that's one way to get student attention

I've been thinking about entraining attention.

Curriculum designers who are concerned with capturing & holding student attention often use speed and choral response. That's why KIPP & DI have scripted call-and-response lessons. The pace and the talking/chanting/rapping/rhyming (depending on the program) capture attention and hold it.

That's why KUMON uses timed worksheets. Speed captures attention.

How to Double Your Child's Grades in School teaches an active question-asking, text-highlighting, book-within-the-book-finding mode of reading to achieve the same goal: capture the child's attention, as opposed to relying on the child to force himself to focus.

Here's another tactic:

Ohio High School Porn Homework Canceled
Jan 13 4:03 PM US/Eastern

BROOKLYN, Ohio

A high school research assignment on Internet pornography was canceled after parents in this Cleveland suburb complained.

Superintendent Jeff Lampert said that although the teacher's apparent goal — to discuss the harmful effects of pornography — was well- intentioned, he agreed with parents that the assignment was inappropriate for 14- and 15-year-old freshmen at Brooklyn High.

The assignment asked students to research pornography on the Internet and list eight facts about pornography. Students also were asked to write their personal views of pornography and any experience they had with it.

Lampert said he doubted the teacher would face any punishment.

They were probably planning to spiral the assignment for the next couple of years.







off topic, but worth it

When you Google 'pay attention' you get this:

Also this and this.

pay attention!




update: a dog paying attention





Obviously this dog is not of middle-school age.

In dog years, I mean.

Back to main page.

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Why isn't the woman smiling back at the dog? He's paying such nice attention. Good doggy.

-- CarolynJohnston - 14 Jan 2006

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Isn't he sweet??

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jan 2006

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I think she's smiling a little.

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jan 2006

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Catherine, have you ever learned any sign language?

-- CarolynJohnston - 14 Jan 2006

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Not for years....(I just knew the alphabet) —

why?

I love it, though

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jan 2006

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plus I think sign language challenges Ami Klin's research on eye gaze in autism....

-- CatherineJohnson - 14 Jan 2006

WebLogForm
Title:	that's one way to get student attention
TopicType:	WebLog
SubjectArea:	TeachersTeachingKids
LogDate:	200601140805