5 Books about Focus & Attention for Teachers
- linap9297
- Mar 30, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 31, 2023
With rates of ADHD diagnosis's on the rise and smart phones constantly vying for our attention, is it any wonder that students are having trouble focusing on our lessons?
It is impossible for our students to learn the wonderful knowledge we seek to impart on them if their attention is elsewhere. This is an intuitive fact. However, knowing this fact alone does not mean educators are well equipped to capture and maintain their student's focus. Instead educators of every level face frustration and teacher burnout trying desperately and failing to get their students to pay attention.
If any one knows believes in the old adage "knowledge is power"- it should be us educators. I have received PhD in Educational Psychology, but my education did not stop on graduation day. I love to learn about learning! I rely on books like the ones on this list to bolster my understanding and expand my knowledge.
Are you seeking to take a deep dive into understanding the problem of distraction? Take a look at the books bellow and choose one to begin learning about the topic of attention and focus.
Although they are numbered, they are in no particular ranking or order.
1. “How Humans Learn: The Science and Stories behind Effective College Teaching"
by Joshua R. Eyler
Chock-full of compelling research presented in a readable and cohesive narrative, Joshua R. Eyler's "How Humans Learn" is a delightful and informative read. Pulling from various fields, including developmental psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience; Eyler presents his readers with an in depth review of how learning works. More importantly for educators, Eyler zeros in on the attributes of effective teaching- carefully analyzing which pedagogical strategies work as well as those that are less than ideal.
Although, mainly focused on College level education (as the subtitle implies), Eyler paints with a broad enough brush that teachers of any grade level are sure to come away with useful information and insight.
2. “Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention and How to Think Deeply Again”
by Johann Hari
Although not specifically written with teachers in mind, Johann Hari's book about distraction is a great source of information to bolster your base knowledge on the topic.
He offers many practical tips that can increase your own ability to focus, thereby making you a better prepared and attentive teacher.
Hari's emphasis on discussing modern technology and social media in relation to attention may be especially interesting to teachers and professors of higher grade levels where students can't seem to get off their smart phones- like High School and College.
3. “The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind"
by B. Alan Wallace, PH.D
If you are one of the many teachers with growing interest in social emotional learning (SEL) and mindfulness in the classroom, "The Attention Revolution" by B. Alan Wallace can provide a great foundation.
The book centered on Buddhist meditation techniques and philosophy. It begins by expounding on the problems and limitations that arise from lack of ability to focus. Then it provides a series of meditative exercises that are designed to help increase your ability to focus in an effortless way.
4. “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence"
by Daniel Goleman
Daniel Goleman's latest book "Focus: the Hidden Driver of Excellence" offers a perspective on the topic of distraction from a cognitive psychology approach. Like his other book "Emotional Intelligence", many teachers find this book valuable, despite being written for a wider audience.
Goleman explains that there are three types of focus and discusses each in depth.
5. “Distracted: Why Students Can't Focus and What You Can Do About It"
by James M. Lang
"Distracted" by James M. Lang is a wonderful resource for educators of every grade level. Lang explains the science of focus with teachers in mind, eloquently connecting research in neuroscience and developmental psychology to the practical realities of the classroom. He uses that information as a base for exploring the best mindsets we should hold in our interactions with side-tracked students. The best part- Lang's book is chock full of specific, practical strategies for how to cultivate our student's attention.
I enjoyed "Distracted by James M. Lang so much that I made a video book review. Check it out here:
Out of the 5 books for teachers about focus, which one grabbed your attention?
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