Improving Attention Span

[Chloe]

Do you think doing lots of short, focused lessons a la Charlotte Mason will really help improve attention span in the long run? I mean, will the dc eventually be able to work on a subject intently for a long period of time, or do you think this will just encourage ADD tendencies. It just seems like jumping from one subject to the next is doing the opposite of what one's trying to accomplish, especially with an ADDer.

OTOH, would focusing on fewer subjects, but for longer periods of time a la Latin Centered Curriculum or Robinson Curriculum work better at improving attention span?

I'm confused! I'm trying to get my dc to be more focused and work more efficiently. I feel like a lot of time is wasted picking up pencils off the floor, going to the bathroom, staring out the window, etc.

[Susie in CA]

Hi Chloe,

I don't know if my answer will help you. Here it is anyway.

It sounds like I have a ds8 similar to the child you described. He is very smart, energetic and enthusiastic about many things. School work is not among those things. He finds most of it tedious and boring. This started with phonics and continues on with Math, Writing, etc. I have given up trying to find a way to make it easier for him. I decide what needs to be done (math, writing, spelling) and we do it. He needs a lot of my attention to stay on task but he also know that he will sit there until it is done.

He tolerates History and Science because he actually loves stories, projects and experiments. These subjects are a bit easier unless we get to some writing.
He also tolerates German because a lot of that we do through speaking. I am a native speaker. We do some writing sometimes and, well, then see above.

In short, I am not so sure that this has to do with attention span as much as interest (at least for us). I remember, when I was in high school I took a business class once and it was sooooo boring. I used to catch myself reading a page in the textbook and not remember a thing I was reading at the end of it. It IS hard to focus when you don't find it interesting and/or fun.

Now, here is my ds7; the younger brother. Well, he just does it and moves on. I bet he would love school if he didn't have an older brother who makes such a big deal out of it.

Well, I don't know if this helps you at all.

Warmly,

Susie

[Narrow Gate Academy]

Most of the basic skills subjects like math, writing, reading, etc. are best accomplished by working in smaller daily increments a la Charlotte Mason. I also think that the picture studies and narrations improve attention to detail.

The more content oriented subjects like history, science, and literature (read alouds) are a much better place to start working on length of attention span by slowly increasing the amount of time spent on a subject.

For focus and efficiency we use a MOTH schedule. The girls are alloted a given amount of time to complete an assignment. Work not completed in that time gets done later during free time. My girls have learned not to dawdle because they want to have more free time. On the flip side they have also learned that blazing through an assignment at lightening speed with little attention to what they are doing also costs them free time in the end because they must go back and correct their work.

HTH

[Chloe]

Thanks Susie. I agree that attention span is better when it's something fun or interesting. I just can't make everything fun and interesting to my dc. Like you said, it just "needs to be done". My oldest is like your 7yo, she just does it and moves on. My 8yo is a major dawdler and also likes to goof off. He makes so many mistakes because he isn't paying attention to what he is doing. I don't know, maybe he's not being challenged enough. Thanks for the response. Something to think about.

[Chloe]

Thanks, Deanna. I would love to try to implement an alloted time for each subject. It's hard though because they are usually working on different things at different times, so that one is able to work more independently while I'm working with another. Having a 16mo running around adds to the challenge. I'll have to fiddle around with our schedule a bit.

[Alana in Canada]

Attention span is also a maturity issue. I think the idea of small short lessons in the early grades is a wonderful approach. The idea is to keep the child from getting into a habit of dawdling. So here's an idea: when you child begins to dawdle, stare out the window, etc....take the item away from him and start another subject. When the child starts losing attention, bring back out the first subject and so on. If you have your kids scheduled to work one-on-one with you--do it with the subjects you normally do one-on-one and in the same time periods. See how it goes for a few weeks.

I'd love to try this, but I have it structured so that we do pretty much all our stuff together, so it would be difficult.

However, we too seem to lose a lot of time transitioning between subjects, though. It drives me crazy. (That and the fact the boy says he's hungry in the most plaintive voice about every 1/2 hour!)

[cajun.classical]

Do you think doing lots of short, focused lessons a la Charlotte Mason will really help improve attention span in the long run? I mean, will the dc eventually be able to work on a subject intently for a long period of time, or do you think this will just encourage ADD tendencies. It just seems like jumping from one subject to the next is doing the opposite of what one's trying to accomplish, especially with an ADDer.

OTOH, would focusing on fewer subjects, but for longer periods of time a la Latin Centered Curriculum or Robinson Curriculum work better at improving attention span?

I'm confused! I'm trying to get my dc to be more focused and work more efficiently. I feel like a lot of time is wasted picking up pencils off the floor, going to the bathroom, staring out the window, etc.

Chloe,
I haven't read the other responses but I wanted to share what has really worked for us. I have a real daydreamer. I was so frustrated at how long he takes to do EVERYTHING, not just school work. He dawdles! So I rearranged our school day to include breaks scheduled for right after the most difficult subjects. I use the breaks as a "carrot" to motivate him. I say, you have a break scheduled right after Latin. It begins at 10:05. If you finish your Latin early, you can have a longer break. That did it. No more dawdling and he ALWAYS finishes early now.

[Hotdrink]

I'm wrestling with a similar issue with my ds. He doesn't actually have adhd or even a consistently short attention span. He is hyperactive and has been diagnosed with Aspergers. When he gets 'stuck on' an activity of interest, he will work steadily for a couple of hours. But a non favoured activity is another story. I've been tending to play it by ear a bit. If I can see that he has put in a decent effort and is really finding it difficult to continue learning, we'll stop there. But if it seems as though he hasn't really given it a go, I'll be firmer and say let's get to such and such a point before we stop for now. Also if the energy level is wrong (with my son, he might be jumping about and just not able to keep still enough, but also for a child who is low on energy) I will have a super quick break, eg "why don't you go and do 10 jumps on the trampoline and then we'll read the next page".