"Riddle
what do you do
20 times per minute,
30,000 times a day,
10 million times a year,
without trying,
without thinking,
without knowing."
Middle grade mindfulness is of utmost importance in these days of uncertainty and isolation. Each of us is wanting to feel more peaceful, more connected, more involved in the world we inhabit. To be able to stop in the middle of everything and find a quiet spot to reflect on our feelings offers calm. In her poems for middle grade students, Georgia Heard does what she does best. She calls gently to her readers to find a place of calm in the midst of chaos.
There are 30 thoughtful poems here, placed in 6 sections: the first includes a note to readers, then Breathe In Breathe Out, Mindful Me, Mindful World, Meditation and finally, Kindfulness. Through her wise words and well-constructed poems, Ms. Heard encourages her readers to consider how they are feeling, and letting those feelings take a back seat to their ability to accept them by finding ways to be in control of their thoughts and reactions.
"When My Noisy Mind Quiets
Here in this chair
my noisy mind
settles into quiet.
I leave all my to-do's
in a place
asleep like winter trees.
Then I become friends
with the seasons of my breath,
and my own voice blossoms."
The author writes about quiet observation, exploring the peace of the natural world, and mentions other types of meditation that come from world communities. Using these poems in a classroom or at home during these anxious times could be just what everyone needs. It would be welcome as a read aloud in any middle years classroom.
No comments:
Post a Comment