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Rachel Renée Russell

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Dork Diaries Book 14

Dork Diaries

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May 26, 2018

I NEED HELP FOCUSING IN CLASS!

Hey Brandon, 

I’m a daydreamer, so I have the hardest time focusing in class. Sometimes, my teacher calls on me and asks me something in front of all my classmates. Because I’m so distracted, I don’t hear what the question is. Then my classmates laugh at me! Any advice for how to stay focused?

Dorky Distracted Daydreamer

Hey Dorky Distracted Daydreamer,

Oh man, I hear you. Especially in history class. It’s a total snooze fest. 🙂 

Like you, sometimes my mind just wanders. It’s all too easy to find something more interesting to think about than stuff from out of a school textbook. 

But, I still want to do well in school so that I can make my grandparents proud, get into a good college, learn stuff and be a well-rounded person. So, here are a few things that have helped me. Maybe some of them will help you, too. 

  1. Get good sleep, eat healthy food, and drink lots of water. These are basic ways to stay healthy, but they’re important for fueling your brain, too. You’ll be surprised how much different you’ll feel if you eat a healthy breakfast instead of a doughnut. Same with getting a good night’s sleep and staying hydrated from water.
  2. Engage with the lesson. Even if it doesn’t seem super interesting to you, try to ask questions, participate in discussion and stuff like that. Take notes, even if it’s not required.  Actively writing down what your teacher is saying means you have to stay focused on what they’re saying.
  3. Get rid of distractions. Classrooms are very distracting places. There are people all around, lots of movement, and tons of things happening. But there are ways to cut down on distractions. Sitting in the front of class is a good one. When there’s not much to look at besides the teacher, you might have a better time concentrating. If your class has assigned seating, you may need to ask your teacher to move you away from the window or to the front row. If you explain why, they’ll be happy to help you. They want to make sure you stay focused, too!
  4. If allowed, use a fidget tool. Fidget spinners were actually developed to help people with autism or ADHD, because doing something with their hands can help them focus. Fidget spinners aren’t the only things you can use for this purpose, though. There are other things that are made to be fidget devices, including pens with various buttons and switches, etc. But you don’t even have to have a special “fidget” device! You can use silly putty, a bracelet with beads you can move, a smooth stone in your pocket, rubber bands on your wrist, or a balloon filled with sand. 

If none of these things help, there could be a medical reason for your inability to concentrate. Sometimes problems with hearing or vision can make it really hard to focus. If you have something like ADHD, there are a number of ways schools are required to make accommodations for you.

So, talk to your parents about how you’re having trouble concentrating, but make sure they know you WANT to concentrate better. You just need their help. Together, you guys can figure out what will help you most.

I bet you’ll get some ideas in the comments, too.

Readers, have you found something that helps you concentrate in class? Tell us down below!  

Category: Ask Brandon Tags: schoolnikki

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I’m happy to post your comments (as soon as I can) as long as you follow these 7 rules:

  • All comments MUST be on topic!
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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    June 9, 2018 at 6:39 am

    I take notes

  2. Emowie says

    June 8, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Don’y worry, I do it too. Exept i’m always forgetting the question. Then I ask what the question is. THEN everyone laughs. Trust me, I know what it’s like.

  3. Anonymous says

    June 7, 2018 at 9:51 pm

    same

  4. kittens says

    June 6, 2018 at 1:00 am

    I would talk to my friends

  5. Titanium Article says

    June 5, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    I have ADHD and autism- I sometimes take breaks or I draw when I am done with my schoolwork

    • popular9 says

      June 7, 2018 at 2:51 pm

      A fidget spinner may help you

    • Emowie says

      June 8, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      My bro has ADHD

  6. The Notorious B.I.G. says

    June 5, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    I take online school (Connections Academy) but I STILL have trouble focusing.

    Anyway, I completely agree with the author Rachel/Brandon’s advice.

    Best of luck!

  7. The Non-CCP says

    June 4, 2018 at 9:39 am

    I Draw In Class

  8. Weird Guy says

    June 2, 2018 at 10:15 pm

    Ohhhh… Heh heh heh… I have that same problem dude, so don’t worry about being the odd ball out. When you start to drift away from your focus, though it may be hard, MAKE yourself concentrate. Tear yourself away from your daydream. This may seem hard, but when God made us, he made us free morale agents meaning we have free will. So while it may seem hard, it is possible to keep yourself from daydreaming.

  9. Online name is always Lola >3 says

    June 2, 2018 at 6:52 am

    How about..

    1. Get plenty of rest!
    2. Try to focus by making things fun!
    3. Try to work on some worksheets for practice!
    4. Get a tutor (also for practice)
    5. Try not to bring anything distracting to school.

    Hope this helps!

    ♡♡♡

    • lol so true says

      June 3, 2018 at 8:32 am

      nice advice! you and miss dork are so cool. but i mainly focus on ur advice to be honest. lately miss dork isnt on comments :(.

    • mightyfidgeter says

      June 4, 2018 at 10:45 am

      those things don’t help me 🙁
      do you or anyone else have more suggestions

    • #1 Dorky Princess says

      June 7, 2018 at 1:27 am

      Lol So True I totally agree with you, also Scotch Eggs is helpful too. Mightyfidgeter sorry I can’t help you because I have the same problem. I know in my comment I said that my class is allowed to play with squishes, but no one really plays with them, and anyway, if my teacher sees someone playing with a toy during class, it becomes hers until the end of the school day. So I guess that goes with squishies now too! Bummer.

    • Scotch Eggs says

      June 7, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      Awwww, thanks #1 Dorky Princess!!
      Scotch Eggs xxxx

    • Miss Dork :) says

      June 9, 2018 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Lol So True,
      Sometimes my comments always take 1-3 days to be posted or sometimes longer. Keep an eye out!
      I think everyone gives great advice on the blog whether you’re an expert or not.
      Love from, Miss Dork x

  10. #lovedrawing says

    June 2, 2018 at 4:52 am

    I don’t know about you, but I LOVE drawing. So when I’m in class, I start doodleing in my notebook. For some reason, this helps me concentrate. What I also do sometimes, is try to illustrate what we are learning. For example, if we were learning about the lifespan of a frog, I would doodle pictures of frogspawn turning into tadpoles turning into adult frogs, and if we were learning about those crocodile signs in math like to show if things are bigger or smaller, i would turn the < sign into a crocodile 😀
    Maybe you can find something you find interesting (Like I find drawing) and use that to help you concentrate. Does anybody else love doodleing?

    • Dorky Doodler :) says

      June 3, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      My maths teacher is such a bummer – i doodle to help me concentrate during tricky maths as I don’t get it 99% of the time but she tells me off and gives me consequences C1,C2,C3 because of this then I have to stop cos if you get a C4 you get a detention. Total bummer. She kinda picks on me too – others doodle and don’t get told off.

    • popular9 says

      June 7, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      I do

    • Zobug says

      June 8, 2018 at 5:32 pm

      We are sisters when it comes to doodling in math morning I love it

  11. dork diaries says

    June 2, 2018 at 4:26 am

    GREAT ADVICE BRANDON!!!!!!!!

  12. I like potatos says

    June 2, 2018 at 1:06 am

    Usually I just doodle in my math book while listening to the teacher that’s how I stay foucoused

  13. Queen Creative says

    June 1, 2018 at 10:37 pm

    I use an old sock filled with rice. It’s a great fidget tool!

  14. smarter then before says

    June 1, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    I WRITE important notes to myself

  15. Rose says

    June 1, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    Try taking notes, it helps me focus :D.

  16. #1 fan of dorks says

    May 31, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    I always have a notebook with me and like a dozen pencils. I focus more in class when i’m doodleing or drawing. I’m more of an artisty person but u could do something quiet that u like like maybe colour?

  17. Tadpole Giving Advice says

    May 31, 2018 at 6:30 pm

    Whenever I’m sleepy in class,I stand up and exercise or jog in place ;etc;

  18. Diamond says

    May 31, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    Dude, don’t worry
    Everyone goes through this at one point. Yes it is hard and I have struggled with it as well. All I can say is, whatever Brandon had said…….
    Is 100000000000% right! I showed this to my brother who gets very distracted easily ( its become serious )
    I showed it to him and he said it’s been better, is it a perfect cure? Probably not, but a temporary one? Yes!
    All I can say is, your never alone and get thro it. You’ll get it, I know you will! ✨

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