How to focus students and, conversely, relieve tension when everyone is tired

Psychologists and educators offer effective tips and simple techniques that will help your students focus on the learning process, reduce stress, and increase confidence in their abilities. These methods contribute to a more productive classroom atmosphere, which in turn improves material acquisition and increases student motivation. The use of such techniques in the educational process allows not only to improve concentration, but also to develop emotional stability, which is extremely important for successful learning.

Psychologist of the private school "Golden Section", teacher at the School of Education, methodologist of the program "Teacher for Russia" and participant The "Noogen. Educational Extreme" educational project offers qualified assistance and support in the field of psychology. This specialist works on developing educational methods and creating effective teaching strategies, which improves the quality of the educational process. As part of his work, he actively implements innovative approaches and practices aimed at developing the personality and potential of students. The Golden Section school website features numerous photographs that reflect the atmosphere of the educational process and the institution's cultural life. The school's educational process takes place in a modern environment, which promotes effective learning and development. The photographs showcase both classes and various events held at the school. This allows prospective students and their parents to better understand the educational environment and the values promoted by the school. The school website serves as an important resource for learning about educational programs and activities, and also provides access to up-to-date information about school life.

Plan Lessons with Your Children

Lesson plans can be created using a variety of methods. Using effective approaches to planning not only helps structure the learning process but also makes it more productive. It is important to consider learning objectives, material requirements, and student preparation levels. To optimize the learning process, it is worth using a variety of formats, such as thematic units, integrating interdisciplinary connections, and using modern technologies. This will help teachers be more flexible in planning lessons and ensure high-quality education.

The teacher announces the plan, and the students formulate their goals for the lesson.
If the lesson is devoted to revision, the students themselves can participate in forming the plan, based on what is important for them to review.

This method promotes the development of independence and goal-setting skills. It helps people learn to set goals and achieve them, which is an important aspect of personal growth and a successful life.

Organize a group discussion of homework

This method of checking homework helps create a productive atmosphere in the lesson, eliminating the fear of mistakes and concerns about grades. This approach allows students to more confidently perceive their results, which in turn increases their motivation to learn and improves comprehension of the material.

Before the start of the lesson, students write down questions or tasks with which they had difficulty. At the beginning of a lesson, a discussion occurs during which other students ask questions of those experiencing difficulties to help them understand the topic independently. The principle of "Don't fix the mistake, but ask questions" can be applied in the classroom. This helps foster the value of thinking and develop students' competence. This approach not only helps solve specific problems but also promotes critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Use a role model

In lessons, students can act as helpers-consultants, using guiding questions to support their classmates in understanding the topic or completing assignments. A key aspect is to regularly rotate "consultants" so that most students have the opportunity to try out this role. A sense of expertise in a particular field significantly increases the level of personal engagement in the learning process, which, in turn, contributes to a deeper assimilation of the material and the development of critical thinking skills.

Professor of Psychology at the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences In his article for the website Edutopia, he proposed a number of effective techniques for developing mindfulness. These techniques can help improve attention and concentration, and also contribute to stress reduction and an overall level of well-being. Mindfulness is becoming an important tool in personal development and can be useful both in school and in everyday life.

Image courtesy of Behrman House.

Introduce a "60-Second Silence" Rule

Begin the lesson with a minute of silence to prepare students for learning. Ask them to focus on one thing, whether it's a dot on a piece of paper, an abstract image on a screen, or their own breathing. For younger students, start with 15 seconds, and for older students, 20-30 seconds, gradually increasing the time. This will help create an atmosphere of calm and focus, which promotes more effective perception of information.

Try ear exercises

Ring a bell or use another object that makes a continuous sound. Ask the children to listen and raise their hands when the sound stops. After everyone has raised their hands, set a timer for one minute and invite the students to simply sit quietly. When time is up, ask them what they heard during that minute. This approach helps develop attentiveness and auditory perception in children and also creates an atmosphere of calm and focus in the classroom.

Take a Minute to Be Gratitude

At the beginning of the lesson, invite students to take a minute to reflect on their recent successes or on who and for what they are grateful. This activity can be done in writing, in pairs, or as a discussion in small or large groups. Large groups are especially suitable for elementary school students. The main goal of this exercise is not to receive gratitude in kind, but to create a positive atmosphere and stimulate reflection in children: what they have managed to do and thanks to what or who it happened.

According to research, feelings of gratitude significantly increase motivation for learning. This finding underscores the importance of developing a positive attitude toward the educational process, which can contribute to improved academic performance and personal development. Gratitude helps students focus on their achievements and maintain a high level of interest in learning. Thus, cultivating gratitude can be an effective tool for increasing academic motivation and success in education.

Invite a summary at the end of the lesson

Reflection is an important tool for successful completion of the lesson. It helps students make sense of the knowledge and experience they have gained. Here are five phrases that can be suggested for discussion at the end of the lesson:

“Today I learned…”;
“Here’s what I’m wondering about…”;
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow because…”;
“Here’s the question I’m left with…”;
“Today I feel grateful for…”

A psychology professor from the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences suggests a number of methods for developing mindfulness in her article on the website Edutopia. These techniques will help improve concentration, reduce stress, and increase overall emotional resilience. Mindfulness practice is becoming increasingly relevant in today's world, where constant distractions make it difficult to focus on the present moment. Using the suggested techniques, you can significantly improve the quality of your life and increase productivity in various areas.

Photo courtesy of Behrman House.

A mathematics teacher at the private school "Golden Section" offers high-quality education, Based on an individual approach to each student, our school's mathematics curriculum incorporates modern methods that foster a deep understanding of the subject and develop analytical thinking. Our program offers classes for both beginners and advanced students, allowing everyone to achieve their learning goals. Join us to discover the world of mathematics with passion and interest.

The Golden Section School offers a high-quality education and a unique approach to teaching. We strive to create a comfortable and inspiring atmosphere for students, where everyone can develop their abilities and talents. Our curriculum incorporates modern methods and actively integrates technology, enabling children to acquire knowledge at a high level. We are proud of our qualified teaching staff, who provide an individual approach to each student. Join us and discover a world of knowledge with the Golden Section School.

How to relieve stress and fatigue

Often, when observing students in the classroom, you may notice that they appear tense and constrained. At such moments, it is especially useful to conduct a physical warm-up, which not only promotes relaxation but also reduces stress levels in children. It is optimal for the teacher to perform the exercises together with the students, thus creating an atmosphere of trust and engagement. This helps improve concentration and increase overall activity in the classroom.

"Spring". While performing this exercise, you need to "spring", slightly bending and straightening your knees while standing. Your arms should hang freely along your body. Then it would be good to begin twisting your torso, gradually increasing the angle of rotation. Your arms should also move freely, giving impetus to the movement. The exercise should be performed without effort, since the goal is not to get tired, but to feel lightness in the body.
Facial gymnastics. To relieve tension, it is useful to make funny faces. Sometimes students are shy, some girls even turn away to the wall so that no one can see how they do it. But shyness goes away thanks to the number of repetitions and the fact that the teacher also does this exercise.
"Stretches". Simple stretches will help straighten muscles tired from sitting for a long time. You can stretch both standing and sitting on a chair. I usually say: "Imagine that you just woke up and are still lying in bed. "Start stretching smoothly, without any sudden movements." By the way, children often start to yawn, but try to either hold it in or cover their mouths with their hands, which disrupts the smooth and measured "stretching" rhythm. That's why I say: "If you want to yawn, yawn with pleasure!" When holding back a yawn, the jaws are clenched, and the goal of the warm-up is to relax the body.