PSN Issue
By: 
Bracketing Distracting Thoughts
One meaning of the term
“bracketing” is “to place within.”
This concept of “placing within” is a helpful strategy that students and
adults can use to identify and appropriately deal with distracting
thoughts.
In stage one, students
decide whether their current thoughts are appropriate for the task at
hand. If they are not, students
can bracket them in stage two.
It is very helpful to teach
students (and adults) to classify thoughts into three groups:
Now: appropriate to follow up on now, i.e.
thoughts that promote full engagement in the lesson or other current task. During reading, for example, a “now”
thought would be about the content of the reading (reading comprehension) or
about ways to stay focused on reading.
A "now" thought
about comprehension of a history text assignment could be, “There are three
branches of the state government, and the governor is the head of the executive
branch of the government.” A
"now" thought about the process of reading could be something such
as, “I didn’t understand what I just read…I need to read that again.”
Later: appropriate to pursue, but not now, for
example, an interesting related idea, a clarifying question or an important task
to perform. A "later"
thought might be, “I wonder what laws our governor is in favor of? I could look that up on the internet.” Another example is, “I forgot to talk
to my English teacher. I have to
do that after school.”
Never: not an appropriate thought, for
example, a discouraging or negative thought such as “I can’t get this,” or
“This is stupid.”
"Never" thoughts are power destroyers; they erode confidence
and commitment and should be dealt with and eliminated every time they surface!
Procedure:
Help your child make a list
of examples of thoughts in each group.
Discuss these thoughts and why they are "now"
"later" or "never" thoughts. Be sure your child can give good examples on their own of
thoughts in each group.
Help your child use their
imagination to draw a “container” into which they can place their “later”
thoughts in order to relieve distraction.
Your child may wish to choose a container that could hold keepsakes such
as a chest or jewelry box. Ask
your child to draw and decorate the "later" container in a special
manner, worthy of important thoughts!
Encourage your child to
visualize a trash can into which they place their “never” thoughts. Have your child draw the
container. Since "never"
thoughts are power bandits, they must be tossed away every time they
occur. If left alone, they can
poison other thoughts!
When attention begins to
drift from the task at hand, decide if the thought is a “later” or a “never”
thought and place in the appropriate container. If the thought is a "later" thought, make a note
to follow up at a future time. As
children become older, they can write a quick note to themselves if the later
thought is very important.
The most important part of
this process is that your child is taking conscious control over their
thoughts, gaining a powerful mechanism to direct their attention in productive
rather than destructive ways.
Visit
Dr. Kari Miller online at www.MillerEducationalExcellence.com
Photo
courtesy PhotoXpress.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is of a general nature and is furnished for knowledge and understanding only.