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The CD Story
The Conference - January 2005
The embryonic stage of this project started at a London Borough of Hounslow Education Action Zone, Conference. Approximately eighty Zone teachers attended Neo's ‘Managing Stress’ workshop; the evaluations showed that it was a resounding success. The experiential aspects of this workshop were very well received and by popular demand a follow up Sunday workshop was arranged in July. Evaluations indicated not only a need in this area for adults but also for children.
CD [1] ‘Managing Stress’– August 2005
Neo was then commissioned by the Zone to produce a ‘Managing Stress’ CD for teachers with two tracks at the end for experimental use with pupils.
Action Research in the Classroom - November 2005:
A training day was delivered by Elaine Moreton, Zone director and a fully qualified yoga/meditation teacher. Eleven schools undertook action research in their classrooms using the CD. The schools were fully committed to this project and completed very comprehensive evaluation booklets that included pupils’ quotes and photographs.
The overwhelming feedback was that this work had had a positive impact on the majority of pupils helping to calm them and prepare them for learning. Most importantly it gave them a tool for life. There is a growing realization that this work supplements and supports the government’s ‘Promoting Emotional Health and Wellbeing’ agenda.
CD [2] Guided relaxation, meditation and visualisation techniques for children aged 7-11yrs - August 2006:
This new CD specifically for pupils was scripted and created by Elaine Moreton, features the voice of Neo and pupils’ drawings have been used as illustrations on the CD.
CD Launch Training – November 2006:
The CD was successfully launched in November and has proved popular with teachers and parents. It is now being used in over 18 Local Authority schools and is continuing to attract interest from other schools and other local authorities across England. The project has been closely monitored and evaluated and the following insightful, comments from teachers and pupils provide clear evidence of the impact and success of the CD.
Teachers’ comments:
"It helps to calm them down straight after a stressful lunchtime. Some children smiling and mouthing the words with the CD e.g. 'I am loved.' 'I am relaxed.'"
"Children are much calmer, ready to learn, more focused."
"The children have been stunning – some of the most unlikely children have become highly engrossed. One boy with ADHD is now able to sit quietly through the CD."
"The use of this CD is fully embedded within the school. Children really enjoy doing the meditation, some of the 10yr old boys in particular enjoy the ‘Heart meditation’ – considering sending group of them down to lower year groups to meditate with younger children to act as positive role models."
"Nice clear instructions that pupils can understand and follow."
Pupils’ comments:
'Makes me feel relaxed.'
'My troubles go away.'
'Very relaxing+ good when you’re stressed.'
'It’s a good CD because it relaxes you; there are less fights and tantrums because you forget about everything.'
'It’s good because you can’t hear anything outside the classroom.'
'The ’love’ makes you feel very special.'
'You can empty your mind & know you are loved.'
It consists of 7 deep guided meditations for children.
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