{"id":1065,"date":"2020-08-10T18:23:56","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T18:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/?page_id=1065"},"modified":"2024-03-13T21:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T21:00:29","slug":"strategies-to-increase-time-on-task-and-manage-distractions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/?page_id=1065","title":{"rendered":"Strategies to Increase Time on Task and Manage Distractions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-info\">Students who are active, inattentive, and\/or impulsive often engage in off-task behaviour during independent work periods.&nbsp; Helping students learn how to stay on task can be beneficial to all members of a classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-42cb5d69c0f2d545ce6de4aa7957fa10\" style=\"color:#1685c5\"><strong>Suggestions for Improving Work Habits <\/strong> <strong>&amp; Manage Distractions <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Decrease distractions in the environment to help limit the number of competing interests for his\/her attention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Providing your client with headphones may be useful if the environment is noisy to minimize distractions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provide your client with priority seating or seating in a quiet area of the classroom (e.g. using trifold, bookcases or other physical barriers to cut down on visual distractions).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some students need more prompts to return to a task than do others.&nbsp; Differences in attention span and concentration ability are just as real as differences in other abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Praise students who are on task.\u00a0 This indirectly reminds off-task students to return to task.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Try to make your praise specific:\u00a0\u201c<em>Tiffany, I like the way that you are concentrating.\u00a0 I can tell you are reading each question carefully and then choosing the best answer.<\/em>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have a classroom signal system so that your expectations are clear for each activity.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example, a green sign indicates that talking is permitted and a red sign indicates a \u201cno talking\u201d period.\u00a0 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A seatwork sign may list the following expectations:\u00a0 1) Stay in your seat, 2) Stay on task, and 3) Don\u2019t bother others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure that inattentive students are capable of completing the assignment.&nbsp; Often students are less attentive when they find a task difficult.&nbsp; A simple clarification or a legitimate task modification can sometimes prevent an entire period of off-task behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teach self-monitoring.\u00a0 <strong>Self-monitoring<\/strong> reinforces continued effort and reminds students of what needs to be done next.\u00a0 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example, attach checklists to assignments so that students can check off each step when completed and monitor their own progress.\u00a0 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can use the same checklist framework each time (such as a proofreading checklist with reminders to check for name, date, capitals, punctuation, spelling, etc.).\u00a0 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the checklists are laminated and an erasable marker is used, the checklists can be reused many times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check in with inattentive students frequently.&nbsp; Your contact gives students some needed attention and stimulation.&nbsp; If you do not provide it, these students are likely to seek it in other ways.&nbsp; Sometimes classroom volunteers can be very helpful with this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use hands-on activities, as students tend to be more motivated to complete these and can therefore stay on task longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teach <strong>self-talk<\/strong>.\u00a0 When students are finding it difficult to persevere at a task, teach them to focus on what remains to be done and to talk themselves through it.\u00a0 Students tend to be quite receptive to this strategy, especially when you explain that adults do it all the time (e.g., \u201cOnly one more day and it\u2019s Friday!\u201d).\u00a0 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coach the students to use statements like:\u00a0 \u201c<em>Only three more questions to go.\u00a0 I can do this!<\/em>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offer special activities for students who finish their work early.&nbsp; Examples include computer time, drawing, and word searches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pay attention to the students\u2019 biological rhythm when planning activities.\u00a0 People DO perform better at certain times of the day.\u00a0 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example, industrial accidents tend to occur around 1:30 to 2:00 in the afternoon.\u00a0 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try not to schedule your most demanding activities during the students\u2019 weakest attentional levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Try to schedule interesting or rewarding activities immediately after more difficult tasks.&nbsp; This can help you to motivate students more easily by saying, \u201c<em>When we finish ___, then we can ___.<\/em>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make assignments as exciting and appealing as possible.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example, use pictures, cartoons, or coloured paper.\u00a0 Use carefully planned activities and centres to catch and keep a student\u2019s attention.\u00a0 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design lessons around students\u2019 primary interests.\u00a0 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can be helpful to use computer programs for teaching certain skills, as they give students ongoing feedback and stimulation, thereby maintaining their attention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For reading activities, some students may benefit from reading to each other if they tend to get distracted and lose track of where they are, or if they forget what they are reading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arranging his\/her work environment to reduce the impact of noise or other distractions. This may include the use of a distraction-free area when studying, writing reports, and taking exams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To improve recall of oral instructions, rehearse instructions mentally or subvocally before acting on them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To help stay on task, verbalize the steps subvocally while following them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-877e488155c894ef224c4d199fdef699\"><strong>To Increase Client&#8217;s Time on Task<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-warning\">At this time, your client will continue to need cues from parents and teachers to remain on task, with the goal that these are faded over time and that he\/she learn ways to better manage his own attention in the future. This will be important as he progresses to upper elementary and critical for junior high and high school where he will likely need to rely more on his own attentional resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-4a2acbbf65b013c789a00369e1adf92e\" style=\"color:#7a3eb2\"><strong>Strategies to Increase Time Spent on Tasks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shorten the length of time that he\/she is expected to attend to one activity and inserting planned breaks will increase his chance of success of staying on task.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Break down tasks into small parts and ask to complete one part at a time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provide him\/her with a way to \u201creset\u201d his own attention through use of a timer and an alarm (vibrating\/or other quiet noise that will limit disruption to other students in the classroom). \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An alarm, like the <strong>MotivAider<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/habitchange.com\/motivaider.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/habitchange.com\/motivaider.php<\/a> can be set to vibrate\/beep at intervals to remind him to \u201c<em>pay attention<\/em>\u201d. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When the signal goes he should immediately start to perform or maintain an on-task behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teach your client to use self-talk to remind himself how to get on task (e.g. \u201c<em>Okay, read the question again<\/em>\u201d, \u201c<em>Write one more sentence<\/em>\u201d, \u201c<em>Keep looking at the teacher while she\u2019s talking<\/em>\u201d, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Capture his\/her attention by increasing his self-interest in tasks. For example, having choice to pursue a topic of interest in writing or reading, working on an errand at home that leads to a favoured activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Help your client learn the times of day when his attention is better, and schedule more challenging tasks during these times when possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Play family games that rely on attention and planning like Uno, Battleship, Scrabble, Chess.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nStudents who are active, inattentive, and\/or impulsive often engage in off-task behaviour during independent work periods.&nbsp; Helping students learn how&hellip;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/?page_id=1065\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Strategies to Increase Time on Task and Manage Distractions&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":8966,"featured_media":0,"parent":343,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1065","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8966"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1065"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3106,"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1065\/revisions\/3106"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/resourcelibrary.ucalgaryblogs.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}