Mindfulness in the PreK-5 Classroom

Patricia (Tish) Jennings, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness in education, and teacher well-being. A Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, her research focuses on promoting well-being in K-12 learning environments. Her work has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for supporting school mental health and by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) for supporting adult SEL. A former teacher, school director, and teacher educator with over two decades of practical experience, Jennings brings deep insight to her work. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and several books. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2024 Joseph E. Zins Award from CASEL, the 2023 UVA Distinguished Researcher Award, the 2018 Cathy Kerr Award for Courageous and Compassionate Science from the Mind & Life Institute, and recognition by Mindful Magazine as one of “Ten Mindfulness Researchers You Should Know.” She also served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development.

"Tish Jennings is a pioneer in bringing mindfulness into the realm of elementary school education. This book is a treasure trove of practices and tips for classroom teachers in nurturing an optimal, interconnected, and fully embodied learning environment. If implemented, the teachers stand to benefit from this approach in parallel with—and at least as much as—their students. "