Akron Teachers Innovate Strategies to Combat Reduced Student Attention Spans Linked to Screen Time
Teachers in Akron, Ohio, are implementing creative strategies to maintain student engagement and attention, a growing challenge attributed in part to excessive screen time. Roxanne Crook, a first-grade teacher at Akron’s Crouse Community Learning Center, employs methods such as changing locations, incorporating singing and movement, and maintaining a consistent daily structure to keep students focused. Dr. Michael Redovian, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Akron Children's Hospital, notes that children often crave the constant dopamine hits from screens, making it harder for them to sit and engage with traditional classroom topics. Additionally, Lisa Heath, a school counselor at Harris-Jackson Elementary CLC, has created a sensory room where students can take scheduled breaks to refocus, equipped with various seating options, activity books, and sensory tools. 
