Research Behind the Program

The Appleseed Xpression Session is a program designed to help young students in elementary and middle schools with their mindfulness skills. My program is founded on Dweck’s principle of instilling a “growth mindset” with students. Per Dweck (2013), a “growth mindset” is when students can “believe that their basic talents and knowledge can be cultivated through embracing challenges, persistence through obstacles, accepting criticism, and gaining inspiration from their peers. 

Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through purposeful, attentive behavior, being in the present moment, and willing nonjudgmentally to accept experiences as they happen (Hooker and Fodor, 2008). Studies of yoga-oriented and exercise-based programs have confirmed that practicing mindfulness exercises has long-term benefits of better attention, self awareness, and self-confidence. (Holzel et al., 2011). One study by the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) in Baltimore City Schools evaluated the impact of introducing a mindfulness-based program through pre-recorded audio and video-guided online materials. The study showed that consistently stressed children are vulnerable to difficulties in learning how to effectively regulate their thoughts and emotions. Furthermore, teachers also benefited from mindfulness-based activities, i.e. better structure with their lessons, resulting in increasing their students focus (Benton, 2022).

My intention for Appleseed follows the research that “an integrated mindfulness-based intervention approach that focuses on both teachers and students holds a potential for a more profound and lasting effect” (Meiklejohn et al., 2012). Roeser et al. (2012) demonstrated that “practicing mindfulness among teachers may cultivate self-compassion and emotion regulation, reduce anxiety and burnout, and increase their well-being, which, in turn, supports the autonomy of their students and the emotionally supportive relations with them” (Benton, 2022).

Based on my readings and coursework at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, I am convinced that early introduction of mindfulness programs with young children could be most beneficial to themselves as individuals and to society. My Appleseed program is a very simple program and is free for schools to use, and perhaps other educational settings (e.g. after school). As part of the effort to assess the impact of the Xpression Session program, I have created short pre- and post- surveys (12-13 questions) for both students and teachers. Keeping in mind not to add a burden to the teachers, the Xpression Session is a 5-minute exercise to be practiced before the start of students’ first class. The Appleseed Xpression Session is designed to be a valuable experience for both the teacher and their students.