A lot of new tools to help ADHD students focus are available on the Internet, but novelty is not always the way to go. In fact, many of the lates apps advertised as brain training might not be working that well (read more here)
What if we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel?
The following research1 looks at ancient wisdom to improve focus in the classroom.
Start with your eyes
The first part of the training derives from a method described in LIEH-TZU.
Fei-wei teaches Chi-Ch’ang the art of archery.
First, Chi-Ch’ang needs to train his eye not to blink under any circumstances. And so he lay underneath his wife’s loom with his eyes next to the needles that went up and down when her foot pressed the pedal. After three years, he had trained himself not to blink even when the needles came close to piercing his eyeball.
Then Chi-Ch’ang has to train his eye to look at small objects until they appear large and fuzzy objects until they appear clear. So he caught a flea and hung it from a window that faced south. Every day he stared at the flea with the sun shining into his eyes. Ten days later, the flea appeared to grow in size. Three years later, the flea looked as big as a wheel on a cart.
Learn how to look inside
The second part of the method also derives from Chinese tradition with internal observation, close to mindfulness meditation used by the modern Heart Chan meditation practitioners.
Impact of The Fixation Focus Training
The training took place over 12 weeks, with one session a week, and the results showed that students who took part in the focus training activities had increased attention, but they also reported other amazing benefits. After training sessions, students mentioned falling asleep more easily at night, feeling relaxed and less stressed.
Why ADHD students could benefit from the Fixation Focus Training
Students with ADHD struggle to focus, pay attention to details and tend to daydream. The Fixation Focus Training is the perfect tool to help them focus and improve their academic performance as well as self-esteem. Become a storyteller, and bring Chi-Ch’ang’s story to life.
How to implement the Fixation Focus Training
Without further ado, here are the ancient wisdom in action.
To start, you need a space with no chairs and no tables to reduce sound distraction.
Spend the first session explaining how you’ll do it, and familiarize them with the routine.
1- Sit Still
Inform your students that they should sit still until all students have arrived. If your training is on Monday, agree they’ll enter the classroom without a word and with a minimum sound each Monday. It is an excellent way to reduce distractions and enhance body awareness. The whole process shouldn’t take more than three minutes. It is a simple but effective start to establish routines and promote stability and predictability ADHD students are fond of.
2- Stare at the target
For this step, you will need a target on the wall. Click here to download a variety of targets for free.
When all your students are finally here, ask them to stare at the target on the wall. They should give their undivided attention to the element inside the circle and try to do so for one minute, blinking as little as possible (not at all, if they can). Role-playing is always fun. Let your students be predators; the target in the circle is prey.
3- Dynamic focus training
Throughout the dynamic training, students should keep their eyes on the target at all times; the dynamic training lasts about 20 minutes and will be fun. The predator is moving but should keep track of the prey. You will guide you through a series of 10 actions. Each action will take up to 2 minutes.
Inform your students that although they should keep their eyes on the target, their inner attention should go toward the body part you will name.
- Action 1: Eyes on the target, throw both hands backward while standing on your toes, and slightly tilt your head backward. Keep your attention on your heart.
- Action 2: Eyes on the target, alternate kicking your left and right leg forward, maintaining balance in the upper body while keeping it still. Keep your attention on your waist.
- Action 3: Eyes on the target, bend your knees slightly, and shake your whole body. Keep your attention on your abdomen, near the belly button.
- Action 4: Eyes on the target, keep your body straight, and squat lightly. Your hands should be kept on both sides of your body, and your palms should be pressed down while parallel to the ground. Keep your attention on your knees.
- Action 5: Eyes on the target, stretch your hands upward vertically, and stretch your whole body. Your palms should be stretched upward while parallel to the sky. Keep your attention on your face.
- Action 6: Eyes on the target, stretch your hands upward diagonally in a relaxed way. The two arms should form an approximately 60 degrees angle. Keep your attention on your lower heart.
- Action 7: Eyes on the target, clasp your hands together, put them in front of your chest, and squat deeply. Keep your attention on your lower abdomen.
- Action 8: Eyes on the target, walk on tiptoes without bending the knees. Keep your attention on your spine.
- Action 9: Eyes on the target; tap the back of your head using fingers while clenching your teeth. Keep your attention on the middle of your head.
- Action 10: Eyes on the target, slap your abdomen using both hands alternatively. Keep your attention on your digestive system.
4- Static focus training (mindfulness meditation)
With a bit of sweat, the dynamic focus training is over; it is now time to relax.
First, ask students to sit in the lotus position with crossed legs, hands on their knees, and straight back. Ask them to lightly close and shut their eyes (yes, they can let the prey go). First, ask your students to breathe naturally. After a couple of seconds, their breathing will have stabilized; this is when you will ask them to focus on different body parts: the heart, the stomach, the perineum, the caudal vertebrae, the lumbar vertebrae, the cervical vertebrae, the vertex, between the eyes and the throat (download the visualization map)
Takeaways
Implementing this ancient wisdom in your classroom will have incredible benefits on the attention of all your students, but those who could benefit the most from it are your ADHD students.
Harness the power of these teachings and enhance your students’ cognitive abilities, improve their focus, and promote overall well-being.
Are you looking for other ways to help ADHD students focus? Why not using music to keep them on task?
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