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HOW TO USE ‘BRAIN BREAK’ & ‘FOCUSED ATTENTION’ PRACTICES IN CLASSROOM

When students are presented with new study material with complicated topics, they need to be focused and calm as they approach their assignments. Teachers could use brain breaks and focused-attention practices to positively impact the students’ learning.

They refresh the cognitive faculties with stimulation practices that increase brain activity, initiate problem solving and improve emotional balance. Presidium Senior Secondary is one of the best schools in Gurgaon, which follows the ‘brain break’ and ‘focused attention’ practices to help their students in performing their best, keeping stress and anxiety at bay.

Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices

A brain break is a short period of time where the routine of incoming information that arrives with predictable and well known channels, is stopped for a few minutes. Our brains are wired for newness and originality. When we take a brain break, it refreshes our thinking and helps us discover a new perspective to a problem and we arrive at its exact solution.

A focused-attention practice is a brain exercise to get rid of the distractions and thoughts that disturb us every day. When the mind is quiet it is focused and we are able to concentrate on a specific sound, taste or sight.

The faculty of Presidium suggests using the following techniques in your class:

1. The Junk Bag

Carry a bag of household objects like scrap paper, plastic caps, sketch pens, or a can opener etc. Pick any object out of the junk bag and ask students to come up with ways in which that object could be reinvented for other uses. Once they have written their responses they could share it and compare the same with others. This will help them gain new perspectives and allow them to keep a broad view of things.

2. Squiggle Story

On a blank sheet of paper or white board, draw a squiggly line. Give your students one minute to stand and draw with their opposite hand to transform that line into a picture or design of their liking.

3. Story Starters

Begin a story for one minute and ask the students to complete the story. They can complete the story in interesting ways and refresh the atmosphere of the whole class.

4. Breathing

Let the students focus on their breathing. Let them feel their breath as they inhale and exhale for one minute. Tell them that it's alright when thoughts come into the mind unintentionally. Ask them to exhale that thought right away.

5. Movement

Younger students can be asked to stand and as they inhale, lift an arm and wiggle it and then exhale while bringing it back to its original position. Beginning these focused-attention practices with inhale and exhale along with a movement is a great way to energise them.

When we are focused and paying attention to our thoughts, we have a greater possibility to change those thoughts that don’t fulfil our purpose. When we are able to grasp this awareness, we can easily see the difference.