The Mindful Teacher

As academic achievement becomes narrowed into a single-minded obsession with test scores, what possibilities remain for ethical, caring teachers to hone their craft and inspire their students with the joy of learning? In The Mindful Teacher, authors MacDonald and Shirley discuss the prevalent problem of alienated teaching, often performed under external pressures that do not serve students well. They propose mindful teaching, informed by contemplative practices and teacher inquiry. The authors suggest key strategies for teachers to incorporate more reflection and awareness into their daily classroom routines. The seven synergies of mindful teaching are Open-Mindedness, Caring, Stopping, Professional Expertise, Authentic Alignment, Integration, and Collective Responsibility.