Lesson 3 Attention and Emotions

After watching the videos on Attention, Emotions and Learning, describe how this information impacts you as a teacher.


I will never assume that a child has ADHD simply because he or she cannot focus during certain times of the day or during certain lessons.  It takes a while for children to develop their attention and it is important for teachers to foster good attention habits.  Standing in front of a class of students and lecturing for extended periods may be fine for adults, but children need frequent breaks in lessons to help them absorb the information they are learning. As a teacher, I need to remember to incorporate many different types of activities into my lessons to make sure that each type of learner is engaged.  

It may seem weird, but the environment that a child learns in may be just as important as the lessons he or she is learning.  As a teacher, I will remember to take into account the feelings associated with my classroom and make sure that I show my students that they can trust me.  Stress is fine and natural, but chronic, persistent stress affects the way children learn and their brain development.  Making my classroom a relaxing and safe environment with positive interactions will help reduce the stress level of my students.