Help Your Students to Stay Focused in Class with These Few Tips

As a global pandemic continues to sweep through many parts of the world, students at the private schools in Abu Dhabi are finding it harder to concentrate in class. The sense of uncertainty, the way organizations and schools, are trying to set the new normal, and the move to e-learning are all taking their toll. As a result, it’s not strange to find that many of your students might not be concentrating in the class as well as they should. Some of them might even be dozing off in class, or might be so obvious with their desire to be elsewhere that that’s missing is a sign “Anywhere But Here.” If that happens, no worries. You can do something to change that. Here are a few useful tips on how you can improve their levels of concentration.

1. Remind Them to Rest

If you want to be amongst the best private schools in Abu Dhabi, it is important to teach your students the importance of sleep and staying hydrated. Keep in mind that well-rested students can function as the best possible version of themselves. Getting enough sleep means that the children in your class will have a better time concentrating on the lesson. If they’re operating on less than eight hours of sleep, they’ll get cranky or lose their concentration easily because of that. Also, staying hydrated or having drunk enough glasses of water is also essential. Keep reminding your students to make sure they get enough sleep and drink enough water.

2. Get Rid of Distractions

The shift to online classrooms has meant that many of your students might find themselves at home, distracted from the online lessons. Do what you can to teach them how to eliminate distractions from their rooms. First, recommend the use of a dedicated study space. Then ask them to go over the area and decide which elements distract them. For instance, is there a window? Does that window keep them from concentrating on the lessons? Or does it provide a much-needed escape when they’re tired and need a little respite from the relentless pace of online classes? For some, an open window also helps reduce the heat in the room. Your students will need to decide whether the distraction of an open window is well worth the benefits of having one that lets in the fresh air.

3. Check the Level of Difficulty

Studying is hard. But while that’s a given, make sure you’re giving your students lessons that are well within the level of difficulty that they can handle. Giving a ton of assignments about topics that are well above their difficulty level will only make them lose interest in the lessons that much quicker. Be aware of that. While work that’s too easy isn’t ideal, courses or exercises that are too hard will demotivate them even further, and that’s the last thing you want to happen. Check the difficulty level and make sure it’s right for your class.

4. Start Class Discussions

Encourage your students to participate in online discussions. Let them speak up in class. Make sure each one gets a turn. Instead of doing lectures where you’ll spend all the time talking to them, including discussions so that your students will take an active interest in the lessons. This will also give you a chance to observe your students. Who are the ones that excel? Which ones seem to need more help?

5. Take Detailed Notes

Which of your students seem to have a hard time with the sessions? Which ones seem to have an excellent grasp of the lessons? What kind of interactions have you had with each student so far? Taking down detailed notes will help you get more insight into each kid in your class, get a sense of the level of their participation, and consider where that’s enough when it is time grade them. Highlight students who aren’t as visible in the discussions, so you can urge them and give them more opportunities to participate.

6. Provide Tips

Sometimes, it can be as simple as your students getting tired staring into the screen all day. You can provide tips on how they could take better care of their eyesight. Maybe they could use additional aids to help with their concentration. Having eye drops handy will also help as it eases the strain of aching, tired eyes. Generally, just be sensitive to whatever physical challenges that your students might face and find a way to offer advice and suggestions on how those issues or problems can be resolved.

7. Ask Them

It wouldn’t hurt to ask your students what’s wrong. What are they feeling? What kind of help do they need? Some might not be comfortable enough to ask. You asking them for what they need is a step closer to finding out the proper resolution they need. Also, asking them about what they need means you have a more accurate idea of what’s wrong, allowing you to provide spot-on assistance.