As a college student, I am currently in field experience teaching 2-3 lessons a day in second grade. One area in which I’m teaching is a guided reading group, the highest level group in the classroom.
One student never seems to be listening to directions, but often appears to be daydreaming. He is also very creative, as his writing (and love for a big repertoire of sound effects :wink: ) indicates. I know that inattention (daydreaming) is generally a component of the profile for high creativity. However, I’m unsure of how to help this student in the context of a reading group, maintaining his attention to directions without causing embarrassment.
I’d appreciate any ideas you may have.
Re: How do I redirect an inattentive student?
If you involve the student in active participation: reading the directions, handing out books or papers, taking notes, writing on the boards. Try standing near him or walking around the room and ending up near him.
Fern
I think we risk setting an unrealistic goal if we ask children to be attentive to every moment. If you are only asking that this child be attentive to directions, keep those directions very short. Ideally have them written down or even sketched out cartoon fashion so this child and others can follow along while you speak.
I always speak gently to an inattentive to directions child and say something like “Peter, will you read these for us?” or ‘C’mon Peter and others this is the time when we’re tempted to wish ourselves on a beach in Hawaii but just stick with this for a minute more and we’ll be done.”
Good luck.