Planting Seeds of Mindfulness

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Dorothy Sisk and Michele Kane have produced a wide-ranging introduction to mindfulness with a special focus on the traits and needs of gifted children, as well as on the opportunities that gifted programs offer for the teaching and practice of mindfulness. The book opens with an important chapter entitled “The Science of Mindfulness,” in which Dr. Sisk discusses some of the multitude of studies that show the positive effects of practicing mindfulness and of introducing students to mindfulness. The evidence is overwhelmingly in support of the difference mindfulness can make in the life of an individual, as well as in the individual and collective behaviors of students in a classroom.

In an elegant second chapter, Dr. Sisk focuses on the art of mindfulness and then leads readers through discussions of the important connection between mindfulness and compassion, as well as on social/emotional learning in terms of being, belonging, and becoming. Dr. Sisk devotes a chapter to exploring self-affirmations and students’ sense of identity. Dr. Kane provides a chapter on the importance of mindfulness in helping students find their purpose in life. Dr. Sisk discusses the importance of mindfulness to self-regulation. Dr. Kane provides chapters on the role of mindfulness in developing a caring school culture and on strategies for implementing mindfulness in the classroom. In a final chapter, Dr. Sisk provides a discussion of peace building and peace education and their place in fostering inner peace and tranquility.

In each chapter there is a discussion of what parents and children can do at home to increase the practice and derive the benefits of mindfulness.

The book makes a compelling case for practicing mindfulness as an individual and for leading children in the practice of mindfulness as individuals and as members of a community. As Dr. Linda Silverman wrote after reading the book, “I know I need to bring more mindfulness into my life.” As Stephanie S. Tolan wrote, mindfulness is “a must-have technique that is especially important for the gifted.” This is a book with the potential for offering life-altering benefits.