Date of Award
1-2016
Document Type
Action Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Education, Montessori
First Advisor
Nicole Wilcox
Department/School
Montessori Elementary Education, Elementary Education
Abstract
Abstract The purpose of this research was to teach children how to control and deepen their focus through mindfulness practice. The study integrated a daily practice of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) movements, breathing, and focus training. The six-‐week study involved fourteen children between the ages of 5 and 9 years from a private school in the Bay Area of California. Data collection included a pre-‐and post-‐ assessment for each child, daily observations, and parent observations. Results of the pre-‐and post-‐assessments revealed mixed opinions on the connection between deepened focus and mindfulness practice. Observation data showed an overall increase in the children’s ability to use deep concentration on a task. Parent observations indicated that learners did not consistently show comparable effects in their home environments. The data shows a positive correlation between the MBSR practice and focus in children from ages 5 to 9. Suggestions for further research include a larger sample-‐size across a wider range of diversity and an extended study period. Keywords: mindfulness, meditation, stress reduction, attention, focus, Elementary
Recommended Citation
Coiner, Lauren M.. (2016). Mindfulness-Based Practice in an Elementary Classroom. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maed/138