Improving Focus And Concentration

[cafelatte]

Yup, ours too.


However, by term 2, the children read and re-read all the books in the little ‘class library’. In P1/P2, they typically stock the thinner simpler books so those only kept them interested for 10mins top. As for hands-on activities, the FT didn’t allow due to too much noise from the ‘faster’ children plus the ‘slower’ children were distracted and wanted to join in the ‘games’ and hence tend to rush through the work.

[Jasmine82]

My Girl is in primary 1 now.She is a year end born kid.I sometimes think if only she was born 1 month later she would not have to go through the pressures of primary school early.Her form teacher says she does not have focus and she does not pay attention in the class.She says that it's not that your daughter does not know the concept,but she still gives a blank face when asked to do the corrections.Her mother-tounge teacher says her reflexes are a bit slow.The main concern teacher is telling me is my daughter does not follow instructions.She does not copy what is written on the board for homework.Even though she does sometimes it will be only half of it and if any information is given verbally by the teacher she never conveys that to me.If I come to know about through other parents and I ask her she would have completely forgotten about it.She does'nt have a clue. :shock: I have been getting the same complaints from her K1 and K2 teachers ,but then i was thinking may be she needs more time to pick-up.but now i think if with this lack of focus and attention she cannot go forward in the primary school.Please can anyone here help me out in this matter.How can I improve her attention and how can get her to tell me what is happening in the school.Sorry for the long post.and Thanks in advance

[young-mom]

i face a similar situation with jasmine82. my boy is 9 and in p3 this year. he always has a very nonchalant attitude when it comes to any work. when it comes to games of any types, cartoons, he becomes alive and passionate.


recent case in hand: i check his school work almost every night. i would sit with him and he flips his school books page by page to check for homework. i had since early this year reminded him everyday to write his homework in his handbook but he had only done it once or twice. tried to encourage by praising him when he did but it didn’t work, he does not consistenyl write his homework list down. he will say he has finished his homework but when i check, will always discover undone homework and when questioned why, he says he forgot so i make him check in front of me page by page. he also needs to complete his work in front of me. if i am not around, he will be day dreaming and not doing his work.

this week, the chinese teacher called to say he has not handed in his chinese homework for nearly a month! i am so disdraught with this piece of news because i do check his work, he check his work but still, i am not able to detect he has not handed in his chinese homework. i had a discussion with the chinese teacher and she is agreeable to work together to ensure he writes his chinese homework in the handwork. sad to say the teacher teaching him english/maths rejected and said she is not able to monitor him so closely due to the size of class.

when asked, my son will reply he cannot remember. he is not afraid of our discipline. we have tried hard way and soft way. it may work for couple of days and he is back to his old self.

i really wonder how i can teach him to be more focus and concentrate on what he is doing. i know if i sit beside him during all his waking hours, he will be doing what he needs to do. but i really cant afford not to work. i am only asking that he be responsible and hands in his school work on time. what can i do?

[tutormum]

This is normal for P1 and P2 children so don’t worry too much about it. They are learning and in time, they’ll do better. If you push them too hard, you’ll get negative effect which is undesirable and may kill their interest for life. Do it slowly by training them to focus and concentrate on their task. For example, start off with 15 mins of work with a 10 mins break. This should cover a page or 2 of assessment. Slowly increase it to 20 mins and then 25 mins and so on. A P1 or P2 child can only sit for 1.5 hours of tuition but gets bored easily so you must give short assessment and changes tasks around to keep them interested. I usually give a comprehension, some grammar exercise, teach a new math concept and do some exercises. The trick is to be ahead of them. Give them incentives to encourage them in their work like if they get all their problem sums right, they get stickers to exchange for favours and gifts. Reward system works well with young children but the best incentive is knowing that their parents are proud of them in getting a job well done. Reinforce the good behaviour like doing their homework without being told and getting good grades in school. However, never punish a child when he fails a paper. By doing so, you are telling him/her that you love the grade more then him/her. Only punish during the process of learning, i.e. the behaviour and attitude towards their work like giving extra assessment if they are untidy in their work or didn’t complete their school homework.

[hardworking_mom]

I have a similar problem with my P1 child this year. I don’t know if it is ‘cos he is new to a big class(his childcare class is only 15) hence gets easily distracted and cannot follow teachers’ instructions closely. Everyday I make sure he finishes his homework, when he pack his bag, go through again the list of homework to be passed up. When I fetch him at the school gate next day evening, immediately check his schol bag to make sure all work is passed up. Worst thing is P1 & P2 no exams, so there are lots of tests ‘assessments’. Which means if he didn’t catch what is taught, there is no time for major revision. I think he needs to adjust

to primary school requirement…

[Blobbi]

lovekidsverymuch:

oh i god thats giving me heartattack oredi next yr gonna be DS p1 and he feels if there are more kids he cannot concentrate oh my GOD :!:

Gawd, that was heartfelt :), lovekidsverymuch!

For me, my next year is now!!

Ok my friend says, P1 and P2 really honeymoon years, and P2 is a revision of P1. Sort of. So it's ok but got to help them. Otherwise, P3 will be a shock. She says P3 and P5 are the years which are the \"gap up\" years, like got to move up a big gap in terms of learning. So take your time to prep, but must prep.

[2ppaamm]

Hey guys, also have a p1 boy leh. Good to be blur blur now lah... so many more years to go.


P1 is great! no homework, don't know why teacher so fierce (but quite scared), don't know why must bring this book, but must bring. Must walk here because teacher say so. Very cute leh. I enjoy watching him grow up.

Let the child grow up. He has many years to unblur himself/herself. By P6 they will be fully awake. I know cos I have been there 3 times already.

[tutormum]

2ppaamm:

Hey guys, also have a p1 boy leh. Good to be blur blur now lah... so many more years to go.


P1 is great! no homework, don't know why teacher so fierce (but quite scared), don't know why must bring this book, but must bring. Must walk here because teacher say so. Very cute leh. I enjoy watching him grow up.

Let the child grow up. He has many years to unblur himself/herself. By P6 they will be fully awake. I know cos I have been there 3 times already.

I agree. Look at the children during the school assembly. P1 are the ones who are very well behaved. Ask them to raise their hands, clap etc and they'll do it obediently and enthusiastically while those in the upper primary look bored and can't be bothered. :lol:

[Luvkid]

Blobbi:

.......P1 and P2 really honeymoon years, and P2 is a revision of P1. Sort of. So it's ok but got to help them. Otherwise, P3 will be a shock. She says P3 and P5 are the years which are the \"gap up\" years, like got to move up a big gap in terms of learning. So take your time to prep, but must prep.

I hv a P2 boy, nothing sort of honeymoon leh..... I hv been pushing myself to help DS, not wanting him to be the best among all, but at least be the best in himself..... When it is CA & SA, i got more to face, i will have stress BEFORE,DURING & AFTER exam!! Not my own exam, but is DS exam.....

I heard ppl around me saying P3 is a big \"gap\" as compared to P1 & P2, so how i wish i can \"stop\" the time for this year, where DS is still P2..... Chey! Dreaming!

[KS_me]

Finally, I’m not alone…


Just met up with the FT together with VP this morning due to the trouble that my P2 had created for the past 2 months.

Hyper active is the only word to describe him. He would walk around the class (create trouble) once his assigned task is done or when he’s given that little 2 mins break in the class.

The VP suggested to look for some puzzle book, good reader or anything that he likes for him to bring along to the school to occupy these "trouble making time"…

VP also suggested us to have him checked for ADHD… or ADD

I’d done a mini test using online checklist for ADHD and found DS not in high % of ADHD. He followed instruction, he listens to teacher during lesson time but very talkative and playful. He can’t think ahead of what will happened if he does something…

Can anyone advise where to get him access for ADHD? and any where to get those MAZE book? I’ve looking high and low in popular and some other book shop but to no avail…

Thanks a bunch for any reply that comes in.