In the final post of her series on supporting students with specific learning differences, Varinder Unlu takes a look at how we can better identify and support students who have trouble with their concentration and focus in lessons.
We can all lose interest, concentration and focus in class from time to time but for some students this is a real issue and is something that is a barrier to learning. So what is the cause and how can we help and support these learners?
Common common causes for lack of concentration and focus
1. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – is a common developmental difference that affects the parts of the brain that control attention, impulses and concentration. Common symptoms are short attention span, restlessness and constant fidgeting and being impulsive. People with the condition lack the filters to ignore what is going on around them resulting in a lack of focus. It can occur in people of all intellectual ability and is common in people with learning difficulties.
2. Lack of sleep – we all know sleep is vital to our ability to concentrate and while the amount of sleep we need varies from person to person, not having enough of it slows down our thought processes. We find it difficult to perform tasks that require any kind of complex thinking. Too little sleep also affects our working memory which is important in helping us focus and concentrate on tasks.
3. Stress – this can affect any student of any age, and most of the time it’s manageable. However, it starts to have a negative affect when it becomes chronic and ongoing. Everyday worries and concerns can make it hard to concentrate. Stress can also be a manifestation of an SpLD. Often we don’t even notice it until it becomes completely overwhelming and starts to affect concentration and focus. So it’s a good idea to try and identify the underlying causes of stress and help develop strategies to deal with it.
4. Emotional/psychological problems – these can be a number of things from anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression etc. to a learning difference such as ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome or physical disabilities. These can also impact negatively on concentration.
5. Environment – this may affect focus and concentration. Make your classroom an environment where everyone feels comfortable by thinking about noise levels, lighting, temperature and avoiding busy walls with too many notices and posters on them.
6. Hunger and dehydration – especially with younger learners can also be a problem.
7. Your lesson content – the materials and tasks you present may be something your students find difficult to work with and this can lead to loss of interest and focus. Find out what works, what doesn’t work and remember every class is different, so what works with one group, may not work with another. Adapt your teaching style and your materials accordingly.
How to support students who have difficulty with concentration and focus
- Taking frequent short breaks during the lesson can help make the tasks more manageable.
- Breaking down tasks into smaller more manageable chunks – dividing up questions/tasks between pairs/groups and then asking learners to share their answers with each other encourages collaboration and peer support.
- Get physical – ask students to change seats during the lesson, this will also mean that they get the opportunity to work with different people in class.
- Keep the classroom a clutter free zone. Remove any unnecessary notices and posters from the walls as they will only add to distraction, especially for students with SpLDs. Find out from your students what works for them.
- Include visual, auditory and kinaesthetic activities.
- Vary the interaction patterns by giving students opportunities to work together in pairs, groups and individually.
- Supervise students with SpLDs – some learners, especially young learners need to have more supervision until you have helped them to develop strategies to work with less supervision.
- Playing memory/concentration games can help students learn to focus better and longer.
- Always have an extra activity up your sleeve which you can give to students who finish their work faster than the rest of the group.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, read Varinder Unlu’s other articles in this series:
Specific learning difficulties – how can they affect your students?
Supporting students with specific learning differences
How to create an inclusive classroom environment
Managing disruptive behaviour in the classroom
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