How to get students attention

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How to get students attention
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Index

• 1. Attention conditions
• 2. Attention types
• 3. Strategies to get children attention
• 4. Mantaining attention
• 5. Innapropiate teachers behaviour.

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1. Attention Conditions 

• External reasons
• Consequence of the atmosphere.
• They help the pupil mantain his attention to
  those stimulus that are proposed to them, in
  other words, it depends on the enviroment. 

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a) Stimulus Strength 

• A sharp, loud or distinctive sound is capable of
  catching our attention
• For example, the teacher can play across a
  xylophone. 
• The same occurs with strong colours compared to
  soft colours.

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b) Change

• When we experience some kind of change, it
  modifies our field of perception our attention
  is drawn to the stimulus that alters the
  stability of a situation.

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c) Size

•  Big flashcards
• This technique is also used in commercials or
  advertisements.

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d) Repetition

• A repetitive weak stimulus can have a
  big impact on the attention level
• For example, the teacher might clap out a rhythm
  and have his students repeat the pattern.

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e) Movement

• The movement of an image (whether real or not)
  causes a reaction, which makes it a powerful
  attention-catcher.
• Example  The curtains or blinds of the classroom
  should be closed in order to keep the students'
  attention in class.

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f) Contrast 

• When a stimulus contrasts with the other stimuli
  around it, it stands out.
• Two situations may occur
•      1. The contrast results because the
  stimulus was absent until that moment.           
            2. The contrast is caused by the
  realization that something which was previously
  present has disappeared. 

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g) Structural organisation

• Stimulus must be organised and ranked in order
  for the information to be received properly. 
• The teacher must present the material neatly. 
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• Internal reasons
• The internal determinants are those which refer
  to the pupil.
• They depend on the individual and they condition
  his/her learning even more, not only in the
  capacity and development of his/her attention,
  but in his/her overall performance.  

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a) Emotion

•   Stimuli which cause strong emotions tend to
  attract our attention
•     Example If a person is thirsty, it is
  obvious that he will be more attracted by
  stimulus linked to this necessity, say, a glass
  of water

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b) Interests

• This refers to those things that attract the
  students, depending on what they like

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c) The Course of Thought

• If a stimulus is presented to a person, and this
  person, at that moment, is thinking of something
  similar or related to it, the stimulus will get
  his attention immediately
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2. Attention types

• Focused attention This is the ability to respond
  discretely to specific visual, auditory or
  tactile stimuli.
• Sustained attention This refers to the ability
  to maintain a consistent behavioral response
  during continuous and repetitive activity.
• Selective attention This level of attention
  refers to the capacity to maintain a behavioral
  or cognitive set in the face of distracting or
  competing stimuli. Therefore it incorporates the
  notion of "freedom from distractibility"
• Alternating attention It refers to the capacity
  for mental flexibility that allows individuals to
  shift their focus of attention and move between
  tasks having different cognitive requirements.
• Divided attention This is the highest level of
  attention and it refers to the ability to respond
  simultaneously to multiple tasks or multiple task
  demands.

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3.- Strategies to catch students attention

• Begin a familiar phrase and have your finish it
• Meanwhile...Back at the RanchChitty
  Chitty...Bang BangTo Infinity...And BeyondWho
  you gonna call?...GhostbustersAre you ready
  kids?...Aye Aye CaptainWho lives in a pineapple
  under the sea?...SpongeBob Squarepants

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• Raise your hand quietly and wait until everyone
  else has his or her hand raised
• Clap in a rhythm and have your students repeat
  the pattern.
• Switch the light once.
• Ring a bell.
• Play across a xylophone.
• Clap in a rhythm and have your students repeat
  the pattern.

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• Star Method
• Traditional Authority Use
• Stopwatch

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Magic word technique

• Their attention will magically appear when you
  use a ?Magic
• Word? For example, if you were studying a unit
  on geometry, you might say ? Class, since we
  are studying geometry, I am going to use the word
  ?parallelogram? when I want your attention.

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4. Mainteining attention

• Is known that students use to lose attention if
  the class is boring, static and monotone. In
  fact, the teacher has to surprise more and more
  students changing the methods and strategies
  every day, if its possible, to motivate them.

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What can the teacher do to maintein the students
attention?

• Create a good class atmosphere where kids can
  feel comfortable and active in the group.
• Dynamic lessons to make each class different.

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Create a good class atmosphere.

• Respect and friendship
• - Recognize the authority.
• - Work in harmony among equals.
• Good class organization
• - Well prepared lessons time, activities,
  games, etc.
• - Classroom spaces.
• - Decoration.

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Dynamic lessons

• Different methods.
• Choose the better method for each topic.
• Try to be original and dont repeat.
• Variety of exercises.
• Work can be funny!

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5. Inappropiate behaviour of the teacher

• Yelling is not recommended because it increases
  the noise level in the room and projects
  non-verbally that you are not in control.
• Use always the same intonation It creates a
  monotone lesson.