Mindfulness in Schools .b classes
.b (pronounced dot-be) is a 10-week course for young people aged 11-18, delivered in the classroom or in small groups within other youth-related settings.
MiSP reports that .b courses have been taught in many schools as part of PSHE and is recognised by OFSTED as part of wellbeing in schools.
Contact us for your free introductory session.
What are the benefits for students?
The intention of .b is to help young people who undertake the course to overcome difficulties, thrive and flourish. The research, so far, into its effectiveness suggests it does have the potential to meet these ambitious goals.
In summary, .b aims to help young people:
- To cultivate better focus and concentration, which has been linked to increased performance and improved mood
- To gain greater self-worth, confidence and ability to keep calm, with increased social skills and awareness
- To work with demanding mental states such as low mood, rumination and anxious thoughts
- To recognise the value of silence and body awareness, with gratitude and compassion between young people
- To experience greater wellbeing, even during exam times
Latest Research
Willem Kuyken et al (2013) reported that adolescents who completed .b had significantly lower depressive symptoms and stress, and greater wellbeing. You can read the British Journal of Psychiatry paper here.
Other studies include Felicia Huppert and Daniel Johnson’s 2008 pilot study, which was published in Positive Psychology. It indicated that the earliest four lesson version of .b was acceptable to adolescents, and that practice time was related to benefits. You can read the paper here.
MiSP Research Advisor Sarah Hennelly’s master’s project on .b indicated that an eight lesson version was associated with improvements in mindfulness, resilience, and wellbeing, and that these benefits were sustained six months later. Interviews with pupils suggested that some felt more confident and academically competent. You can read the study here.
Two Educational Psychology Doctoral projects have been completed. They indicated improvements in performance, attention, mood, and relationships; click to read report 1 here and report 2 here.
What happens in these 10 sessions?
Session 1. An introductory lesson
Helping young people understand that mindfulness is worth learning about by making it directly relevant to their lives.
Session 2. Playing Attention
Introduces students to our “attention” which, like a puppy, benefits from being trained.
Session 3. Taming the Animal Mind
Explores different mind states and teaches that ‘anchoring’ attention in the body, alongside the cultivation of curiosity and kindness, can be calming and nourishing.
Session 4 Recognising Worry
Explains the tricks our mind plays that lead to stress and anxiety, and gives us techniques to deal with them.
Session 5 Being Here Now
Comes to the heart of mindfulness and teaches us how to respond, rather than react, to whatever happens in our lives.
Session 6 Moving Mindfully
Shows us that mindfulness is not just something we do sitting or lying down. It also looks at high performance in sports
Session 7 Stepping Back
Offers us a new way of relating to our thoughts. We don’t have to let them carry us away to places we’d rather not be
Session 8 Befriending the Difficult
Deals with the greatest challenge of all: dealing with difficult emotions.
Session 9 Taking in the Good
Focuses on gratitude and the ‘heartfulness’ of taking in & savouring what is ‘good’ in life.
Session 10 Putting it all together
Consolidates the key techniques from .b and inspires students to use what they have learned and take it with them for the rest of their lives .
Contact us for your free introductory session.
Staff and children talk about their experience of .b course