- Year 2018
- NSF Award #1340107
- Registration Current Noyce Scholar
- First Name Cynthia
- Last Name Garcia-Paniagua
- Discipline Biology
- Institution Mills College
- School Name and District Currently Teaching Bret Harte Middle School, Oakland Unified School District
Abstract
The goal of this research paper is to understand student perspective on a mindfulness activity (body scan meditation) that was implemented in a newcomer classroom setting. The project was guided by the research question ‘How do students make sense of mindfulness’? Much of the research surrounding mindfulness in adolescents is about the benefits that it can have on students however little to no research focuses on their actual experience. I conducted this research in a newcomer 9th grade biology class where most of the students have had less than three years of living in the United States. The students did a guided body scan meditation for six weeks in class and then wrote about their experience. Overall in this study, students self-reported an increase in student self-awareness of emotions, thoughts and self-acceptance. Students mentioned being able to understand their emotions and thoughts better through the mindfulness activity. When asked if they would like to continue doing the body scan meditation after the research period, 95.7% of the students said ‘yes’ because it helped them relax, feel better, and concentrate more. This research raises more questions on how we, as teachers and researchers, can use mindfulness as a way for newcomer students to heal from their past traumatic experiences.
