Guided Meditation in the Classroom
Hannah Scarbrough
Embedded Files
Learning Targets:
The student will be able to define meditation and its benefits when used in the classroom.
The student will be able to identify an example of using meditation in the classroom.
What is Guided Meditation?
Guided meditation is a state of relaxed concentration that can be led by a teacher in the classroom. When done correctly the teacher will guide students to relax different muscles in their body until they get comfortable and then guide them through mental visualizations and concentrating on breathing. The goal at the end of a guided meditation session is to accomplish mental, emotional, and physical healing and stress relief (LaMeaux, 2021). Some of the benefits of students using meditation include an increase in students' ability to pay attention, better concentration, and less anxiety (Wisner et al., 2010). A study done on 2nd and 4th graders by Sara Klco (2010) showed that incorporating meditation into students' routines can increase creativity, create a calming effect, and lower depression and anxiety. Another study also found that meditation had positive effects in reducing children’s internalizing problems (Crescentini et al., 2016 ).
When to use guided meditation:
-When students first arrive at school
-After students return from recess
-Before or after students go to electives (art, gym, library)
-Before taking a test or quiz
How to perform guided meditation in the classroom:
Below is a video that is a guided meditation that can be used in the classroom:
Step by step on how to lead a guided meditation:
Step 1: Have students sit with feet on the ground
Step 2: Specify specific body parts to relax
Step 3: Give students visualizations or mental images
Step 4: Guide students to breathe in and out
Step 5:Have students focus in on the feeling and movements in their body they are having at the moment
Example of how to use guided meditation in a classroom setting:
Every day after recess Mrs. Anderson has a scheduled independent reading which consists of the students reading a book of choice independently for 20 minutes. Mrs. Anderson notices that it is hard for her students to transition from recess to reading because the students are always worked up after recess. She decides to implement 5 minutes of guided meditation with mindful breathing in between the transition from recess and reading. After consistently doing meditation with her students for a couple of weeks she notices a huge change in her student's focus and the ability to settle into their books faster. After implementing meditation in her classroom Mrs. Anderson has noticed students using these skills independently when they get worked up (Sedenka, 2020).
Benefits from meditation:
Conclusion:
While guided meditation can’t be the only way to make transitions throughout the day go smoothly, it is a great thing to implement in elementary schools when there is enough time in the school day to do so. By implementing this while students are young they can then carry these skills with them to future grade levels, at home stress relief, and even when they are independently working on something in the classroom.
Question Time!
What is guided meditation?
a. A form of independent work for students to do
b. A fun activity to do when students are bored
c. An educational game that teachers can play with their students
d. An exercise led by the teacher to help regain students' focus and calm them down
When should guided meditation be used?
a. When students are calmly working on an assignment
b. When students are going to lunch
c. When students are playing outside
d. When students return from recess and can not calm down
Quiz Answers:
Question 1: d
Question 2: d
References:
Crescentini, C., Capurso, V., Furlan, S., & Fabbro, F. (2016). Mindfulness-oriented meditation for primary school children: Effects on attention and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 805.https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy.lib.odu.edu/pmc/articles/PMC4894866/
Healthy Minds. Kindness in the classroom: Guided meditation [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oMXRjNf8WQ
Klco, S. E. (2010). A neuropsychological examination of the effects of mindfulness meditation in elementary school children. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.http://proxy.lib.odu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/neuropsychological-examination-effects/docview/305207671/se-2?accountid=12967
LaMeaux, E. C. (2021). What is Guided Meditation & Yoga. Gaiam. https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/about-guided-meditation
Sedenka, A. (2020). Mindfulness in the classroom. The Reading Teacher, 73(5), 667-668. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.odu.edu/10.1002/trtr.1841
Wisner, B., Jones, B., & Gwin, D. (2010). School-based meditation practices for adolescents: A resource for strengthening self-regulation, emotional coping, and self-esteem. Children & Schools, 32(3), 150-159. http://proxy.lib.odu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=54281663&scope=site
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