Ezra Werb - Teach for Attention!: A Tool Belt of Strategies for Engaging Students with Attention Challenges

PRAISE FOR

TEACH for ATTENTION!

This book is witty and spot on, perfect for the busy yet thoughtful teacher who needs effective strategies to engage that struggling K8 student with attentional issues. If this book is in your hands, youll realize that Ezras tool belt is theoretically grounded, based on real-life vignettes, and readily applicable. Pick and choose or read straight through. Youll easily access creative approaches that will effortlessly make a real difference in your classroom.

Marcy Dann, M.A., board certified educational therapist

Ezra Werbs unique ability to make analogies from our adult lives to our students lives are what make this groundbreaking book a must read for all teachers.

Christine Offutt, education specialist, Mission Hills, CA

Teach for Attention! is a superb read for K8 educators of all experience levels. As a seasoned resource specialist, Ezra reminds us of the effective tools that are readily available within our reach outside of the usual choices, preferential seating, and mini breaks for our students. His frankness about speed bumps includes relatable situations while offering genuine tested solutions through various anecdotes. Furthermore, his inclusion of tech tools to help truncate and/or facilitate student work is veritably handy. This is an essential book that all educators can refer to time and again to help the kids who struggle in academic settings.

Valerie Sun, Ed.D., EmpowerED Consulting

With humor and great intellect, Ezra Werb has woven together a book that helps teachers, parents, and educators better understand students with attention challenges. His book is fun to read, offers different points of view, and contains concrete dos and donts that can easily be implemented.

Michelle Podemski, third-grade teacher, Los Angeles, CA

This book on how to promote kids attention in learning is filled with practical and simple strategies based on what we know about the ADHD learner. Ezras approach is positive and reflects a deep understanding that students interests, talents, and styles provide the best cues to engagement. My favorite chapters are on finding and incorporating students interests and employing strategies that allow movement. Using case studies and guest speakers in each chapter makes the reading both enjoyable and accessible. I highly recommend this book to everyone who cares about student engagement and enjoyment in learning.

Susan Baum, Ph.D., author of To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled and director of the 2e Center at Bridges Academy

Copyright 2019 by Ezra Werb, M.Ed.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Werb, Ezra, author.

Title: Teach for attention! : a tool belt of strategies for engaging students with attention challenges / Ezra Werb, M.Ed.

Description: Minneapolis, MN : Free Spirit Publishing Inc., [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018039316 (print) | LCCN 2018061651 (ebook) | ISBN 9781631983207 (Web PDF) | ISBN 9781631983214 (ePub) | ISBN 9781631983191 (pbk.) | ISBN 1631983199 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Attention-deficit-disordered childrenEducation (Elementary) | Learning disabled childrenEducation (Elementary)

Classification: LCC LC4713.2 (ebook) | LCC LC4713.2 .W37 2019 (print) | DDC 371.94dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018039316

Free Spirit Publishing does not have control over or assume responsibility for author or third-party websites and their content. At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited within are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in this book; and all have been verified as of October 2018. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed here is not as described, please contact Free Spirit Publishing.

Edited by Eric Braun

Cover and interior design by Shannon Pourciau

Illustrated by Richard Watson

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Dedication

To Mom and Dad, the two best teachers Ive ever known

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Eric Braun, for your editorial wisdom and fantastic ideas, and for helping this book reach its potential.

Thanks to all the creative people at Free Spirit, especially Brian Farrey-Latz, Marjorie Lisovskis, and Judy Galbraith.

Thanks to all my mentors in special education, including Marcy Dann, Nicole Messuri, and Jolie Berman. You all have helped shape my career and develop my knowledge in this field.

Thanks to all my guest speakers: Laura Bahr, Mary McInerney, Giacomo Delgado, Chris Wiebe, Don Rice, Brian Julian, and Marcie Gilbert. Your essays add so much to this book.

Thanks to Dalia Margolis, for being such a wonderful collaborator, and to Shawn Patrick, who first showed me the importance of what we do.

Last but not least, thanks to my sweetheart, Laura, for your love and support every step of the way.

Without any of the people mentioned above, this book wouldnt have been possible.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Set the Stage to Get Engaged

Its three oclock, and I didnt think I was going to make it.

The bell has rung, and the students are out the door. Sweet relief. All I want to do now is get in my car, throw on some Hamilton , and beat the traffic home. Oh wait, I almost forgot. Its Tuesday. We have our weekly after-school teachers meeting.

I consider pulling the fire alarm.

Using better judgment, I end up sitting in the library on one of those stiff, plastic chairs while my schools technology specialist tells me how to properly input my progress reports into the new, very expensive, and very complicated online system. I know this is important, but Id give anything at this moment to be home, relaxing on the couch or hanging out with my family and friends or prepping dinner.

Getting hungry now. Hmm, which frozen Indian meal to make tonight, the chicken masala or the lentils?

I know I should be paying attention to the tech specialist. Progress reports are really important. The parents are going to scrutinize them like tax returns. Ill have to make sure theyre written perfectly. Suddenly Im fidgeting. Playing a light but steady drum rhythm with my pencil.

Wait, what did the tech guy just say about saving to the cloud? The reports are due Friday? I havent even started! Oh man, Im gonna have to write them at home. Homework is the worst.

I check the clock.

Its 4:15! Im exhausted. No more gas in the tank. My head is so heavy, I can barely keep it propped up. I must look like a broken marionette. I really should be more awake. More engaged. Paying attention.