An Education Based Initiative For Philadelphia's Underserved Schools

Providing students and teachers in Philadelphia’s underserved Schools with greater physical and emotional well-being, paving the way for compassionate classrooms, and creating space for academic success.

A New Harvard study reveals that mindfulness education in the classroom can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems.

 

-Center For Education Policy Research
Harvard University
Mindfulness In The Classroom

Harvard University's recommendations for Mindfulness Education in the classroom reflect everything that SMP has so carefully built its programming upon: A school-wide secular approach, opportunity for consistent practice, engaged classroom teachers and sustainability of programming.

 

-Center For Education Policy Research
Harvard University
Mindfulness In The Classroom

ACLU report confirms that too many Philadelphia school students are getting arrested instead of receiving support to head off violence before it starts.

SMPeace Impact

Upon Completion SMP Programming…

100%

of classroom teachers report that students interact more kindly with them and their classmates

  • Kenderton 2022
  • Stearne Autistic Support 2023

92%

of classroom teachers report that their classroom community "changed for the better"

  • Stearne 2023

100%

of classroom teachers report sustained improvement in their classroom learning environment

  • Kenderton 2022

100%

of classroom teachers report students are better able to self-regulate their behavior

  • Kenderton 2022
  • Stearne Autistic Support 2023

An Innovative Education-Based Initiative

Providing students and teachers in Philadelphia Schools with greater physical and emotional well-being, paving the way for compassionate classrooms, and creating space for academic success.

Our Mission

Many schools throughout the country are recognizing the benefits of integrating mindfulness in the classroom, but are faced with figuring out how to successfully educate their school staff while providing a foundation in mindfulness to their students.

At The School Mindfulness Project®, we’ve developed an educational model that aspires to improve the physical, emotional and academic well-being of entire school communities by providing sustainable mindfulness education and mindful movement education to staff and students on a school-wide basis.

School Mindfulness Project® founder and CEO, Gail Silver, has been providing yoga and mindfulness to children in schools since 2002 through Philadelphia’s Yoga Child Inc. As a mindfulness educator and author with first-hand experience reaching students through engaging curriculum,  Gail knows the that the key to implementing and sustaining mindfulness in schools is to support and educate all students and all staff, from inception through integration.   

Our Mission

Many schools throughout the country are recognizing the benefits of integrating mindfulness in the classroom, but are faced with figuring out how to successfully educate their school staff while providing a foundation in mindfulness to their students.

At The School Mindfulness Project®, we’ve developed an educational model that aspires to improve the physical, emotional and academic well-being of entire school communities by providing sustainable mindfulness education and mindful movement education to staff and students on a school-wide basis.

*PSD open data from school years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020

IN THE NEWS

Read about SMP in The Philadelphia Citizen

Philly’s own Gail Silver is one step ahead of Harvard, having created the nonprofit School Mindfulness Project, which strives to create an entire mindfulness ecosystem in schools and the wider community

How It Works

When The School Mindfulness Project® (SMP) comes to your school, your school receives:

  •  50+ hours of on-site immersion training, education, applied practice and integration support for your staff
  • A 12-week, 12 hr foundational training in mindfulness and mindful movement for students
  • A team of dedicated SMP educators and yoga professionals
  • Weekly yoga classes for students
  • Pre-program conferences for your staff and community
  • Adaptable programming for students serving in-school suspension
  • The option to apply SMP training toward ACT 48 professional development  for your staff
  • Our commitment to training all classrooms and staff in your school in one year (when funding permits) or the option to elect a three or five year scalable program model which provides programming for one to eight classrooms per year.

 As we conclude our program with your students and transition to a neighboring school, your staff are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge and skills to assume their role as mindfulness educators and to integrate mindfulness education into the classroom setting with daily lessons from our curriculum. 

  

Evidence-Based Research Tells Us That School-Based Mindfulness Education Supports Positive Outcomes

For Students

Improved self-regulation

Improved ability to focus

Improved ability to make skillful choices

Improved memory retention

Improved ability to learn

Improved self-awareness

Improved emotional and physical  and academic wellbeing

For Staff

Ease of classroom management

Reduced job stress

A peaceful teaching and learning environment

Improved engagement and communication with students

Greater job satisfaction

The many joys that accompany cultivating a mindful classroom

For Your School Community

 

The cultivation of a more compassionate school community

Healthier student bodies

Greater academic success

A more resilient school culture

Sustained emotional, physical and academic well-being

 

Contact Us