Mindfulness Wellbeing and Resilience for Schools

Course Overview

Teachers need to be nourished before they can nourish others… This comprehensive, cross curricular course is a well-balanced, creative course with nourishing practices including mindfulness, wellness, resilience, ‘WSE with ease’ and a variety of resources for skillful and easy whole school implementation. Coming from a wealth of creative practices, rigorous research, and extensive interaction with teachers across the country, it ensures a unique and practical experience for Irish teachers, the Irish curriculum and Irish schools. We wish you a restful and practical experience enjoying simple teacher and pupil activities to support daily life in the classroom, school and beyond.

Learning outcomes

    Through participation in the course teachers will:
  • Practise and understand the application of wellbeing and mindfulness for teachers and pupils
  • Explore aspects of stress in teaching and preparation of a WSE with Ease
  • Engage in relevant classroom activities for pupils’ mental and emotional wellbeing
  • Focus on the creation of a healthy environment and activities for mindful communication with children with special educational needs
  • Plan for whole-school wellbeing and SSE

About the Authors

Ann Caulfield & Derval Dunford

Ann Caulfield

Ann is a recognised leader in the fields of mindfulness for children and for teacher care. Her work is deeply informed by her personal mindfulness practice which she began at the age of 19 and she has since taught mindful awareness practices to children and adults for over 30 years.

Her background spans the fields of education, community development and health with a particular interest in mindfulness and compassion in the workplace. Ann advocates this practice among educators by designing and delivering Continuing Professional Development for schools, organisations and education centres, is a Guest Lecturer in various teacher training colleges and a regular contributor to educational conferences and discussion fora.

As a part-time lecturer in Applied Social Studies in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (Mayo Campus) mindfulness is encouraged among the student population. Additional working time is reserved for freelance facilitation with schools and organisations in supporting mindfulness and wellbeing towards thriving and flourishing.

Derval Dunford

Derval is a pioneer in mindfulness and breathwork, her work has been endorsed by healthcare professionals internationally. www.sui.ie Derval’s recent work includes trauma-sensitive practices, since 2020 she has worked online with renowned US psychiatrists, researchers and authors, Doctors Gerbarg and Brown. Creativity, common sense and fun are central to Derval’s work. Her passion is fuelled by her recovery from PTSD and Chronic Fatigue.

Derval has worked with a wide range of organisations since 2006.All of her courses and workshops are tailor-made. Acknowledging individual’s unique contribution to the world is important in her work. Derval is the only teacher in Ireland qualified in Breath-Body-Mind (Dr Gerbarg & Brown), the only Irish teacher trained in BreathMastery (Dan Brulé world renowned breathwork trainer). She is also a qualified MBSR teacher (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) UMASS, Yoga Nidra teacher YNN, KRainbow Kid’s Yoga teacher, HeathMath Breath Coach, and Stress Management teacher.

Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness Matters was set up in 2011 by Derval Dunford and Dr. Ann Caulfield. It is one of the original organisations in Ireland to promote mindfulness for teachers and children. With a priority on wellness and self-care, over 9,000 teachers throughout the country have been trained by Mindfulness Matters since 2011. In collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills, the Mayo Education Centre and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. www.mindfulnessmatters.ie

Course Access & Certification

This course runs from Monday 4th July - Friday 19th August.

Registration is now open and the last date for registration is Wednesday 17th August.

Access to the course closes at 5pm on 19th August for all participants.

Certification

This course is approved for E.P.V. certification by the Department of Education

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