"Setting intentions is like planting seeds of purpose; with care and attention, they grow into a beautiful and strong mindset."🌻

Setting Intentions with Your Students: A Daily Mindfulness Practice for Success

As teachers, we know the power of a strong start to the day!

Our morning sets the tone for everything that follows, and incorporating a practice like setting intentions can make a world of difference in creating a calm and focused learning environment. 

Why Set Intentions?

"Setting an intention is like drawing a map of where you wish to go. It becomes the driving force behind your actions, and you'll start to notice the universe aligning to bring you closer to your goal." – Anonymous

Setting intentions helps students focus, stay positive, and develop self-awareness. Starting each day with intention-setting, helps students connect with their goals, fostering a sense of purpose and emotional well-being.

Benefits of Setting Intentions

Let's do more of what works and less of what doesn't. In my experience... setting intentions...works!

1. Improved Focus: Setting intentions helps students direct their attention toward specific, meaningful goals. This practice encourages them to prioritize tasks and manage distractions effectively.

2. Positive Mindset: By articulating positive intentions, students cultivate a growth mindset. This mindset allows them to face challenges with resilience and confidence, promoting a healthier approach to learning.

3. Enhanced Self-Awareness: Intention-setting encourages students to reflect on their thoughts and feelings. This self-awareness is crucial for emotional development, helping them recognize their emotional triggers and responses.

4. Emotional Regulation: Intentions provide students with tools to manage their emotions. By focusing on specific intentions, they can develop coping strategies for stress or anxiety, leading to improved emotional health.

5. Goal-Setting Skills: Setting daily intentions teaches students the fundamentals of goal-setting. They learn to define actionable steps toward achieving their goals.

6. Fostering Empathy and Community: Sharing intentions within the classroom creates a supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. This practice encourages empathy and strengthens peer relationships, contributing to a positive classroom community.

7. Productive Start to the Day: Beginning the day with intention-setting establishes a calm and focused atmosphere. This routine not only enhances students' emotional well-being but also sets the stage for increased productivity throughout the day.

How do you set intentions with your students?

Step 1: Introduce Mindfulness

Start by explaining what mindfulness is in simple terms.

You can say, "Mindfulness means paying full attention to something. It means slowing down to really notice what you're doing."

Example Activity: Breathing Exercises

Guide students through a short breathing exercise. Ask them to sit comfortably, close their eyes, and take deep breaths. Encourage them to focus on the sensation of their breath entering and leaving their bodies.

Step 2: Explain Setting Intentions

Explain that setting intentions means deciding how we want to be or what we want to focus on. It's like making a promise to ourselves.

Example Activity: Morning Intention-Setting

Each morning, take a few minutes for students to set their intentions for the day. Encourage them to think about how they want to behave, how they want to feel, or something they want to achieve. Students can then share their intentions with the class or a partner, or write them down on sticky-notes, in journals, or agenda planners.

Having a sticky note on the desk is a great reminder of the intention thought the day!

Step 3: Provide Examples of Intentions

Give students examples of intentions to help them understand and come up with their own.

Student Intentions Examples

• "I will be kind to my classmates."

• "I will listen carefully to my teacher."

• "I will try my best in math today."

• "I will take a deep breath when I'm worried."

• "I will ask a question in science today."

Step 4: Model Intention-Setting

As a teacher, set your own intentions and share them with your students. This models the behavior and shows its importance.

Teacher Intention Examples

• "Today, I intend to be patient and understanding."

• "I will give each student my full attention when they speak."

• "I will stay positive even when things get challenging."

Step 5: Reflect and Review

At the end of the day or week, take time to reflect on the intentions. Discuss with students how their intentions influenced their behavior and feelings.

Reflection Questions

• "How did setting an intention help you today?"

• "Did you face any challenges in keeping your intention?"

• "How do you feel after practicing mindfulness?"

Setting Intentions Resource

Would you like a bit of support setting intentions with your students?

CLICK HERE to view the Setting Intentions resource. It is a step-by-step guide that makes it easy to incorporate this practice into your classroom. Here's what's included:

• Morning Meeting Script: A step-by-step script for leading the intention-setting exercise.

• Morning Meeting Video Script Option: Play the video and participate with your students, if you prefer.

• Poster - What is an Intention?: Explains the concept of intentions and their benefits.

• Poster - Setting Intentions - Today I Will…: Examples of intentions for students

• Educator's Guide: Tips and strategies for effectively using the resource in your classroom.

How to Use the Resource

Integrating this resource into your morning routine is simple and impactful. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Share the Poster: Begin by discussing the "What is an Intention?" poster with your students. This will help them understand the concept and its importance.

2. Morning Exercise: Start each morning or the first day of the week with the Setting Intentions mindfulness exercise. Read the script or play the video and follow along.

3. Sharing Intentions: Encourage students to share their intentions in various ways – aloud with the class, pair-share with a partner, or write it down on a sticky note or in an agenda planner.

4. Revisit Intentions: Throughout the week, revisit the intentions and celebrate the small wins of your students. This reinforcement helps maintain focus and positivity.

Transform Your Mornings☀️

By incorporating setting intentions into your mornings, you create a space for mindfulness and connection.

This small practice can lead to significant improvements in students' emotional and academic growth.

Start each day with intention and watch your students thrive.

Remember, it only takes a few mindful minutes a day to create a BIG impact. 

Be well and enjoy the mindfulness journey!

Christine