Inner Practices for Teachers

With Jackie Kaufman

August 14 - 21, 2009

Three credits will be awarded by St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT.

The inner life of the one who teaches is an essential area of inquiry for those in the teaching profession. In order to offer authentic presence and caring to our students, teachers must first consistently offer that to ourselves. This 3-credit graduate class explores personal inner practices that bring a greater awareness of our inner lives and contribute to a pedagogy based on caring and compassion.

As one recent class participant, a middle school science teacher, noted: "Doing my mindfulness practice each morning, I watch my thoughts come and go and I am filled with compassion for my human-ness. I am more energetic, spontaneous, and happy in the classroom than I have ever been. Students are more eager to learn, asking deeper thinking questions, and are much more caring towards each other. Connections are being made all the time now- connections within the mind, and even more powerfully, connections of the heart. As a result, true, deep learning is happening. As evidence of that, grades are going up."

This course combines aspects of western pedagogy with practices such as meditation, deep listening, drawing, movement, and shared silence. The educational practice of contemplative observation is introduced and practiced in the school setting.

Class size limited to 20. Credits will be awarded by St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT.

Tuition: $595 Program fees include 3 meals per day served by the Karmê Chöling kitchen.

About Jackie Kaufman

Jacqueline Kaufman is a Vermont English teacher and a 14-year veteran of Alternative Education Programs. She currently practices at BFA St. Albans where her innovative coursework for teenagers emphasizes the redemptive power of writing and sharing their personal stories. She earned her Master's in Contemplative Education at Naropa University in 2007, writing a thesis about compassion as the basis for effective pedagogy. She became an Adjunct Professor at St. Michael's College Graduate Program in Education in 2008 when she wrote and began teaching this course, Inner Practices: Deepening Presence and Interconnection in Your Classroom.

This program is being held at Karmê Chöling Shambhala Meditation Center in Barnet, Vermont.  To register please email registration@tailofthetiger.org with your name, address, phone number, email address, name of the program and choice of accommodations. You will be contacted for deposit information and confirmation of registration.

In an effort to make our programs accessible to all, we offer an interest free payment plan. This plan allows you to pay 50% of the total prior to or at the time of registration and give post-dated check or credit card authorization for the remainder of the balance for up to six month post program. If you are interested in this payment option, please let the registration department know when you confirm your registration.