Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1: Introduction to STPM and building connections

Start the week with an active introduction to the Smart Teachers Play More (STPM) approach, emphasising the importance of collaboration, creativity, and well-being in education. Participate in energising ice-breaking activities to connect with European colleagues and build a supportive learning community. Discover Spain’s rich cultural heritage through “The Spanish Corner,” featuring engaging activities and traditions. Explore digital tools for sharing resources and fostering collaboration. Conclude the day with a relaxed social gathering at a local venue, setting the tone for a dynamic and inspiring course.

Day 2: Foundations of Well-being and Stress Management

Focus on building well-being and managing stress through awareness building and positive action. Learn to recognize stress and its triggers, and participate in a self-reflective "PERMA well-being audit" to identify personal stress patterns and areas for growth. Discover how small, intentional actions can reduce stress, create healthy habits, and promote emotional balance. The session also introduces mindfulness and breathwork as practical tools for stress management.

Day 3: Well-being and stress management in the classroom with "Now Minutes"

Using the concept of "Now Minutes," learn step by step how to implement mindfulness, meditation, and calming activities into daily classroom routines. Discover how these practices support well-being and stress management and can also be integrated with academic objectives to create a balanced and focused learning environment.  Part of this session will be taken on the beach.

Day 4: Learning, reflecting, and building relationships in Altea

Experience a day of inspiration and relaxation in the picturesque village of Altea, blending learning, exploration, and cultural exchange. Begin the day by transforming the local beach into a dynamic outdoor classroom. Engage in whole-class teacher-directed movement activities and calming games designed for open spaces, fostering creativity and mindfulness. Following refreshments and a reflective session, enjoy free time to connect with European colleagues while exploring Altea’s charming streets, unique shops, and Mediterranean views.

Conclude the day with a cultural evening, featuring presentations of participants’ local foods, drinks, music, and traditions. Enjoy team-building activities and music games, creating a vibrant atmosphere of connection and celebration.

Learning, reflecting, and building relationships in Altea

Experience a day of inspiration and relaxation in the picturesque village of Altea, blending learning, exploration, and cultural exchange. Begin the day by transforming the local beach into a dynamic outdoor classroom. Engage in whole-class teacher-directed movement activities and calming games designed for open spaces, fostering creativity and mindfulness. Following refreshments and a reflective session, enjoy free time to connect with European colleagues while exploring Altea’s charming streets, unique shops, and Mediterranean views.

Conclude the day with a cultural evening, featuring presentations of participants’ local foods, drinks, music, and traditions. Enjoy team-building activities and music games, creating a vibrant atmosphere of connection and celebration.

Day 5: Integrating movement well-being practices into the classroom

Discover how movement and mindfulness can transform your classroom through yoga- and Pilates-inspired activities. Experience full-body mindfulness practices, including the body scan, and learn to integrate these techniques seamlessly into daily routines for a calm and focused learning environment.  Part of this session will be taken on the beach.

Sharing positive well-being practices - A European Dimension

Share and be inspired by positive practices in a collaborative session where participants exchange well-being activities and ideas from schools all over Europe.

Day 6: Developing emotional vocabulary and positive classroom interventions

Discover the power of emotional vocabulary as a key tool for understanding and managing emotions. Engage in role play and core movement games that introduce and provide opportunities to explore emotions and encourage meaningful discussions in a safe and supportive setting. Experiment with small interventions that can shift mindsets and improve physical and emotional well-being.  Part of this session will be taken on the beach.

Using digital tools to support well-being and stress management

Discover how digital tools can help make practising well-being in daily life easier. Explore how mindful integration of technology can boost emotional awareness, build positive habits, and create balance for both teachers and students.

Well-being action plan

Conclude the week using vision planning to create actionable goals for implementing well-being practices into your teaching. Define short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to foster well-being and focus, and strengthen your commitment through collaborative discussions and shared intentions.

Day 7: Reflection, Storytelling and STPM at Santa Barbara Castle
Participants begin the morning with a short interactive storytelling session exploring a local legend connected to Santa Bárbara Castle and how storytelling, history, and multimodal learning can be combined through the STPM methodology. The day continues with a guided educational field trip from Hotel Maya through Monte Benacantil up to the different levels of the castle, followed by a walk down through Parque de la Ereta and the Barrio Santa Cruz. Along the route, participants engage in several learning stations, including mindful listening activities, mindful observation of the horizon and castle silhouette, and a team spotting and sketching challenge using cardboard frames to identify natural features, landmarks, and elements of the local environment. The experience models how outdoor and urban spaces can be used as meaningful learning environments that encourage wellbeing, creativity, reflection, and active learning.