How Daily Meditation Improves Behavior

Overview

A Quiet Transformation

Visitacion Valley Middle School first introduced Quiet Time (QT), a stress-reduction program that includes Transcendental Meditation as an optional activity, in the spring of 2007. The program consists of two periods, 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon, when students may choose to sit quietly or meditate. This promotes deep relaxation and a sense of well-being and allows students to clear their minds. These sessions also help students prepare themselves for positive academic and social interactions, which has led to a significant reduction in suspensions and truancies. In addition, the approach improves faculty retention.

Two external organizations supported Visitacion Valley Middle School’s implementation of the Quiet Time program. The Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education is a San Francisco nonprofit organization that specializes in meditation-based stress-reduction programs. The organization works with and receives funds from several groups, such as the David Lynch Foundation, to implement QT and other wellness programs in schools.

How It's Done

Implementing a Meditation Program

For a program like Quiet Time to succeed, space, time, training, and resources are required. Below are four steps to help implement a similar program:          

1. Identify necessary behavior shifts to deal with classroom- or school-level problems.

Consider the following:

2. Prepare to implement the program

3. Allow students to choose how to spend Quiet Time.

4. Make needed adjustments to the school space and schedule