Description
Book SynopsisThis book introduces mindfulness as an approach for enhancing the supervision of teachers and teacher candidates. Drawing on empirical research and the welcoming of mindfulness in public school classrooms, the author makes the case for embracing mindfulness methods as a way to become more conscious of supervisory practices and “less reactive” and to enhance regularly enacted tasks, such as classroom observations, conference, and foster relationships and developing collegiality. In contrast to traditional models of supervision, the author reframes supervision as a present moment experience in which unlimited possibilities exist. Awakening to Educational Supervision: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Coaching and Supporting Teachers provides specific techniques and exercises, such as mindfulness breathing and meditation, mindful walking, mindful note-taking, and deep listening, that can be embedded in supervision routines and practices. Additional notions furthering the mindful supervision approach are also addressed, including the role of intuition, mindfulness in relation to ethical and moral action within supervision, and mindfulness as a way to further building community among school stakeholders.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Foreword by Stephen Gordon
Preface
Chapter 1: Mindfulness and Its Relevance to Educational Supervision
Defining Mindfulness
Historical Roots of Mindfulness
Four Foundations of Mindfulness
- The First Foundation (Body)
- The Second Foundation (Sensations)
- The Third Foundation (Mind)
- The Fourth Foundation (Realities)
Mindfulness Movement in the West
Scientific Benefits of Mindfulness
What Happens to the Brain When Engaging in Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness’ Relevance to Educational Supervision
Mindfulness Moment
Simple Breath Awareness
The Structure of This Book: Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness
What to Expect in this Book
Chapter 2: A Brief Overview of Instructional Supervision (and Where Mindfulness Fits In)
Chapter 3: Developing a Personal Mindfulness Practice
Chapter 4: Presence in Supervision
Chapter 5: Beginner’s Mind in Supervision
Chapter 6: Patience and Trust in Supervision
Chapter 7: Letting Go and Non-Striving as a Supervisor
Chapter 8: Acceptance and Non-Judgement
Chapter 9: Gratitude and Generosity (Yes, in Supervision)
Chapter 10: Mindfulness-Informed Educational Leadership: Moving Toward a More Inclusive Approach to Supervision
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Supervision and Overview of Supervision Models (and Where Mindfulness-Based Supervision Fits In)
Defining Supervision
A Historical Snapshot of Supervision
Evolving Views of Supervision
Premodern Era
Modern Era
Postmodern Era
The Current State of Supervision
How Can Mindfulness Help the Field of Supervision?
The Clinical Supervision Model
Pre-Observation Conference (Stage 1)
Classroom Observation (Stage 2)
Data Analysis and Strategy (Stage 3)
Conference (Stage 4)
Post-Analysis (Stage 5)
The Convergence of Mindfulness and the Clinical Supervision Cycle
The Six Immediate Response Skills
A Mindful Moment
What’s Next?
Chapter 3: Developing a Personal Mindfulness Meditation Practice
What Exactly is Meditation?
Choosing a Mindfulness Meditation Method
Experimentation with Meditation Methods
How Long Should You Meditate?
Where to Meditate?
When to Meditate?
How Do You Know Your Meditation is Working?
A Mindfulness-Based Meditation Method: Vipassana
What’s Next?
Chapter 4: Presence in Supervision
Presence in Educational Supervision
Cultivating Presence during the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post Conference
Presence in Leadership (Six Response Skills)
Noticing
Ignoring
Intervening
Pointing
Processing/Unpacking
A Mindful Moment
Mindfulness-Based Practices to Develop Presence
The Mindful Minute
Three-Minute Breathing Space
Grounding in Mindfulness
The Stage Exercise
Mindful Listening
What’s Next?
Chapter 5: Beginner’s Mind in Supervision
Beginner’s Mind and Educational Supervision
Cultivating Beginner’s Mind During the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Data Analysis
Post-Conference
Beginner’s Mind and the Immediate Response Skills
Noticing and Ignoring
A Mindful Moment
Mindfulness-Based Strategies to Cultivate Beginner’s Mind
Ask Questions
Clear Your Mind
Slow Down
Become Fully Present to the Task at Hand
Don’t Know Mind Meditation
Mindful Eating
Example of Beginner’s Mind Informing the Clinical Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
What’s Next?
Chapter 6: Patience and Trust in Supervision
Patience in Educational Supervision
Trust and Intuition
Intuition and Supervision
Cultivating Patience and Trust during the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
Patience and Trust and the Immediate Response Skills
Noticing
Ignoring
Intervening
Mindfulness-Based Practices to Encourage Patience and Trust
The Bell Exercise
Counting the Breath
Wrist Malas
Body Scan Meditation
- Abridged Body Scan
- Supervision Context
Loving Kindness Meditation
Example of Patience and Trust (Intuition) Informing the Clinical Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
What’s Next?
Chapter 7: Letting Go and Non-Striving as a Supervisor
Letting Go and Non-Striving in Educational Supervision
What’s in Your Supervision Backpack?
Cultivating Letting Go and Non-Striving during the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
Letting Go and the Immediate Response Skills
Noticing
Ignoring
Mindfulness-Based Practices for Letting Go
Breath Meditation
Four Foundations of Mindfulness Practice
Letting Go Meditation
Experiencing Emotions as a Form of Letting Go
Example of Letting Go and Non-Striving in Supervision
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
What’s Next?
Chapter 8: Acceptance and Non-Judgement in Supervision
Acceptance and Non-Judgement in Educational Supervision
Cultivating Acceptance and Non-Judgement during the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
Teachable Moments
Mindfulness-Based Strategies to Cultivate Acceptance and Non-Judgement
Acknowledging As a Form of Acceptance
Cultivating Acceptance and Non-Judgment During Meditation
Keep a Non-Judgment Journal
Chapter 9: Gratitude and Generosity (Yes, in Supervision)
Gratitude and Generosity in Educational Supervision
Cultivating Gratitude and Generosity during the Clinical Supervision Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
Mindfulness-Based Strategies to Cultivate Gratitude and Generosity
Ask “Gratitude” Questions
Keeping a Gratitude Journal
Gratitude Meditation
Practicing Generosity
Creatively Giving
Example of Gratitude and Generosity Informing the Clinical Cycle
Pre-Conference
Classroom Observation
Post-Conference
What’s Next?
Chapter 10: Mindfulness-Informed Educational Leadership: Moving Toward a More Inclusive Approach to Supervision
Embodied Mindfulness as a Tool for Critical Self-Reflection
The Body and Bias
The Inner Work of Culturally Responsive Supervision
Body Scan
Mindfulness of Intentions around Racial Justice Work
Mindfulness of Community Exercise
The RAIN Method
- Step 1: Recognize
- Step 2: Accept
- Step 3: Investigate
- Step 4: Non-Identify
Tonglen: Advanced Meditation for Inclusive Educational Leadership
Preparation for Tonglen
Stage 1: Equalizing Self and Other Within the Context of Supervision
Stage 2: Detriments of Self Preoccupation
Stage 3: The Benefits of Compassion and Altruism
Stage 4: Exchanging Self and Other
Final Thoughts on Mindfulness-Based Supervision
Resources
References
Index
About the Author
