Summary: The lesson starts with students self-reflecting on their own focusing strengths and challenges before moving into a discussion of what focusing is and what it is not. Then the lesson shifts to how focus is under attack in modern society, with videos and self-reflection opportunities. The bulk of the lesson, however, is on strategies for focusing in class. The first, fake it till you make it, goes over SLANT and what teachers are looking for when they say “focus.” The second is on preparation for focusing, with content on how sleep, hydration, putting away distractions, and avoiding multitasking all help with focusing. To help students understand the challenges of multitasking, there is a long series of activities where they have to text and listen or draw and listen and see what they remember of the content. Then the lesson moves briefly into how students can build focusing stamina, zeroing in on the idea that focusing is a skill that can be built over time. The next section is on cheats that work with a movement activity on what helps students focus (like fidgets or chewing gum). For the extension activity, students choose between making focusing comic strips, tool boxes, or plans.

Teaching notes:This is another long lesson. The bulk of the time is in the multi-tasking section. Students are pretty resistant to the idea that multitasking is hard for the brain, so there is a lot of push back in this section. The SLANT section can be challenging at first, but framing the practice as a guessing game like heads up/7 up helps.

Approximate length: 120-140 minutes

About the curriculum: School success relies on key skills that students are rarely taught. The goal of this curriculum is to level the playing field and to directly teach the executive functioning, self-regulation, and life skills that all students need to succeed in school. Through 20 lessons across four units, this year long curriculum will help students build a foundation for success in school and life– and leave them with an individualized success workbook at the end of the program.