focusing on your breath or a positive thought and letting all other thoughts be welcomed as they float by,” said Mrs. Rounds. This calms your body and mind, letting you notice and be present now. Worries that we have about tomorrow, the future, math, reading are no longer taking over your mind...what a relief! Mrs. Rounds has given the students a plethora of strategies such as “mandala drawing,” eating a grape mindfully, positive thoughts, focus stones, focused breathing, sound/music vibration, breathing in nature and crossing the middle movements. The students at Union Street School really are taking time to “smell the roses.”