Student inattention, that is! Do you think common inattentive behaviors are due to an excess of TV? Video games? Or what? I am sitting here watching as the art teacher teaches my class and just observing all these little inattentive behaviors my students have...there are probably 3 or 4 out of 25 actually sitting still and listening. Let's see, there are kids playing with glasses, drumming on desks, kicking their feet, rolling their heads around, gesturing to neighbors, playing with hands/fingernails, playing with paper, and so on. It's not just in art, either, they do it with me too and have all year. Granted it's probably worse because it's the end of the year, but these types of behaviors seem to be more the norm than kids who actually listen.
Just wondering what grade level you teach! I notice the same thing with my 4th graders, but it seems to be something that exists at all grades! I think TV and video games has a lot to do with inattentiveness. I try to think waaaaaaaaaaaay back when I was in elem. school (the mid-late 60's!! ) and honestly can't remember all the whispering, looking around, fidgeting, etc. There was some, but for the most part we sat in our seats quietly and got down to business.
One thing that drives me nuts is students playing with things...pencils, erasers, or whatever, especially mechanical pencils! Our supply list even specifically states NO mechanical pencils. If I see them, I confiscate them. So many play with the lead, change the lead, drop the lead, etc. Agggggh. Sorry, I digress....
I wonder if I would act as they do if Ihad to sit in a seat for 5+ hours each day. That's one constraint, then if you don't understand the material you zone out. If you think the material is too easy, you zone out. You're itchy to say something, but the teacher is talking so you zone out.
I worked in a business setting for 20 plus years before I became a teacher. Adults were allowed to get up, talk, get a snack when they were hungry or a drink when they're thirsty. I think that sitting in a seat all day long must be incredibly taxing, don't you?
I think it is difficult for young children to sit still for a long period of time. The tough part is when they do have opportunity to move around, get a drink, etc., but still lack attention during lesson or work time. Thank goodness for Science kits which keep them moving/doing a lot! But, when they need to focus and learn a new Math concept or skill, their attention does need to be limited to learning, not playing with things. It's the chronic moving/playing/talking that's disturbing to more than just the student doing it...other students get distracted as well.
Kids just don't have to pay attention for any length of time anywhere but at school. We have DVD players and game systems in cars. I see kids often bringing in hand held game systems to restaurants, movies, concerts,etc,.. any time they have to wait. They rarely have to sit through church any more. Many do not sit with their families at meals and eat and listen to other family members talk. Usually there is a TV on. Simple bike rides, walks, playing outside and using your imagination are activities that many children no longer do.
The point is that while I sat quietly for long periods of time in school when I was young, I also was expected to be quiet and listen in many other areas of my life. I don't think we are going to change society or the students. I think, as educators, we are going to have to come up with ways to teach these kids and also how to teach them to become more attentive.
I highly doubt any student sits for 5+ hours each day!! Let's be realistic. Recess, lunch, and specials break up the day, as does the transition to other subjects.
Aside from that, MOST teachers today understand that kids need to move and gear their lessons around movement. Brain gym has also become very popular, so activities are planned throughout the day to
give kids that mental break, etc.
It is well-known that kids today do not have the attention span of previous generations. It is seen in the classroom, no matter how much movement one incorporates into the lesson. At some point, kids DO need to learn how to sit and listen and pay attention and learn something orally.
Jalon, I teach 4th grade too. My class this year has been one of the most inattentive I've ever had...unfortunately for some of them (and me) it showed in their test scores. Even when we do activities where they are out of their seats moving around, many of them can't stay on task and use the opportunity to act wild and crazy. I also have more boys than girls, so that probably has something to do with it.
They are just in a society that doesn't really require long spans of attention. I've even noticed a change in myself. My husband absolutely cannot stand to watch television with me because I'm a channel flipper. Back when there wasn't such a thing as a TV remote, and the channels were limited, I could watch the same channel--commercials and all--for a long time. Now that I have a remote and lots of channels, I never watch a commercial. Also, as soon as I start losing interest in something, I switch.
I'm the same way with movies. If I'm in the theater, I dont' have any trouble just sitting and watching. But, if I'm at home, I'll fidget and act worse than any kid.
I'm also a "fidgeter" when sitting as well. I'm not a "get involved/hands on" kind of person at PD sessions, but I absolutely have to have something to DO . . . stress ball, space to stand, paper for doodling, something to read, snacks . . . just something that will occupy my "fidgets". I'm the "kid" that appears NOT to be paying attention, but I've heard everythign you've said.
I CAN sit still for very long periods of time, and do it often . . . but if I CAN fidget, I will.
when I first started teaching, we lived in a very small town where everyone knew everyone. I noticed that the kids who went to church regularly from the time they were babies were more able to sit and be attentive when they started school. Many kids never have to attend for any period of time before they start school. By that time, their habits are formed. I'm not saying that every kid that went to church sat still, or that every kid who didn't go to church was inattentive, but there was a definite trend.
I have noticed the same thing as Linda. Children who go to church are able to sit for long periods of time while children who don't go are less likely to be able to. I also have found children who go to church are more likely to be aware of the fact that different social settings have different expectations.
I think Sesame Street had a lot to do with kids' lack of attention. It changes scenes so fast, lots of color, music, entertainment. That way there was always something new to look at and if you start getting bored with it, jsut wait! Something new will pop up!
A cable channel that my 15 year old sister watches frequently (Gah, I cannot recall the name of it!). It is a news channel geared towards teenagers with really short news stories. The part that ties into this thread is that at the bottom of the screen it has a time log running showing how much of a particular story is left. When I see that I always think it is for people who are easily bored or have a hard time paying attention so that they know just how much longer they have until the screen changes.
Also, in the summer I was watching a lot of junk daytime television (no cable at my house) and a number of those judge shows have some sort of reminder in the corner that says something like, "Ruling coming up in 2 mins!).
My daughter had this problem in class. Her teacher said she just wouldn't pay attention. My daughter is an only child too. This is what I did.....
When her teacher said she was inattentive - I stopped letting her watch television in the morning before school.
She became so playful inschool that... the teacher said "she's too playful". My daughter got conduct marks for playing.
Since I took her only free time (morning cartoons) away from her she decided to go to school and play.
So I had to change things back, and when I did......
My daughter got conduct marks for being inattentive again. Maybe after watching colorful, moving cartoons that jump around and will do anything to keep the attention of kids...... Her plain jane teacher just wasn't exciting enough for her.
I really don't know what the cause of inattentiveness is but when you guys find out let me know.
it is not just kids! I had to attend a computer training, very basic, just the other day and after about 20 min, I had tuned out the instructor and started surfing the internet! Of course, had it been interesting and informative, I might have paid better attention, but come on, I already know how to open a new word document, and save it, and create a new folder... Teach me something new!
I have found this holds true with my students as well. If I am teaching something new and interesting and making them interact, they are much more attentive than they are if I am rehashing the same ole thing or talking at them!
05-28-2008, 11:16 AM
) and honestly can't remember all the whispering, looking around, fidgeting, etc. There was some, but for the most part we sat in our seats quietly and got down to business. 
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