How to Recognize and Counteract Student Inattentiveness in the Classroom

Journal of Instructional Psychology, Sept, 2001 by Joseph S.C. Simplicio

When school days become tediously repetitious students drift of into a world of daydreams. These momentary lapses or "drift times" give students the opportunity to explore their feelings, their personal thoughts, and the everyday experiences that make up their lives. Unfortunately though these periods of "drift time" result in lost of much needed teaching time.

Good educators know that continuing a lesson when students are neither attentive nor responsive is a sure fire formula for failure, however, most teachers are also under constant pressure to complete curriculum requirements. This means they face major time constraints. It is therefore imperative that teachers formulate a plan to effectively deal with this lost time. This plan though must do more than simply provide a temporary fix to the problem. Therein lies the dilemma. How can teachers successfully actualize the major objectives and goals of the curriculum while minimizing lost classroom time? This article explores the concept of "drift time" and provides teaching strategies and methodologies for combating its deleterious effects. It discusses how teachers can modify their teaching styles and methodologies in order to maximize their classroom teaching time.