Calling All Education Experts - Helping Kids Focus in Class
I just got off the phone with my son’s math teacher. While he is turning in all his work, recent quiz results and lack of focus in class are cause for concern. Basically, my son is not staying focused during lectures and as a result, he is not learning the material.
My son is very bright and loves to learn, read and do. What he has trouble with is sitting and listening. He is a hands on learner - be it through reading, building, doing, or writing. He can read a book and see the information in his head. Memorization is very easy for him, and if learning involves something that interests him, he just soaks it all in.
I do not expect the teacher to customize her teaching methods to his preferences - she just has too many kids with too many different learning styles. What I need to do is equip my son with tools and techniques for adapting to a teaching system that is primarily geared towards auditory learners. He will need these skills throughout his education.
If you have any tips, tools, strategies or ideas for me, please leave a comment.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: School Issues
5 opinions for Calling All Education Experts - Helping Kids Focus in Class
Mysti
Oct 5, 2007 at 8:21 am
My son, though three, is an audible learner. I’ve been able to teach him much through oral recollection. He has a different issue than your son, but the same principle resides.
If your child is struggling in one area, it does require more time at home for studying. Instead of listening to the lectures (that often follow the book) taking the time to read through each lesson upon returning home is important. Your son will be able to work through the examples and lessons in that manner and gain the knowledge he needs.
Although that does mean that he will still suffer through the boring lectures that don’t catch his attention, having an open book with the material being discussed should help keep him focused during that time (and give him a head start on his evening of work.)
Dr. Susan Rubin
Jan 12, 2008 at 4:41 am
One of the most effective and inexpensive ways to help our kids to focus better in school is to feed them a really good solid breakfast! Not cold sugar sweetened cereal, that is simply candy in a box. Try steel cut oats or old fashioned rolled oats. Or good old eggs and bacon ( that’s right, bacon!). The protein and fat does a kid good.
Christine
Mar 12, 2008 at 9:17 am
I give my 9 year old eggs every morning.. We are Gluteen free, No Cows milk, He takes omega vit, multi vit, and a help consentrate vit. everyday. we just incorporated Water Joe.. I have read and seen that Caffeen helps. He says he notices a difference.. But his teachers says he still is not focused in class. I don’t know what else to do. He isn’t ADD or ADHD. I’ve had him observed. His Grades are Great…
momincal
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:32 am
Sounds exactly like my son…he’s nine. He is very intelligent but has an inability to tune out extraneous input (particularly visual)…the flip side is an almost photographic memory. He has always been that way…it is how his brain processes information. His grades are low, yet he will read for hours on end and even placed in the county-wide spelling bee among kids much older than him. I recently put him in the Sylvan program to see if it will help. The teaching methods there revolve around a theory that there are 8 different “styles” of learning…..they test to see the type of learner your child is and form an individualized program to help them work around their particular style. Its too early to see how this affects his grades, but I’ll post after he is in the program for awhile.
If its any consolation, I have always had a milder case of the same issue and I graduated with honors from college in finance and economics!
And by the way….I tried every imaginable permutation of food intake with him with zero positive effect. There are some studies suggesting increased magnesium or a variety of other vitamins and minerals…..I haven’t found anything that makes any difference in him. Although personally, I have found that anything with MSG is an issue for me. And bananas seem to help.
Bryce Raines
Apr 27, 2008 at 10:32 pm
kids are their to learn, and whether or not he pays attetion in class is his problem, it is if he knows the material, so i suggest that you sit him down and tell him that he can not pay attetion in class all he want’s, but he has to pass the class. according to your word, he can read a book and be able to do the homework and tests and class work just from the knowledge he gained from reading the book. problem solved.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: