Free 4-week online course
- For K-12 teachers and school staff
- Tuesdays, September 1, 8, 15, and 22
- 7:00-8:00 PM Eastern Time
- Online via Zoom
Slowing Down to Find Steadiness
Teachers Taking Time
Mindfulness, care, and community for educators
Teaching asks so much of your attention, energy, and care. Teachers Taking Time is a space for educators to pause, breathe, feel supported, and reconnect with themselves amid the many demands of school life.
Current Offering
Mindfulness for a Steady Start to the School Year
This course is intended to be a gentle space for teachers to take time for themselves, practice being cared for in community, and explore simple mindfulness tools that can support well-being during the demands of the school year.
My hope is that this will not feel like one more thing to do, but instead like a place to pause, breathe, be supported, and reconnect with yourself.
What to Expect
Each session includes
A short teaching
Guided mindfulness practice
Reflection and discussion
Time for questions
Simple strategies teachers can use for themselves or adapt for students
No prior meditation or mindfulness experience is needed. Come exactly as you are.
Course Overview
Four weeks of practical, compassionate support
Week 1
Mindfulness and the Start of the School Year
Simple practices for pausing, grounding, and noticing stress before it builds.
Week 2
Stress, the Body, and Resetting During the Day
Practical tools for settling the nervous system during busy or overwhelming moments.
Week 3
Self-Compassion and Sustainable Care
Ways to work compassionately with self-criticism, exhaustion, and the challenge of balancing care for others with care for yourself.
Week 4
Bringing Mindfulness into Teaching and Daily Life
Small, realistic practices teachers can carry into the school day and, if they choose, adapt for students.
About
About Amelia
Dr. Amelia Wheeler is a former high school social studies teacher and Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction at Western Carolina University. She left the classroom to pursue a Ph.D. focused on how schools, universities, and communities can better support teacher well-being and sustainability in the profession. Her research focuses on teacher well-being, teacher retention, and the conditions that help educators sustain themselves in the profession.
Through research, teaching, and her own personal mindfulness practice, Amelia has found that mindfulness can offer educators time and space to care for themselves with more steadiness and compassion. She is a student of Roshi Rachel Boughton of Flower Mountain Zen and is currently completing a mindfulness meditation teacher training program with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
For Schools and Organizations
Adaptable support for educator communities
Teachers Taking Time is also available for schools, districts, nonprofits, and educator-support organizations interested in offering mindfulness-based support for teachers and school staff. Offerings can be adapted for professional development, small-group teacher support, online courses, retreats, or community-based programs.
Contact AmeliaResources
Resources for taking care in real life
Guided practices, reflection prompts, research summaries, and classroom-friendly mindfulness tools will be added here over time.
Guided Practices
Short practices for pausing, grounding, breathing, and returning to yourself.
Teacher Well-Being Research
Accessible summaries and links for educators, schools, and partners.
Classroom Mindfulness Tools
Gentle, adaptable supports for teachers who want to bring mindful moments into the day.
FAQ
A few gentle logistics
Is the September course free?
Yes! It is my deep honor to share these practices with a community of teachers.
Who can participate?
Anyone who considers themselves an educator is welcome, including K–12 teachers, university faculty, pre-service teachers, school staff, and others who support teaching and learning. The course was created with the particular joys, pressures, and possibilities of educational work in mind.
Do I need meditation experience?
Not at all. The only things you need are a little curiosity and a willingness to slow down with us once a week. People with any level of experience are welcome, and beginners are especially encouraged to join.
Many of us come to mindfulness with assumptions about what it is or what we are supposed to be able to do. You do not need to clear your mind, sit perfectly still, or already know how to meditate. Just come as you are and see what the practice is actually like for yourself.
Is mindfulness compatible with my religious beliefs?
Yes. Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment with openness and compassion. While many mindfulness practices have historical roots in Buddhist traditions, the practices taught in Teachers Taking Time are secular and non-theistic. They do not involve worship, prayer to a deity, religious conversion, or accepting any particular set of spiritual beliefs.
You are never asked to replace, change, or compromise your faith. Many people find that mindfulness supports their existing religious life by helping them become more present, compassionate, patient, and attentive. Others engage with it simply as a practical tool for caring for their minds, bodies, and nervous systems.
You are always welcome to adapt a practice in a way that feels comfortable and consistent with your own beliefs—or to choose not to participate in any practice that does not feel right for you.
Do I need to attend all four sessions?
Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions if possible.
Can I earn CEU for attending?
Participants who attend all four sessions will receive a certificate documenting four contact hours. North Carolina educators seeking license-renewal credit should follow their school district or charter school’s approval process. Approval for general renewal credit is currently being pursued.
Will sessions be recorded?
As part of my meditation teacher training, I will have to record some of the sessions to show my mentors and teachers. Anyone who does not wish to be recorded for these short periods is welcome to have their cameras off.