Cultivating Calm, Curiosity, and Care Among Adolescents

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors examine the potential of mindfulness-based programming in schools as a support for student well-being, success, and meaning-making. The authors evaluate the attributes of the Inner Strength Education teen mindfulness program, a classroom-based 12-lesson program for adolescents. They look at the impact of teaching mindfulness, compassion building, peer dialogue, and systems thinking, and identify how these modalities can successfully bring purpose and meaning-making into an urban public school environment with positive impact on student mental and emotional health.