Distractions

Distractions come in many forms...my two biggest distractors today were this laptop and my mind....

At the homeschool convention, we attended a session by Carol Barnier entitled, Help! How do I teach this highly distractible child?  Well, after today I realize I should have looked for a session called Help!  How does this highly distracted mother teach her equally distractible children?

Well, they didn't offer that class, but perhaps someday (after I've figured it out and published a book on the topic) I will offer that class at future conventions!

But in effort to make sense of my notes and document a few things I learned from Mrs. Barnier, I will share what she had to say about keeping our children focused.

Notes from Help! How do I teach this highly distractible child?

First, it is very, very difficult to limit distractions when you teach at home.  The phone will ring, you have to load the dishwasher, the dog will want out, and lets not mention that the kids toys are within eyesight! Mrs Barnier suggested using a  three section display board to create a sort of "study corral" for your child in order to limit visual distractions.  Auditory distractions can be limited by using headphones....with our without music.  Studies have shown that music with a steady, methodical 4 count beat aids in concentration and learning.

She also touched on the parents responsibility to finding what will work if our child is having difficulty learning.  She described this in terms of KEYS.  We have to find the key that works.  Instead of getting irritated and impatient with our kids when they just don't get it, try a different key (a different way of teaching whatever concept it may be.)  BUT it is the child's responsibility to tell us when the key we are using is not working!  When using this approach, our children will be less likely to think "well, I'm just not good at math or reading"  instead that child will look for another way to learn and understand math or reading.  Barnier said, "A failure to learn means there was a failure to teach."  Ouch!

Going back to the distracted child....
Many times through our homeschooling day, I say "sit still!" I also tell my kids to look me in the eyes.  For distracted kids, eye contact and stillness do not always mean they are listening and paying attention.  Sometimes movement helps kids process information!  Barnier suggested giving the kids a dust cloth while you are reading the history lesson!  Whatever the movement is it needs to be mindless and repetitive.  Examples:  squishing silly putty, building with Legos what you are studying or reading about,  braiding, mopping, drawing the topic you are studying.

And of course, we all have those days when the kids just need to burn some energy.  On those days, play Mother May I with math problems, go to the park and spell words while swinging, Hop on It (write the answers to questions on note cards, lay them on the floor, ask questions and the kids hop to the answers!), toss it, and make their lessons life like (if you are studying the circulatory system, use masking tape to create a diagram on the floor, then have the kids travel through it!)  All very great ideas!