Strategies for Students With Scattered Minds
Maintaining your focus for a long time can be challenging; your mind wanders, and you start to focus on different things. Students spend a lot of hours in class listening to the teacher or in group discussions. Their minds may wander from the teacher to their classmates, doors opening, or the things they have to do later in the day. Many students have a short attention span, and they can lose interest quickly. When they do not understand the topic or assume that the subject is challenging, their attention will drift away.
Therefore, teachers can incorporate effective strategies to ensure the students do not lose focus in class. Below are some of the strategies you can use to maximize the students’ concentration span.
1.Eliminate distractions
According to research, a lot of clutter can be distractive. A student’s mind can wander to the mobile and stationary additions in the classroom, such as paintings, plants, toys, windows, and mobile devices. To ensure concentration, you can reduce the amount of clutter in the classroom. Most international schools in Kuala Lumpur, such as the Global Indian International School (GIIS), have classes that accommodate various activities. However, the classes have minimal distractions and a place to store the equipment and objects that are not in use.
2.Learning methods
When the teaching style only focuses on imparting knowledge through reading, the students can lose interest. Teachers can integrate fun activities, such as singing games, pop quizzes, games, and storytelling, to enhance understanding. These activities can excite the students and make the learning process fun for them. When they are having fun and enjoying the class, they are less likely to lose concentration. Also, take note of the time and try to avoid lengthy lectures. If you have a double lesson, you can include various fun activities to keep the students active and alert. Include pauses in the middle of the session to allow them time to absorb the information.
3.Incorporate questions
Asking and answering questions can help maintain the students to focus for a longer time. You can use the 10:2 method to ensure the students remain alert. After every ten minutes of explaining and giving instructions, allow students to have two minutes to process the information by asking and answering questions. They will remain alert and focus on the instructions to answer and ask questions when their turn comes. You can also give them time to discuss the content with other classmates. Also, you can maintain the delivery pace to keep them on their toes. When the session is dynamic, their minds stay alert.
4.Strategic schedules
You can create a flexible timetable to improve concentration. You can put the subjects that require more concentration within a time frame that the students are active and alert. Sciences and mathematics may be more technical for some students. Access the students’ alertness throughout the day so you can maximise their attention span for these subjects. The subjects that require the students to be active can be during the downtime period to keep them alert and ensure concentration.
5.Physical movement
Movement keeps the student alert and facilitates blood flow to the brain to increase concentration. You can start the session by engaging the students in a 2-5 minute physical activity that will energise and prepare them for the session. During the session, you can ask them to stand up when they ask or answer questions, come to the front to erase the board, or demonstrate an explanation in front of the class. These activities will introduce breaks, which will enhance concentration.
6.Rewards
Everyone loves to receive rewards for a job well done. It encourages you to keep improving. You can introduce rewards for the students who excel in exams and various class projects. Rewards will give the students a reason to excel because they all want recognition for their hard work. Let the students know what the award is and what it means. This way, they will be encouraged to focus in class and be among the top performers. You can also incorporate creative tasks that foster healthy competition and let the students pick the winner. The competition will excite them and keep them alert in class.
7.Be active
On most occasions, the students will feed off of the teacher’s energy level. Therefore, you need to be alert and active too. Take care of yourself and get enough rest to avoid feeling tired during your class session. When you are well-rested and healthy, it is easier for you to engage the students and keep them engaged during the session. Radiate positivity and motivate the students to stay alert.
Although it can be frustrating for a teacher for students to lose interest or lack concentration, you should know that the inconsistency in their focus is not a sign of defiance or rudeness. Everyone’s mind tends to wander at some point. Therefore, enlisting the strategies above will help you maintain students’ focus in class and achieve success.
