Here are some tried and true suggestions for channeling student energy and regaining focus:

1. Use a noisemaker such as a chime, maracas, or bell to get students’ attention instead of using a teacher voice. The brain tunes out the teacher’s voice because it becomes “normal” over time. Consistently using a distinct sound to get students attention works to create a positive habitual response: their attention on the teacher.

2. Silence the pen tapper with the sponge from a curler.

3. Give an angry or over excited student some Silly Putty or TackyTac to knead as a calming strategy.

4. Provide inexpensive craft rings threaded with beads to fidgeting students for calming.

5. Stick a soft, fuzzy side of a strip of sticky backed Velcro to the underside of a desk for students who “pick” at things. Agree on a non-verbal cue to encourage the student to “pick” at the Velcro strip instead of other less desirable places.

6. Play calming music (without words), 60 beats per minute or less as students enter the classroom from recess, specials, the hall or cafeteria to create an environment that enhances learning. Turn off the music when you begin to teach.

7. Use natural lighting whenever possible (Windows, “natural light” bulbs in table or floor lamps) because natural lighting calms and increases productivity.

8. Have students who doodle, create doodles that illustrate their notes. Ask them to paraphrase what their doodles mean.

9. Keep Mandalas and markers or color pencils handy in the classroom for calming students. Coloring from outside in focuses attention, coloring from the inside out opens up creativity.

10. Attach a Mandala to the back of a test. Students color the Mandala when finished rather than bother other students.

11. If students are getting chatty, rather than tell them to be quiet, assign a Think/Pair/Share as a reinforcement of the lesson just taught.

12. If students are getting wiggly, have them stand and stretch.

a. A variation on this is to have them answer a review question or paraphrase something they just learned as a “ticket” to sit down.

b. Another variation is to have them stand up to answer questions in a “whole class chant”.

For more information about study strategies for your student, see Susan Fitzell’s book, Please Help Me With My Homework. Available in both print and electronic versions!

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When faced with students having difficulty focusing, what can educators do? Here’s a list of 12 surefire ways to focus your class and increase learning.

1. Make use of non-verbal signals to cue student before transitions, or to stop all activity and focus on the teacher.

2. Assign students ‘Task Buddies’ to help keep each other on task. Allow students to ask buddies for clarification on seatwork.

3. Seat distractible students surrounded by well-focused students.

4. Use physical proximity to help cue student to return to task.

5. Allow quiet, doodling, or mandalas to help students focus.

6. Vary tone of voice when presenting information. (If you can pull off a dramatic flair, it works well.)

7. Provide or partitions to reduce visual distractions during seatwork or test-taking as appropriate. (This should be a student choice not a punishment.)

8. Provide sound reducing headsets for students to minimize auditory distractions.

9. Color or highlight directions and important words on assignments.

10. During silent reading, consider allowing students to sit on the floor if they ask. Some students become amazingly focused when they carve out their own space on the floor or in a corner of the classroom.

11. Significantly increase opportunities for active student involvement in the lesson and utilize questioning techniques that engage all students.

12. Consider allowing ADHD students to “tutor” other students in areas of strength. This often brings out focused, caring behavior and encourages self-esteem.

For more information about study strategies for your student, see Susan Fitzell’s book, Ummm, Studying? What’s That?. Available in both print and electronic versions!

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CLICK HERE to visit the articles page.

The post 12 Surefire Ways to Focus Your Class and Increase Learning appeared first on Susan Fitzell.