Maintaining Study Focus – Managing Distractions

Effective study time requires focus.  If a student is distracted when on the verge of successfully solving a math problem, understanding a complex idea, or composing a brief essay, re-orienting himself to the task is a significant challenge.  More than just finding the place on the page, re-establishing the motivation and the level of concentration takes time, often more time than the interruption itself.  The homework session then may seem to drag or have to be set aside because of something else on the student’s schedule.  An awareness of how much time is wasted with interruptions is a key to developing time management skills.  

Shifting focus to manage distractions, consider new information, or change direction is a valuable life skill.  We need to be aware of and respond to the world around us, yet we also need to control the interruptions.  It’s far easier to have our curiosity and attention shifted to something entertaining than it is to shift it back in order to focus on meeting responsibilities. Silencing cell phones and choosing a quiet place to study help to minimize distractions.  Motivation and determination to achieve study goals are necessary for the student to focus, shift, and then re-focus.  

 Using a computer for study may provide advantages such as conveniently finding teacher comments, homework assignments, study guides, supplemental material, and internet research access.   Computers may present convenient distractions as well.  Checking email, social media or playing that favorite video game may be just a click away.  Similarly, while searching the web for assignment related information, interesting yet irrelevant site options may appear.  Impulse control is necessary for the student to stay on track.  

Sometimes distractions are self-generated.  It’s easy to have creative composition thinking wander into aimless day dreaming.  It’s easy for concerns about obligations other than homework to come to mind while trying to concentrate on an assignment.  Keeping a note pad handy in the event that a thought about something else to be done arises is a good idea.  

Strong foundational knowledge, study skills and self-confidence help the student maintain focus and motivation to learn.  At Lear Educational Center, our students actively participate throughout their one-to-one academic coaching and scholastic tutoring sessions.  

Background knowledge is assessed with prior achievement recognized, placing an encouraging emphasis on what the student already has accomplished toward advancing through the appropriate curriculum. Self-confidence grows as knowledge gaps are filled in and foundational knowledge is reinforced.  As material is presented, the student’s level of comprehension and recall is assessed. Any necessary further explanations and corrections are provided immediately to ensure that the student fully understands and builds a knowledge base on correct information.

At Lear Educational Center we provide supportive, systematized, intensive, individualized academic tutoring on all levels, primary through college, for most subjects. 

We interface with schools, working with the curriculum appropriate for each student.  We specialize in teaching students with learning differences, helping them meet IEP and remediation goals. 

In addition to curriculum content, we teach study skills and learning strategies so that our students can meet the classroom challenges of today and those of tomorrow.

At Lear Educational Center we also provide preparation for ACT, PSAT, SAT and other standardized tests. 

Lear Educational Center - providing tutoring services to students from Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and the Greater Lehigh Valley since 2000