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How to capture (and maintain) the attention of young students

IT TAKES a special type of individual to become a teacher. Not only must they possess an innate passion for learning, but they need to be capable of passing this enthusiasm along to students of all ages and educational levels.

Of course, teachers undergo a significant amount of training before being allowed to enter the classroom - many will become teacher’s assistants in order to further hone their skills. However, its still important to mention that such talents will prove to be of little use if they’re not able to connect with their students on a personal level.

Let's take a closer look at some methods that can foster this level of interaction as well as when it might be necessary to adopt a one-on-one approach.

All about personalised interaction

One of the many challenges that teachers face is the ability to interact with each student while maintaining a classroom environment.

How can they provide the individualised sense of attention that one student might require without neglecting the other 20 or 30 students? This becomes even more daunting when referring to younger students who are naturally associated with shorter attention spans.

Teachers will therefore need to develop an entirely different skill set that they might not have learned while obtaining their degree. This primarily involves making each student feel that his or her presence and questions matter.

In this sense, a bit of outward praise goes a long way towards enabling a young individual to feel that their efforts will be rewarded.

The other side of the coin is just as true. Students who perform poorly may sometimes ‘slip through the cracks’ due to the fact that the teacher does not have the time to rectify any learning issues that could be present.

One of the best ways to address all of the situations mentioned above is to develop a dynamic and entertaining classroom setting.

Children tend to become much more involved and as a result, they are likely to participate in discussions and to ask questions if they have a question.

Let's not forget that the early years of a child's education will have a massive impact upon how he or she perceives the system as a whole. If they become turned off at an early stage, it is very difficult to modify this mindset as they grow older.

Unfortunately, teachers are not superheroes (although they often take on the role of such mythic figures). There are times when a more targeted level of attention will be needed in order to address the specific needs of a student. This is when it is best to find a tutor who is qualified to teach a certain subject.

When classroom settings are not sufficient

Teachers will need to be able to spot that signs that a tutor may be required. A handful of common symptoms include:
- A student who lacks enthusiasm entirely.
- Students who score continually lower on standardised tests.
- Those who simply cannot grasp a specific subject.
- Students who have already been identified as possessing learning difficulties such as ADHD.

The main benefit of a tutor within any one of these scenarios (or a combination) is that these professionals are able to provide the targeted solutions that might not be found within traditional classroom settings.

This is obviously advantageous in regards to the educational outcome of the student and yet, such a relationship can actually go much deeper.

Tutors will often serve as passive role models. Their personalised sense of enthusiasm can frequently ‘rub off’ onto the student; an excellent way to keep the student interested in education.

This also helps to enhance their levels of self-esteem; a critical mindset in regards to the entire educational process. Tutors who are motivated and highly energetic will naturally project such emotions onto the subject. This is also great in regards to students who might already have the innate talent but simply lack a sense of motivation.

In an educational environment increasingly defined by the role of digital technology, the importance of developing interpersonal relationships is more critical than ever before.

This is why procuring the services of a qualified tutor can have a massive impact upon the future of any child. This is also why parents need to be able to accept the fact that their child might need a bit of extra help in order to rise to the level of his or her classmates.

Tutors represent an inextricable portion of the entire educational system and their presence is here to stay. The good news is that finding the right individual for the task at hand is simple thanks to the presence of the Internet. There is no reason why any child should be left behind.