Concentration Tools and Other Tricks of the Trade

In a class of 20 first graders, your bound to have a few that have a hard time focusing on their job;  Whether their job is to be a whole body listener during direct instruction time, or if it's on a test, or independent work or center/station time. This blog post is dedicated to the tools and tricks of the trade to help students exhibit self-control and get through whatever their struggle is.

One tool box that is constantly utilized in my classroom is our concentration tools. Many other districts and schools call these, "fidget toys." In my class and school, we decided that this really goes against what we teach the kids about these tools. These are not toys to play with. These are tools to help you concentrate and get your job done. Here is what my concentration tool box looks like.

You can pick up my zebra concentration tool sign for FREE for a limited time on my TPT store here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Zebra-Print-Concentration-Tools-Fidget-Toys-Sign-1728238 

You can find many of these similar objects around your classroom, or like me, you can connect with your Occupational Therapist (OT) and he or she may have some that you can borrow.

If not, you can find the links below for some of my favorites from The Therapy Shoppe here:
Squishy Animals: http://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2564-squeezie-animals-calming-focusing-fidget-toys

Fidgeting Fleece Bags: http://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2416-fidgeting-fleece-bags-beanbag-fidget-sensory-toys

Triple Play Nesting Ball: http://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2922-triple-play-nesting-balls-sensory-fidgets-educational-toys

Another important aspect of concentration tools and the other tools you will hear about in this post is to have a learning conversation/lesson about these items. We use Responsive Classroom's idea of a guided discovery at the beginning of the year when we do our procedures to talk about how to use these. The main focus of this lesson is that these are not toys to be played with. The children have to answer three questions before using it: 1. Do I really need it? 2. Is it helping me? 3. Am I using it without bothering other students in the class? I find that I usually have to do a refresher lesson after vacations. Right after the lesson, especially in the younger grades, you will find that everyone thinks they need a concentration tool. However, once they hype has ended, usually around day 3, the students using them are the students that honestly need them. Here are a few items that I have in my concentration tool box that you might have lying around your classroom that you could repurpose:

Another tool that we have in our classroom for certain students that I identify have a hard time sitting in their seats (usually with an OT need) will get a seat like this:

This squishy seat has small bumps on it and has air inside of it. It allows my students that have a hard time sitting still to have movement, but while remaining seated. It also allows them to move and continue to work. I got mine from my occupational therapist at my school. However, you can also buy a similar one here: http://www.amazon.com/Gymnic-Childs-Inflatable-Sensory-Cushion/dp/B000FPTVFU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424780897&sr=8-2&keywords=squishy+seat

Another area in our classroom is our Responsive Classroom Rest and Return (also known as take-a-break) seat/desk. This is a space that students who are struggling to follow directions, have appropriate behavior, or struggling to focus can be sent or can choose to go to rest their body/mind, make a plan of how to move forward and return to the class. This area is in the back of our classroom. One thing that we also have here is Mr. Hawk. Our school mascot is a hawk. This hawk is used as a buddy to someone who needs someone to hug and squeeze. I find Mr. Hawk gets a lot of attention the first few weeks from my first graders that are missing parents or having a hard time making friends. I saw this idea from a colleague a few years back and loved it! Part of the lesson on this little guy is that he can't leave the Rest and Return area and that he's just meant for some hugs and then he goes back to this spot and the child moves on. 

 

There are a million other tricks of the trade, but these are my favorites and they really seem to help my first graders. 

What are your life saving tips or tricks to help students stay focused?

Teach on,

Jessica