Trying to Stay Focused in Class, but Not Succeeding? Try These 6 Surefire Focus Tips

Picture this: You are sitting in class; it’s 1:15pm, and the minutes are just creeping by at a snail’s pace. Your foot starts to bounce, creating an undeniable regular tap-tap-tap from your direction. Your tush can’t sit still and begins to slide back and forth, which then invites your arms to join this quick restless dance. This chain of events results in a sudden twitch of your right arm, which accidentally knocks your metal water bottle onto the floor, ringing like a cowbell. Heads spin around in shock trying to determine the source of this disruption, and you are met with the death stare from your biology teacher, a look you have sadly become quite familiar with this school year. Scenes like this one play out daily for kids who have ADHD. The inability to sit still and stay focused for long stretches at a time is quite challenging and a frequently elusive goal which never seems to come to fruition, despite the student’s best efforts.

We all know focus is critical to learning. But what is a kid who struggles mightily to pay attention in class supposed to do to promote and master this skill?

If focus in class is your goal, here are some surefire tips that will get you in the zone right away!

Location, location, location: 

where you sit matters. Try to get priority seating at or close to the front of the classroom. The kids who sit closer to the teacher are less likely to engage in off-target behavior, creating an immediate sense of focus. Just as those front row seats at the ballgame create the sense of being in the thick of the action, so too does sitting front and center in the classroom.

Let your voice be heard: 

participate in class discussions and ask questions when you need clarification or help. If you are bashful, make it a goal to contribute to the conversation at least once each day. The more you interact with your teachers and peers, the more exposure you give yourself to the material at hand. This interface empowers you to find personal meaning in the subject matter, consider the material from different perspectives, and better process the content so you can store, remember, and apply the facts!

Shake it off: 

no, we are not borrowing from Taylor Swift, but she does have the right idea. If sitting still is a challenge, engage in some desk exercises. Straighten and bend your legs as you sit at your desk. Rotate those feet one way and then the other. Stretch your arms and wrists. Twist from side to side. If you can do so without disrupting the classroom, stand up and stretch behind your chair. Make arrangements with the teacher(s) -either in the form of a 504 or IEP accommodation, or a handshake agreement- to leave the classroom to get a drink of water, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, or run an errand for the teacher.

Navigate the storm: 

part of the challenge of sitting in the classroom and listening to the teacher talk is the feeling that all of the content is washing over students like a huge hurricane wave; there is just too much information coming at once. Be more selective: make it a goal to identify at least five interesting or helpful pieces of information during each part of the day. For younger students, that might equate to five bits in the morning, and five in the afternoon. For middle and high school students, that would amount to five bits in each class. Parents: it may be helpful to request copies of notes to supplement your student’s own bits of information. These notes can come from the teacher or a reliable peer in the classroom.

Eliminate distractions: 

anyone who uses a computer knows that those pop-ups and reminders can be a major source of distraction. In a couple of weeks, we will be sending you a blog post about helpful apps that can help to eliminate some of that visual “noise”. In the meantime, minimize the windows open to the internet while in class. Keep fun toys off your desk. Use one (not more than one!) fidget to keep your hands busy-as long as the teacher will not object. Keep your desk clutter free.

Water, water: 

always keep a water bottle with you. Staying hydrated helps to keep that brain oiled. Similarly, don’t be afraid to bring a portable snack with you: granola bars, fruit, cheese and crackers or peanut butter and crackers are all high-energy snacks that you can easily transport with you to class. Older students might consider making smoothies at home and bringing them in a water bottle to class. A hungry brain is less likely to remain focused. Remaining focused is one of the biggest challenges that comes with ADHD. 

Here’s the thing: 

you don’t have to stay focused 100% of the time to benefit from being in class. If you can give yourself targeted opportunities to take in the information discussed in class, you will increase the likelihood that you will hear, understand, and process this material while simultaneously reducing your feelings of frustration.