The ability to sustain attention is a fundamental skill for successful learning, yet many students struggle to maintain focus while engaged in educational activities. We as educators who strive to optimize student outcomes, understanding and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve attention are vital. Let’s have a look at some of the techniques to maintain student attention.


The need for Improved Student Attention

One of the main problems we encounter during teaching is the student’s distracted mind. Student attention directly impacts learning outcomes, academic success, and social-emotional wellbeing. When students are able to concentrate and remain focused, they demonstrate better comprehension, retention, and application of knowledge. This minimises the out of class work, thus making the learning process more efficient. Here, I discuss a series of Evidence-Based Strategies to overcome these challenges and make the learning process much more productive.


Engagement with students

Although it is a very generic mention, engaging with the students is the first line of keeping students’ attention. Going beyond verbal explanations is important to make sure the student pay attention by keeping them engaged with the lessons. There are numerous ways to do this. Asking questions from students regarding the learned parts. Asking them to conduct some activities such as generating mind maps, doing presentations, and building models are some activities that would keep the students engaged.


Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Mindfulness practices have been shown to improve attention and cognitive performance in students. A meta-analysis by Zenner et al. (2014) confirmed the positive effects of mindfulness interventions across various age groups. Common mindfulness practices include body scans, breath awareness, and guided imagery. For younger students, mindfulness activities can be adapted to fit their developmental stage. These regular mindfullness practices will help, students develop a stronger sense of self-awareness, allowing effective stress and anxiety management. With increased mindfulness, students will exhibit higher levels of attention, concentration, and focus during class.


Physical Activity Breaks

Physical activity breaks have emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing student attention during teaching. According to a study by Norris et al. (2015), physical activity breaks result in improved attention and on-task behavior in students. Integrating physical activity breaks into daily lessons can be achieved through creative and engaging activities. Some ideas include:

  • Short exercise routines (jumping jacks, squats, etc.) 
  • Brain breaks (dancing, stretching, etc.) 
  • Walking breaks

These activities lead to the release of endorphins, reducing stress levels. Regular physical activity breaks can lead to improved cognitive function, increased energy levels, and enhanced attention spans.


Classroom Environment Modifications

Creating an optimal learning environment is paramount for sustaining student attention during teaching. Tanner-Smith et al. (2016) indicate that classroom environment modifications play a significant role in enhancing student focus and engagement. Class rooms (and home study environment) must be modified by

  • Reducing visual distractions (posters, clutter, etc.) 
  • Adjusting lighting conditions (natural light, task lights, etc.) 
  • Organizing furniture flexibly (group tables, movable chairs, etc.) 
  • Introducing natural elements (houseplants, nature-themed artwork, etc.)

By making small changes to the classroom layout, educators can create a more conducive learning environment that encourages student focus and engagement. Which will ultimately contribute to improved attention and academic performance.


Sleeping practices

Ensuring adequate sleep is another key factor contributing to improved student attention during teaching. Interventions focusing on sleep hygiene lead to enhanced attention and cognitive performance in children and adolescents (Dewald-Kaufmann et al. 2010). To promote healthy sleeping habits, and with the help of parents, educators can

  • Discuss the importance of sleep with students 
  • Share tips for establishing consistent bedtime routines
  • Encourage students to avoid screens before bedtime


Nutritional Interventions

Providing students with balanced and nutritious meals supports optimal cognitive function and attention. A systematic review by Burrows et al. (2017) suggests that dietary interventions, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, might benefit attention and academic performance in children. Educators must work with parents to improve eating habits of the students.

Improving student attention during teaching necessitates a multi-faceted approach that integrates evidence-based strategies tailored to specific contexts, student characteristics, and student or/and parent preferences. This article offers a broad overview of various strategies to improve student attention. Further exploration of additional tactics, such as collaborative learning environments, technology integration, and teacher professional development, would yield more robust results though the evidence is not yet available due to the lack of studies. Ultimately, employing a variety of targeted interventions in an integrated manner is likely to produce the most favorable outcomes.


Extra reading

  • Burrows TL, Goldman S, Pursey K, Lim R. Is there an association between dietary intake and academic achievement: a systematic review. Nutr Diet Suppl 2017;9:117–127. 
  • Dewald-Kaufmann JF, Oort FJ, Meijer AM. The effects of sleep extension on sleep and cognitive performance in adolescents with chronic sleep reduction: an experimental study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(9):828-834. 
  • Diamond A, Lee K (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science 333(6045):959–964.
  • Maheady L, Harper GF, Mallette B, Sacca KJ (2008). Token economy systems: An efficacious approach to managing challenging behaviors of students with EBD. Behav Modif 32(2):247–265.
  • Norris E, Shelton N, Dunsmuir S, Duke-Williams O, Stamatakis E. Physically active lessons improve lesson activity and on-task behavior: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of the "Virtual Traveller" intervention. Health Educ Behav. 2015;42(3):380-388. 
  • Tanner-Smith EE, Durlak JA, Marx RA. Empirically based mean effect size distributions for universal prevention programs targeting school-aged youth: a review of meta-analyses. Prev Sci. 2016;17(6):855-865. 
  • Zenner C, Herrnleben-Kurz S, Walach H. Mindfulness-based interventions in schools—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol. 2014;5:603.