Three Activities To Promote Concentration In The Classroom
It is very common that children and teenagers are easily distracted during classes. This can be due to a large number of factors. The length of students’ attention spans varies according to age, motivation, time of day and subject. Discover three activities to promote concentration in the classroom!
As children grow, their attention span increases. However, it is also possible to train them to improve concentration and attention at any age. For this, there are several strategies and methodologies that teachers can use. Below are examples of activities to promote concentration in the classroom.
Maintain a routine before class starts
Before starting a class or giving instructions for an activity, it is highly recommended that the teacher maintain a small routine. This will help students prepare their brains for the start of class and will also stimulate concentration.
This routine will serve to mark the end of relaxation time and the beginning of a learning period that will require more attention. To keep it every day, the students will get used and the transition will be easier.
First, it is necessary to obtain total silence. For this, it is very useful to let the students know that they will be able to talk for a few minutes and then a signal will be emitted indicating that silence should begin.
The signal can be simply counting to three, or using a bell or any other audible signal. It is also important to teach that, in addition to silence, this sign will also indicate that they must sit correctly, facing forward.
Mental exercises to promote concentration
To get students’ attention, it is advisable to apply some mental exercises, which can also be applied between learning cycles or simply when it is noticed that the class has lost concentration. There are many such activities that are helpful in promoting concentration in the classroom.
The turtle technique is one of the classics. It’s about telling children or teenagers the story of the turtle, which can be easily found on the internet. It is necessary to explain that whenever they hear the word ‘turtle’, they should put their head between their shoulders and be quiet, imitating this animal when it is inside the shell.
Another widely used strategy is the box game. It involves showing students a series of objects and putting them in a box. Then they must name the objects inside the box one by one. In addition to promoting concentration, this exercise also helps to strengthen memory.
On the other hand, we can appeal to playful elements that help improve concentration in the classroom. Among them are the puzzles, the games to find the differences, the word searches, the memory game, etc.
All these activities are excellent allies for teachers, helping students to develop their attention span. The important thing is not to wear them all the time and try to make them as fun as possible.
Create a supportive environment and avoid distractions
In order for children to concentrate better in the classroom, it is important to create a suitable environment. The space should be well lit, airy, with a comfortable and quiet temperature. Also, distractions should be avoided as much as possible.
For example, it is important for the teacher to prepare all the necessary material in advance. The back and forth looking for materials is a source of distraction that will make it very difficult for students to stay focused.
To promote concentration in the classroom, it is essential to plan blocks that do not exceed 15 or 20 minutes. Beyond that time, students will not be able to maintain attention and will begin to get distracted. This system will also facilitate information processing.
Finally, it is also important to control the level of difficulty of the attention task being required. An activity that is too easy or too difficult will lead to inattention on the part of students.
