Major issues of concentration by students on school work
Introduction
Education is an important tool in the current economy. It increases knowledge and makes a person smart. In the earlier days, most communities limited education to boys. Girls were seen as marriage materials and housewives. They were entitled to look after their husbands and children while their husbands go to work to find daily bread. In the 21 century, things have taken a different direction. Children have a right to go to school. They need all the support from family, friends and the state to achieve their goals. Statistics have shown that concentration of students vary from one person to another. In this paper, research was taken in three categories to determine the level of concentration children have under different stages in life and environment placed.
Statement of problem
As earlier said education is an important aspect that instills knowledge to the people. Through education, students get an opportunity to learn different things in life. Apart from following their normal studies curriculum, they also take part in school projects, sports and symposiums to break the monotony in class. However, the question of concentration in class, and doing homework is important to note as it affects the overall grade of a child.
Parents and teachers usually want the best for their children. However, at the end of the day, the result will rely on the pupil or student. It is vital to understand children and figure out how to help them concentrate. Concentration is an important factor in learning process (Broatch, n.d., para.1). When comparing two children with different levels of concentration, research will show that students who concentrate more on class and have a peaceful environment for studying pass more than those with lower concentration do.
Concentration is an issue to many pupils. For example, they may be having problems at home that may affect their concentration while in class. Others may face too much work while they get home and cannot do their homework well (Levinkron, n.d., para 2). In addition, some children do not mind what they are taught. This mainly affects rich students who do not see the need of working hard s their parents can give them what they want. Throughout this paper, we shall talk about the major reasons of poor concentration in class and their effects. Thereafter a recommendation to this problem will be discussed to find the best solution of helping the children.
Research question
How does the environment at home affect a child’s concentration? It is vital to note that, children get affected with surrounding they face at home. For example, in case of violence at home between their parents, it may affect the child’s concentration in his studies. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to sort out their issues in a civilized manner to avoid affecting their children. In addition, financial and economic factors are equally an indicator to poor concentration while studying. Parents should consider that their children are given attention while at home while they do their homework.
Literature Review
Several issues lie behind the concentration of a child in school and home while undertaking her studies. School is important in instilling knowledge to people. This starts early as preschool through to other later stages in life. According to the American Academy of child and psychology psychiatry, some children are hyperactivity disorder. This disorder relates to attention of a child in class or at home (n.d., para1). Some children get distracted a lot when they get different things going along. They end up doing many things at a go. At this stage, they are not sure on how to be organized to achieve their goals. That is why Broatch states that preschool is vital in helping children have organizational skills. For example, when comparing two children, one who has attended preschool and the one who has not attended preschool, evidence show that, the one who has attended preschool will be more comfortable with class and cn relate easily to the surrounding.
Issues of concentration at home and school
According to psychology, concentration is important in order to achieve good results. When there is too much pressure or things that destruct a lot, the nature of concentration is usually low. This concept applies to children too. Braotch portrays that, having the most vital necessity a child needs for concentration is a good study environment (n.d., para.2). The social surrounding is equally important in a child’s life. For example, when parents quarrel all the time in front of their children, the children are stressed out. When they are at school all they think about is how their parents fight all the time. Financial status of a family can contribute to the less focus in class or while doing homework by a child. For example, a family that earns low income, and may not have enough to support the students. The children may feel that there parents do not want to give them enough like other parents treat their children. In the end thay feel left out in the society. Too much work at home is also an issue. There are parents who get too busy to check their children’s homework. On the other hand they may indulge their children in too much house chores that may exhaust them (Levinkron, n.d., para 2). This is a disadvantage, as the school-going children, may not be in a position to do homework well. There are circumstances, where certain schools are not concerned with the children who focus less. This is common in schools that have large numbers of students in a class and the child student ratio is not convenient. Therefore, the child will remain less focused all through.
Identifying a proper environment for studies
Many schools have libraries for studying. This is a place selected to allow students concentrate more and reflect on what they have been taught in class. However, this place is may cause sleeping effects to others. Certain students cannot manage to study in a library due to the silence. Whenever they try, they doze off. Therefore, they prefer discussions to keep them awake. According to Advising & learning assistance centre, it describes students as the different study environment (n.d., para.1). In this case, the nature of environment will depend on a student. However, the children should get guide on how they cannot reach an extreme. For example, there are certain students who like to study where there is music. The kind of music will stimulate the mind in different ways. For example, studying while having earphones may not be so effective as they direct access to the mind and brain. Such music decreases memory and concentration. In case of studying knew things, it will be difficult to recall it after some time. On the other hand, a little music with low volume can be useful. It helps a student to be calm and can concentrate well. While in the library, it is important to find the most conducive place and avoid a lot of destruction. Space is equally important as factor that leads to concentration. A student should learn to be organized all the time. Students should consider having enough space on their desks. Some like the floor; as long as it is comfortable then it is ok.
Apart from considering the library, there is need to consider situations at home. The social environment can determine a student’s ability to focus. For example, a surrounding that has kids with wired behavior like taking alcohol can intrigue other kids to take alcohol. Their major focus will be on alcohol and drug dealing. They will find ways and means of neglecting their duties and homework. In the end, they students will feel relaxed and find studying fun.
Parents are responsible in helping their children focus on the studies. They should make it a point to check the books of their children while they are at home. In addition, they should help their children make home study tables. This will help them know how to plan and organize themselves in the near future. Parents should allow their children to play. Too much work without play is not constructive (The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance, 2010, p. 2). Physical activities help students to concentrate well. The mind gets relaxed and when the child decides to study afterwards they can understand more. Proper eating habits also builds a sense of good focus. When children eat well, they get energy. A balanced diet is advised to make the body strong. Broatch show that children who take many junk foods may doze off in class. Vegetable, proteins and vitamins consumed in the right proportions can help a child concentrate well throughout the day and while at home.
Helping children with difficulty in concentration
When children go to school, it is advisable for teachers to know their students well. identifying with students will allow teachers follow up on their progress. In case a child has poor grades, the teachers and parents should get concerned. The schools counselor should be in a position to talk to the child and find out what the problem is. In addition they school should inform the parents on the nature of student they have. This will help them have a strategy of trying to help the child. Parents should find the most appropriate way of solving their issues in case they have a disagreement. Quarrelling in front of children makes them stressed and feel low. Under other circumstances, the behavior of parents like drinking and becoming drunkards can humiliate a child. Therefore, such a parent should limit such kind of behavior. Teachers should help the children identify the best way of studying to avoid getting bored and losing focus. This may include breaking monotony and using jokes to for the children to relax.
Participants
While undertaking the research, the scope of study included students in elementary school aged between seven thirteen years. The research was taken in different classes, while interviews were taken on various people. For example, questionnaires were given to teachers, parents, neighbors, and friends. The aim of the study was to get information regarding how specific students, and how certain environmental conditions affected their concentration in school and home.
Data collection methods
While doing the research various methods of collecting data were used. These include:
Questionare, face to face interviews, observation and sampling methods. The aim of these data collections was to provide a systematic way of getting relevant information and considering all levels of people.
Action Plan
The research sampled five students, five teachers, five parents, and three neighbors. The students were in different classes with different academic potentials. It was discovered that students who did well in class had a strategic way of planning their work. They had all support from parents and friends. In addition, they utilized their time well to avoid wasting time. two students who were in their final year, in elementary school stated that they had serious problems at home. One was usually stressed out with the arguments his parents had. They were financially unstable while the father was a drunkard. The other student accused her mother of over working her. According to the teachers, they summoned the parents of the children, however, they promised to look into the issue but no change was experienced. The neighbors and friends confirmed that some of the issues said were true.
With this study, it is clear that parents and teachers should help their children in managing their time. In case any parent was not cooperative, he should be taken to the authorities for the benefit of the child.
Reference List
According to Advising & learning assistance centre. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2013, from
http://alac.rpi.edu/update.do
American academy of child and psychology psychiatry. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2013, from
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/publication_store/your_child_adhd
Broatch, L. (n.d.). Why should your child should attend preschool? Retrieved February 4, 2013,
from
http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/1113-why-preschool.gs
The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and
academic performance. (2010). Retrieved February 5, 2013, from
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/pape_executive_summary.pdf
Levinkron, L. (n.d.). The Importance of preschool. Retrieved February 4, 2013,
from
http://www.chconline.org/the-importance-of-preschool
