The Mindful Teacher's Handbook (How to step out of busyness and find peace)

Written by Kamalagita Hughes, The Mindful Teacher's Handbook: How to step out of busyness and find peace is a practical guide to mindfulness that will empower teachers and school staff to take better care of their well-being and find calm in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of the school setting.

When we're on an aeroplane, the on-board safety instructions tell us that in the event of an emergency we should put on our own oxygen mask first - and only then help those around us. The same is true for well-being: we need to look after ourselves in order to be a resource for others. This is especially the case in busy, high-pressure environments such as our classrooms and schools, where burnout is a real concern for teachers and leaders, who all too often relegate their own self-care to the bottom of the to-do list.

The Mindful Teacher's Handbook is a practical and engaging resource to help everyone in schools bring mindfulness into their lives in a meaningful way. Mindfulness practice offers simple, straightforward strategies for finding peace and regaining perspective, and has a solid body of evidence that attests to its efficacy. In this book, Kamalagita Hughes provides a lively and engaging blend of top tips, research evidence, case studies, guided meditations and suggested exercises for all - both for those new to mindfulness and for those who want to refresh their practice.

Providing a thorough, grounded understanding of mindfulness and its benefits for the school community, the book explores the links between well-being and education and sets out how improved staff and student well-being can cultivate a better teaching and learning environment for all. Kamalagita offers practical strategies that school staff can put into practice straight away - both for their own well-being and that of their pupils - including insightful case studies on how best to bring mindfulness to your school.

Suitable for teachers, teaching assistants and school leaders.

A practical guide to mindfulness that will empower teachers and school staff to take better care of their well-being and find calm in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of the school setting.Kamalagita's vast experience as a mindfulness trainer, teacher of young people and collaborator with schools on their mindfulness journey means that she is in a unique position to write this accessible guide to a more spacious life. The combination of research-based evidence and personal testimonies from teachers and school leaders, along with the raft of practical exercises that can be implemented immediately, make this a powerful educator's handbook for our troubled times. If you allow Kamalagita's empathetic voice to speak to you as you enter classrooms and walk along corridors, as I have done, I am confident that you will quickly feel that working life and home life are both more manageable and enjoyable. Over-committing, being overwhelmed and negative self-talk are familiar patterns in our high-pressure environment. Kamalagita's easily learnt techniques are a lifeline that remind us we are not alone in experiencing or dealing with stress. They provide quick fixes, as well as the opportunity for more sustained change to work-life balance. Whether you are new to teaching, a hardened professional with many years of experience, a classroom assistant or a senior leader, this book has something for you. Kamalagita gives us permission to recognise that we are all human and that we share many more of our common day-to-day experiences than we might like to think. I hope that Kamalgita's case studies and work with strategic leads inspire teachers and leaders to take up the challenge of making their schools more mindful for students and staff. The evidence presented is clear - there will be a positive impact for individuals, institutions, families and society.

Jane Barnes

As the well-being imperative in schools and colleges grows eve