Welcome to A to Z Mindful Education!

My name is Azadeh “Az” Malekan. I am an American Sign Language (ASL) teacher in NYC (Teacher’s College, Columbia University 2013). In my experience, I’ve had the privilege of working with students of varying backgrounds and goals—and I have come to realize that a holistic, inclusive educational model can profoundly change students’ perceived self-efficacy and, ultimately, their success. Because students mirror the energy and demeanor of their teachers, it is essential that we equip ourselves with the tools to better our classrooms and to allow us to be mindful of the behavior we project to our students. Incorporating simple techniques, such as breathing, acupressure, or laughter exercises can significantly improve student performance, alleviate anxiety, and relieve educators of the stresses related to classroom management and direction.

The field of education is rapidly evolving, and A to Z Mindful Education provides a platform for competency of mindfulness techniques—but, it also provides a forum for discussion among teachers so that the educational community can implement these methods and techniques in the classroom. With this in mind, I envision a future in which educational professionals can change the lives of students, but also dare to change themselves for the betterment of our students. Together, let’s create an educational destiny that reflects the philosophy of the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi:

 

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise, so I am changing myself.”