How to Support Your Child to Stay on Task at School and Home
Keeping students focused in a classroom setting can be very challenging at times. In a classroom, one student can become off task which can create a domino effect. That student can distract the student next to them and so on. This causes the teacher to stop what he/she is doing to bring all the students back to the task they were supposed to be doing. When the student is off task, they start to lose learning time and could begin to fall behind in school as they miss out on important material. How do we keep these students on task in the classroom?
Here are some strategies that could help with keeping students focused and on task.
Teach the student what they are expected to do in your classroom. Some students do not know what they are expected to do in a classroom setting. An example of this would be in a kindergarten classroom. These children may or may not have been in school before. They need to know what is expected of them. You can teach this by interactive modeling. Show the students what to do, how to sit, when to talk, and not to talk. Practice this at the beginning of the year. You must build their stamina. You cannot expect a new kindergarten student to be on task longer than 5 minutes. By the end of the first nine weeks, they should be able to focus for a longer time.
Use timers. Some students need to know how much time they have for each assignment. Having a timer that the students can visually see will help with them staying focused. It allows them to see the time count down and they know that they have to be done with their work before the timer goes off. This is also a great strategy for those students who have a hard time transitioning from one task to another task. It gives them a concrete concept of how much time they have left. Also, keep reminding them as well (i.e., you now have ten minutes left., you have 5 minutes left, etc.)
Peer Buddies. The teacher might pair students together to help with staying on focus. The teacher will usually put a student who is excelling in class with a student who needs more support. A peer buddy is there to help the other student to stay on task. The peer buddy can provide encouragement and help their buddy stay focused and to finish their work on time.
Walk the room. The teacher needs to walk the room whenever possible to check that each student is on task. If the teacher sees a student off task, then the teacher can redirect that student and encourage them to finish their work.
Use a checklist. If you have a student that struggles with staying focused and does not finish their daily activities, a checklist might be the answer. You can create a daily checklist for those students. As the student finishes a task, then the student can check it off their list. Using a checklist also gives the students some ownership of their own learning. When they are able to check off a task it may give them a sense of fulfillment.
Shorten assignments. Students with exceptionalities usually have a harder time staying on task. The teacher can shorten the assignment for them. Instead of writing all 20 words, just have them write 10 of the words. This will help eliminate unnecessary stress and allows them to finish with the class.
Take breaks and allow movement. Students need to take breaks and move around a bit. We sometimes expect them to sit in their chairs all day. We need to allow them to take breaks to move. A great resource is GoNoodle. It has songs that students can move to and it gives them a break from their daily workload.
Using these strategies may help keep students on task in the classroom. However, what if your child struggles with staying focused at home during homework time. How can you keep them on task at home? Here are some strategies that parents can utilize to keep their child focused during homework time.
Daily homework schedule. You need to figure a good schedule that works for you and your child. They may mean that there is a break between school and homework. Find a schedule that works for everyone and the schedule needs to be consistent every day.
Work with your child. You need to sit down with your child to make sure they understand what they must do on the homework assignments. Then you can supervise as needed to make sure they are staying on task.
Set up a reward system. Rewards do not have to be materialistic. Praise or extra playtime are great rewards. Something simple to show that they are doing a great job and to keep them engaged in their work.
Expect distractions. Keep in mind they have been is school all day long. Give them the breaks they need to process their day at school. Allow them to tell you about their day at school if they want to. If they do not, ask them about their day. You could also have them work for 15 minutes on the homework and then take a 10-minute break to allow them to play.
Create a distraction free area for your child to do their homework. Remove all electronics and no TV. This allows your child to focus on the task and not being distracted by the electronic devise that are within their sight.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that we create the expectation of what we want from our children in school and at home. We cannot assume they know what is expected of them. Using these strategies will help keep them focused. Remember, children are different so not all strategies will work on them. You have to find out which ones work, use them, and be consistent. By giving the students the time, support, and tools they need to focus, we can help them become better learners and develop the confidence and perseverance they need to succeed in school and in life.
Leslie Haynes, B.Ed
Inclusion Teacher, Parent Advocate, and Special Olympics Coach
leslie@collaborativecorner.org