Focusing on all students

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I am a new Sp. Ed. teacher and I am having prblems with helping all of my students during class. I have all inclusion classes and it seems that I pay more attention to some students than others. Most of the children that get the majority of my time are the ones who have problems paying attention and staying on track. They need constant reminders of what they should be doing and not to mention that most work needs to be read to them. However, there are other students in my class that need my attention also. How can I be in two places at once? I have 16 students.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/25/2002 - 7:28 PM

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Manda,

I would have to say that you may want to take a look at the fact that you are reminding certain children alot. I am struggling with this with my own child. I find that sometimes I really need to let him just learn the consequences of not staying on task. My constant reminders are like a crutch that only adds to his inability to focus.

These children need to learn the skills such as self monitering to stay on task. Teach them to talk to themselves and use their verbal skills to remind themselves to stay on task. Tell them that they need to stop, take a breath and make choices about what they need to focus on. Then just let them do it.
Don’t do it for them. Especially if they are a bit older and have not learned these skills themselves.

Another thing that works for my son if he goes to la la land is a gentle touch of the shoulder to bring him back to where he needs to be. He has learned what this reminder means and it helps him to take the steps he needs to so that he can remind himself to focus.

Good Luck

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 09/26/2002 - 9:22 PM

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I had my daughter place a star on her desk. When she lost focus..she looked at the star until she could come back .Hopefully,it does not take 5 minutes to come back..she might miss the next directions but it was better then an hour.
You need a aid in your classroom to assist with the children.Ask for parent vol,retiree’s ect.

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