Supporting Student Mindfulness Through Finger Tracing 

Educator Research

This idea is used to help students calm their bodies and focus their thinking through focusing their attention on their in-breath and out-breath while tracing the pattern around the fingers of one hand.

Instructions and Materials:

https://ggie.berkeley.edu/practice/finger-tracing-mindful-breathing-for-students/#tab

1. Before beginning the video or sharing the transcript with your students, invite them to get into a comfortable position (sitting or standing).
2. Ask them what they notice about the movement of breath in and out of their bodies? Where do they feel it?
3. Invite them to learn to track their breath by tracing its pattern on their hand.
   The Video: Mindful Moments JusTime

• Research Base

  Greater Good in Education: Science-Based Practices for Kinder, Happier Schools

• Impact

  “While research on the effects of mindfulness on young children is still in the early stages, a 2016 review of 12 studies suggests some promising outcomes for young children relative to attention, self-regulation, and motor skills. A 2014 meta-analysis that focuses on 24 studies of K-12 students showed changes in students’ attention and resilience to stress, including positive emotions, self-esteem, and self-concept. And a 2019 targeted review of mindfulness interventions with young adolescents indicated multiple benefits to their well-being.”

  (Greater Good in Education)

• Practical Keys to Success
  • Try this activity yourself first.
  • After practicing this technique regularly try it before an activity that can produce anxious energy in some kids (tests, quizzes, performances) and notice out loud together how they feel before and after.
• Measurement

  This is how you tell if this idea leads to improvement for your students. Use an exit ticket with the following questions to collect data from students on your watch list:

  1. How ready are you for class? (1 = not ready, 5 = ready)
  2. How calm do you feel (1 = not calm, 5 = very calm)

  

  Record student information and exit ticket responses over time. Measure the change in the responses to the exit ticket questions. Here is a link to the data collection spreadsheet:

  Supporting Mindfulness Through Finger Tracing Data Collection Spreadsheet