01 Oct Flourish Curriculum Included in School-Based Mindfulness Program Review
Students practicing mindful eating
The Compassionate School Project’s Flourish curriculum was included in a published review of 12 school-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs). Curricula included in the review were available for download or purchase without proof of qualifications or paid training. Core curricular elements were scored for percentage of time devoted to mindfulness practices, skills, and knowledge conveyed.
When compared to shorter programs, longer programs such as Flourish were seen as more holistic, covering a broader range of skills, practices, and knowledge.
All curricula included intrapersonal (individual) mindfulness practices (e.g., breathing practices) and cultivated intrapersonal mindfulness skills such as focused attention and emotion regulation. Flourish was among eight curricula that included interpersonal (relational) mindfulness practices (e.g., compassion/kindness) and among 11 cultivating interpersonal mindfulness skills (e.g., social connection). Flourish was among the highest-scoring programs in breathing practices, and in required lessons on empathy/perspective taking, social connection/interdependence, responsible decision making, conflict resolution, and brain science/neuroscience.
For additional details and findings, see: Prevention Science – Unpacking the Black Box: Exploring Differences in Practices, Skills, and Knowledge Taught in School-Based Mindfulness