We’ve been talking about how some of us have problems with external distractions when we read and others of us with our minds wandering. Here’s what a few of my students have to say:
- I have problems with my mind wandering. I start thinking about going to recess. I can read a difficult book if my teacher is reading out loud if I have a copy of a book.
That helps me concentrate. For myself, I pick easier books with a topic I like. - Many times when I read I am planning the future. What I do about it is try to stop my mind and say to myself, “Concentrate, let’s do it!”
- My mind wanders and I can still read the words, but I’m thinking about something else. I read better when I read at my desk away from everybody else.
- When I read, the movie plays in my mind, but sometimes my mind plays a different movie than the book such as me playing soccer. I just ignore it and try to concentrate on my book. (He must be good at it, because as a second year English learner, he’s read all the Harry Potter books!)
- When my mind wanders I reread until I get it and I am re focused.
- I can block out outside distractions, but my mind wandering doesn’t allow me to think about the book. To stop thinking about other things I stop, tell my mind to concentrate, then think about the book.
- Sometimes when I read a book and find a connection I start thinking about that and don’t concentrate on my reading.
- Distractions bother me because my mind has to stay completely on the book. To be focused I need silence. I try to ignore sounds or I cover my ears with a pillow.
- When I read I get distracted by sounds. I can read when everybody is silent, but not when there is lots of noise. I can’t read in my house because my brothers are watching TV in one room and in another they’re playing wii. What I do about it is I go in my closet and read there.
Photo credit: spl225.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/flying20bo…