Helping your Students stay focused

  For many VSLs, some concepts and work that is really difficult for most people is quite easy for them, but often the material that other kids catch onto quickly is really tough for them.  That is because the challenging material flips the switch on in the right hemisphere and they become engaged.  The minute the material switches and becomes boring, it’s strictly words coming at them, and they might just fall asleep or start pestering their neighbor. 

  There are strategies to offer your kids at these times:

~take your notes in pictures

~use colored markers or ink pens (or a pen that allows you to change colors)

~close your eyes and make a movie out of what is being said

~Doodle to keep your mind focused

~bring a fidget

~ask for an outline or overview of the material and fill in under each

~try to predict where the speaker id going with the material that is being presented

  There are things that you can do to increase your students’ on-task behaviors.  One way is to offer fidgets to your students.  You can make them using a 2:3 mix of sugar and flour in a small balloon.  Other ways include offering the opportunity to doodle, give the students free movement (such as pacing in the back of the room –one student at a time).  You can also incorporate movement into your lessons, such as stretching, walking, or marching.  Each of these increases the brain amine levels, which help improve focus.  Use a contract for each and you will find that the students who need/use it will continue and it will fade for the rest of the students who do not find it helpful.

  Research demonstrates a strong correlation between movement and language, movement and memory, as well as, movement and attention.  Some ways to incorporate movement are:

~passing a hacky sack or small ball to the person who is to answer the next questions.

~take a group walk to “digest” new material

~role-play or act out new material

~hands-on-activities

~stretching exercises

~create jingles or games using new material

Remember that timed tests are difficult for VSLs, as they need time to download their pictures/mental images into view in order to complete many tasks.  Here are some tips to help your VSLs with timed-tasks:

~play games that require players to answer within a specified time (Cranium, Scattergories, Boggle

~add a timer to a favorite game

~play Pictionary to practice translating words into pictures, then back again

~play games like “I’m going on Safari” where players think of things to bring in alphabetical order and need to repeat each time.

  If ticking timers bother, use sand-filled timers.