Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1: 

Introduction to STPM and building connections

Begin with an active introduction to the STPM approach, highlighting Iceland’s innovation in education, sustainability, and technology.   Introduce digital tools for sharing resources.  Explore Iceland’s unique cultural and educational heritage through "The Icelandic Corner" and connect with new European colleagues through engaging ice breaking activities and a relaxed social event.

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.

Optional Activity: Icelandic Sea Swimming and Geothermal Well-being Experience

An additional activity we offer for this day is an authentic Icelandic sea swimming and hot tub experience at Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach. Embrace this unique well-being practice for relaxation, renewal, and connection with nature.  During this experience we encourage you to practise some of the new mindfulness and breathwork tools you have learned.

Day 4: 

Insights into Icelandic Education and Sustainability

Visit one of Reykjavík’s newest schools, integrating kindergarten, primary, and secondary education. Discover how practical and academic subjects are equally valued, inclusion is a priority, and well-being is integrated into the curriculum.   Witness how outdoor activities rooted in Icelandic heritage build resilience. Explore how democracy and sustainability thinking shape the school community in a positive way.

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.

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.

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: 

Icelandic Thermal Wellness, Geothermal Sustainability and Reflective Practice
Participants begin with a short seminar on Icelandic thermal bathing traditions, exploring the role of geothermal energy, sustainability, wellbeing, equality, and screen-free social connection in Icelandic culture. The day continues with a guided visit to a local thermal swimming pool and hot tubs, where participants experience an important aspect of Icelandic daily life: gathering together in warm geothermal waters despite the cold outdoor climate, engaging in open conversation where every voice is valued, and learning about local customs of hygiene, trust, and shared social spaces, including the longstanding tradition of showering thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pools. Structured reflection and mindfulness activities encourage participants to connect these experiences to the course themes and their own personal and professional development.