Fun Tips on How to Keep Student Attention

It’s that time of year! Spring is here and the school year is almost coming to an end. Teachers, staff, and students are eager to enjoy the outdoors and call an end to the school year. However, there are still 3 more months of school left! And considering the methods of learning we have endured this school year, the desire to start fresh in the Fall is even more intense. Considering all these variables, it is tough to keep students engaged in learning. 

Do you feel that you are losing your students’ attention during in-class and/or remote learning? Are kids daydreaming, nodding off, or with the learning formats we have this year…turning off the camera or just getting up and leaving the lesson? Is the motivation to learn declining as the year goes on? 

You are not alone if you answered yes to the above questions! Many school professionals are reporting these struggles, which are typical when we approach the end of the school year. It might be time to pull out our creativity and shake things up a bit! It helps to change some small things to keep our students on their toes. Here are some simple ideas to help keep learning alive and potentially increase student motivation. 

*Teach outside! Even if it is just for a short period of time. This will help to break up the day. It’s also nice to get some fresh air to wake everyone up. 

*Movement or brain breaks! It’s always good to have some movement to wake up the brain and the body. Even adults take mini movement breaks throughout the workday (i.e. walk around the building, stretch at their desk, etc.). It is very beneficial to give the brain a break from work too. 

*Clap or snap in patterns and have students repeat it. Use a familiar or popular song, which will help get the students’ attention.

*Put a twist on the “if you can hear me, put your hands on your head.” Make this statement but put your hands on a different body part then you state (i.e. hands on stomach instead of head). It may confuse the students, but they eventually figure it out and find it funny.

*Use a call-and-response idea. Or use several different ones. Some examples include Macaroni and Cheese, Everybody Freeze; Can I get a Whoop Whoop?; Peanut Butter…Jelly; Stop, collaborate, and listen. Just to name a few.

*Require a response from everyone, not just one student. Whether it be using a white board to write it on or just calling out the answer as a group.

*Throw in a joke every now and then!

*Choose a fun word, such as BAM and every time you say the word, have the students engage in a specific behavior (i.e. clap their hands, stand up and spin, etc.). Then say the word a few times throughout the day.

Here are some additional ideas that may be helpful in keeping students’ attention and motivation to learn for the rest of the school year. https://minds-in-bloom.com/20-ways-to-keep-your-students-attention/