Paying attention isn’t everyone’s strong suit, especially in 90 minute classes, but why is that? Is it because all the electronics we’re so used to are taken? There’s no 2x speed to listen to the lesson faster? Is it because it’s just one subject for too long? Or is it specific to everyone? Well according to three specialists sources, it’s all of that, but what do psychologists all individually think it is?
According to source Alison Pearl, a counselor at Grayslake Central Public High School, she believes that students focus elsewhere during classes. “The students are not focused only on what’s happening in class, they have lives of their own, they have social issues, they have mental health things that they need to take care of, and that can take a lot of mental space.” Says Pearl.
When talking to Pearl she explained how nowadays with technology there is an instant gratification while as in classes without that addicting immediate fulfillment it can cause irritation or other feelings. When asked about how students can navigate focusing skills she says “Truly should be a matter of practicing and finding out this worked this didn’t work.”
Another source, licensed clinical professional counselor Victoria Garrison says “As a community over the years a big uptick in attention deficits, challenges, and anxiety as we know it.”.
As a community and as students attention spans can even find ways to impact daily life an example explained by Garrison is human relationships. Garrison describes how a short attention span can affect the ability to create healthy attachments if you’re not able to focus, to pay attention to your people to listen to them. Not only could this affect relationships but it can “disrupt work life, I think it can affect your ability to be successful financially if you can’t focus on the task you’re being assigned to do, academics [yeah] I think it can affect every part of your life if you really struggle with it.”
If attention span connects to all that, how could it truly be affecting students with ADHD or ADD and other attention deficits as it’s possible for a decline in their attention span too? “In school I think there’s a lot of pressure to finish things in a certain amount of time and I’ve had kids say “Even though I have an IEP, I have a 504 it’s embarrassing to ask for it sometimes” or they get it but it might be three hours later or even the next day.” says Kristen Hunt a licensed clinical social worker.
When it comes to thoughts on how students can help themselves stay focused or on task in a class all three agree the answer is specific to the person and is a matter of trial and error until you finally reach that personal goal in the end.
