How can I help my 9 yr old concentrate better?

[Hathall]

He is bright but seems to have issues staying focused.
He doesn't get into books and will only read 2-3!chapters at most of a book he's enjoying. He's fine with factual books and knows a lot of facts.
He's been moved down groups for maths because he makes silly mistakes. He usually only has to be told he's made a error and he'll be able to redo it by himself. He's been really upset about being moved down and it's dented his confidence a bit.
He doesn't do very well in comprehension because he hasn't read the text thoroughly enough.
Any tips please?

[Ferguson]

What sort of story-books WILL he read from choice? Adventure, sporting, fantasy and space, detective stories? There are many kinds of story books these days, so could there be anything that interests him?

When it's factual books, again what topics are his favourites? Science, space, animals, history or geography, engineering, computers?

What other activities does he do/enjoy?

Can he say WHY he doesn't enjoy reading? Are the books too easy for him, and what sort of reading level is he on? Can he WRITE stories, recounts, reports or book reviews?

Is his health, diet, sleep all OK? Does he have TOO MUCH 'screen time'?

If you consider all these queries (and answer them if you wish, but the important thing is that you think about them) perhaps it may give some clue on how to help him.

I will add below my Numeracy information, though it is really for younger children, so may not help much:

Practical things are best for grasping number concepts - bricks, Lego, beads, counters, money, shapes, weights, measuring, cooking.

Do adding, taking away, multiplication (repeated addition), division (sharing), using REAL OBJECTS as just 'numbers' can be too abstract for some children.

Number Bonds of Ten forms the basis of much maths, so try to learn them. Using Lego or something similar, use a LOT of bricks (of just TWO colours, if you have enough) lay them out so the pattern can be seen of one colour INCREASING while the other colour DECREASES. Lay them down, or build up like steps.

So:

ten of one colour none of other
nine of one colour one of other
eight of one colour two of other
seven of one colour three of other

etc,

then of course, the sides are equal at 5 and 5; after which the colours 'swap over' as to increasing/decreasing.

To learn TABLES, do them in groups that have a relationship, thus:

x2, x4, x8

x3, x6, x12

5 and 10 are easy

7 and 9 are rather harder.

Starting with TWO times TABLE, I always say: "Imagine the class is lining up in pairs; each child will have a partner, if there is an EVEN number in the class. If one child is left without a partner, then the number is ODD, because an odd one is left out."

Use Lego bricks again, lay them out in a column of 2 wide to learn 2x table. Go half way down the column, and move half the bricks up, so that now the column is 4 bricks wide. That gives the start of 4x table.

Then do similar things with 3x and 6x.

With 5x, try and count in 'fives', and notice the relationship with 'ten' - they will alternate, ending in 5 then 10.

It is important to try and UNDERSTAND the relationships between numbers, and not just learn them 'by rote'.


An inexpensive solar powered calculator (no battery to run out!) can help learn tables by 'repeated addition'. So: enter 2+2 and press = to give 4. KEEP PRESSING = and it should add on 2 each time, giving 2 times table.

There are good web sites, which can be fun to use :

//www.ictgames.com/

//www.resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html

[Hathall]

Thanks for your post!
Ds loves David Walliams and recently started reading malorie Blackman. It will take him about 4 weeks to finish a book though. Even ones he enjoys.
As far as non fiction goes, he enjoys lots. Space, wild life, history.
I don't think he gets too much screen time at all. I restrict screen time during the week.
His basic maths is fine. He's actually quite good at maths but keeps getting answers wrong because he hasn't paid enough attention to the question. Same as his comprehension.
I think I'm looking for tips on how to improve his concentration skills really. He just needs to be a bit more focused.

[Ferguson]

You can't really 'teach' concentration, just perform activities or hobbies that involve a certain amount of 'concentration', such as making complicated Lego models from the instructions, or Airfix kits, and building things to a high standard.

In maths, encourage him to write down his step-by-step working out (even though it may not be called for in the actual task) but it may help him concentrate on details.

Computer programming (Coding, they call it now) is good for concentration and attention to tiny details. Leaving out a 'dot' may cause a computer program to fail. So if he has access to any of the introductory coding activities, at school or on-line,

A Raspberry Pi computer (around £25, plus it needs a keyboard, monitor and mouse) might make a good birthday present.

[beresh]

Have you had his eyes tested? My DC was having trouble concentrating and the optician found that whilst one eye had excellent vision, the other was weak. Since getting glasses performance has improved dramatically.

[atticusclaw]

I know its not about the lesson/task itself but we have had problems with DS2 concentrating and food and hydration do make a difference. We switched breakfasts from cereal to protein and he now has a drink with him all day at school. Its only one factor but it seems to have helped.

[LIZS]

agree with above about eyes etc also try fishoil capsules like Eye Q .

[Hathall]

Thanks. Ds doesn't drink much water actually so I'll try and get him drinking more.
Thanks for all the other tips. I'm
GOing to do them all.

[PastSellByDate]

Hathall:

Getting moved down a table can be really upsetting - so I sympathise because DD2 had this happen a lot and it really upset her.

I used to use that feeling to good effect by encouraging her to work hard to get back to top table. So she would read more and try hard in class to 'get noticed' and moved up.

'Silly mistakes' in maths can be cloaking a lack of understanding - not quite getting number bonds/ carrying/ borrowing/ times tables etc... Some very useful and free websites with all sorts of games to help are:

BBC Bitesize KS1 (for Y1/ Y2): www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/maths/

woodlands junior school: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

maths champs: www.mathschamps.co.uk/#home

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If your DC is older (KS2 - Y3 - Y6) - multiplication facts can be a real sticking point.

try practice on multiplication.com www.multiplication.com/games

or consider dowloading the free version of Timez Attack (2 platforms) - there are versions with more platforms but we found the free version worked fine. info here: www.bigbrainz.com/

=====================

In terms of comprehension - I found that nightly reading - sort of 15-20 minute before bed was a great time to just do a little bit each night towards improving. So maybe one night you discuss what the meaning of a new word might be or discuss why you think that character is so mean/ unfair/ etc....

===========================

in terms of learning to be still and concentrate - photographing wildlife - birds/ squirrels/ butterflies/ insects/ etc.... is really useful. I had DDs help with a bird feeder and help me record what birds were using the feeder.

Drawing can be really useful for this - and things like encouraging him to make comics/ enter competitions/ write fan letters etc...

HTH

[Hathall]

Thanks Pastsellbydate
Yes, I'm using his desire to move back up to get him to do a bit more practise.
I've ordered some workbooks from amazon so he can pick them up whenever he wants.
His basic maths and times tables is quite good. I think he just forgets some things sometimes or rushes through without thinking.

Thanks for the links. I'll try them.