5 Ways to Focus During a Lesson as a Neurodivergent (ND) Teacher

When schedules do not permit bathroom breaks, let alone time to daydream, the ability to stay focused on the actual lesson at hand is often trying. So, here are five ideas that can help neurodivergent teachers do just that.

Just remember: every person's situation is unique, so experimentation and iteration are where it's at. These suggestions work on the days that are going fairly predictably and well; but they can also be modified to help guide you on those, ahem, *other* days.

1. Put a visual timer directly in your line of sight. Some options are conveniently built into smart screens like this one by Promethean World. (See below). Turn time tracking into a game by creating challenges for the students. Time how fast they can clean up, line up without talking, or enter the stage. Keep track of their times on your closest whiteboard or Notes app.
2. Use short 5-10 minute brain break activities to check your visual lesson plan. Clearly this will look different across age levels and subjects. Think: independent activities. Kindergartners can work in pairs mirroring each other's statue shapes, while older students could journal or read. The idea is to build in a buffer for yourself so that you can monitor progress.
3. Display a map of your basic lesson plan structure. This way you can check in throughout your class time to see where you are in the process. (See second image below.) Make mental adjustments to account for being ahead or behind. Or if that's not possible, use it as a reminder to record progress notes for next class.
4. Enlist the help of a responsible student to give you a 5 minute warning. Discuss this in advance to determine logistics. For example, the student could wave their hand to catch your eye and then point to the timer. Don't forget to smile!
5. Set a repeated haptic reminder on your smart watch. Use this as a signal to your brain to stay on track with your time, or to switch things up. If you're standing on one side of the room, switch to the other, or sit down. Have the students change focus as well, by making similar adjustments. For elementary students this usually means a shift of some kind every 5-11 minutes, depending on their age. A 7 year old would generally benefit from shifts every 7 minutes. High schoolers can go longer; but like ND adults, many of them would likely benefit from being able to move around.

What other practices do you keep in order to stay focused on your lesson?

For more tips on managing daily challenges as a neurodivergent teacher, read the Key Neurodivergent Teachers' Guide to Managing Daily Challenges round-up!