When Schooling Feels Like a Struggle: Practical Strategies to Help Parents and Educators Support Student Focus and Retention

*This information was adapted from a presentation by Katya Winchell.

Understanding Student Capacity: A Holistic Approach to Learning

Student learning and behavior are influenced by a complex interplay of cognitive, sensory, and physiological processes. The Spokes on the Wheel of Capacity model highlights ten key areas that contribute to a student’s ability to focus, process information, and engage in the classroom. Understanding these factors enables educators to implement targeted strategies that support student success.

Key Components of Student Capacity and Their Impact

Sensory Processing

Students interpret and interact with their environment through multiple sensory inputs, including visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive processing. Challenges in sensory processing may result in overstimulation, difficulty following instructions, or struggles with engagement.

Support Strategies:

• Create sensory-friendly spaces with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, or movement breaks.

• Use multisensory teaching approaches such as visual aids and hands-on activities.

Physiological Factors

Basic needs such as food, hydration, and rest significantly impact cognition, mood, and energy levels. A hungry or overtired student will struggle to focus and regulate their emotions.

Support Strategies:

• Allow snack breaks and encourage hydration.

• Recognize signs of fatigue and adjust activities accordingly.

Neurological Sense of Safety

A student’s ability to learn is deeply tied to their sense of emotional and physical security. Past trauma, anxiety, or environmental stressors can hinder engagement and participation in learning activities.

Support Strategies:

• Build strong, trusting relationships with students.

• Use predictable routines and provide reassurance in moments of stress.

Reflex Integration

Primitive reflexes that are not fully integrated can impact motor skills, coordination, and focus. Retained reflexes such as the Moro or Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) may contribute to difficulties in attention and movement control.

Support Strategies:

• Incorporate movement-based activities to promote reflex integration, such as balance exercises and crossing-the-midline activities.

Auditory Processing

Difficulties with auditory processing can affect a student’s ability to follow directions, decode words, and comprehend reading material.

Support Strategies:

• Provide written and visual instructions alongside verbal cues.

• Speak clearly and check for understanding by asking students to repeat instructions in their own words.

Postural Control and Fine Motor Skills

Core strength and motor stability are necessary for developing fine motor skills such as handwriting and precise hand movements.

Support Strategies:

• Incorporate core-strengthening activities such as seated balance exercises.

• Use adaptive tools such as pencil grips and slant boards to support fine motor development.

Visual Motor Integration

Coordinating visual input with motor output is essential for tasks such as writing, drawing, and copying from the board.

Support Strategies:

• Provide structured handwriting practice and scaffolded visual-motor tasks.

• Use graph paper or highlighted lines to support proper spacing and alignment.

Attention to Task and Focus

Sustained attention is required for academic tasks such as math, reading, and writing. However, various factors—including sensory overload, stress, and fatigue—can impact a student’s ability to focus.

Support Strategies:

• Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

• Incorporate movement breaks and flexible seating options to maintain engagement.

Oculomotor Skills

The ability to control eye movements affects reading fluency, tracking, and copying text from the board. Weaknesses in oculomotor skills may contribute to reading difficulties.

Support Strategies:

• Use visual tracking exercises, such as following a moving object with the eyes.

• Reduce visual clutter on worksheets and instructional materials.

Executive Functioning Skills

Executive functions, managed by the prefrontal cortex, include skills such as impulse control, prioritization, attention, and emotional regulation. These skills develop over time and are not fully matured until early adulthood.

Support Strategies:

• Teach explicit executive function strategies such as checklists and time management tools.

• Provide structured opportunities for students to practice self-regulation through mindfulness and deep breathing exercises.

How Full Is Their Bucket?

Before expecting students to engage academically, educators must consider the invisible factors influencing their mental and emotional states.

Some questions to consider include:

• What has already happened today that might have the student’s bucket "ready to tip"?

• Can we implement strategies to help lower the volume in their bucket, or do we need to manage their capacity until a more effective intervention can be applied later?

By addressing these underlying concerns, educators can create a more supportive environment that enables students to engage in learning.

The Flicker Effect: Why Students Seem to Listen Sometimes but Not Others

Executive functioning skills—such as attention, impulse control, and self-regulation—are often described as a flickering lightbulb. When a student is calm and their brain is aligned, they can engage effectively. However, stress, fatigue, hunger, or strong emotions can "turn off" these higher-order functions, making it difficult for them to regulate their behavior and focus on tasks.

This means that inconsistent behavior is not always a matter of choice but a reflection of the brain’s readiness to process and respond appropriately.

What Educators Can Do:

• Reduce environmental stressors when possible.

• Provide structured, predictable expectations to support students' executive functioning.

• Teach students self-regulation strategies to help them regain focus and control.

Practical Strategies for Supporting Student Learning: A Guide for Homeschoolers and Traditional Teachers

Understanding the factors that influence student learning is the first step—applying that knowledge in daily instruction is what makes a real difference. Whether you're a homeschool educator or a classroom teacher, here are practical strategies to help students build capacity, stay engaged, and develop essential skills for learning.

1. Create a Sensory-Friendly Learning Environment

Many students struggle with sensory processing, which can impact their ability to focus and retain information.

Strategies:

• Offer flexible seating options, such as wobble stools, standing desks, or cushions.

• Allow movement breaks between lessons to reset attention and reduce sensory overload.

• Use tools like fidget spinners, textured stress balls, or weighted lap pads for students who benefit from sensory input.

• Minimize background noise with soft music, noise-canceling headphones, or quiet corners for independent work.

  
  

2. Meet Physiological Needs for Optimal Learning

A well-fed, hydrated, and rested student is more likely to stay engaged in learning.

Strategies:

• Keep healthy snacks and water easily accessible. Encourage short snack breaks as needed.

• Incorporate movement activities to re-energize students, such as stretching, jumping jacks, or a quick outdoor walk.

• Build a routine that respects natural attention spans—use the "Pomodoro technique" of 25-minute work sessions with short breaks.

  
  

3. Build a Sense of Safety and Emotional Security

When students feel safe, they are more receptive to learning.

Strategies:

• Start the day with a check-in, asking students how they feel and allowing time to talk about their emotions.

• Use predictable routines to create a structured, calm environment.

• Offer positive reinforcement and encouragement rather than focusing only on corrections.

• If a student seems overwhelmed, provide a “cool-down” space with calming activities like drawing, deep breathing, or soft music.

  
  

4. Support Attention and Executive Functioning

Many students struggle with focus, impulse control, and organization, but these skills can be taught and reinforced.

Strategies:

• Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps with clear expectations.

• Use visual schedules, to-do lists, or timers to help students manage their time and responsibilities.

• Incorporate movement into learning—for example, practice spelling words by jumping on letter tiles or do math problems using sidewalk chalk.

• Teach self-regulation strategies, such as deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, or using a “feelings chart” to identify emotions.

  
  

5. Strengthen Visual and Auditory Processing Skills

Students with challenges in visual-motor or auditory processing may struggle with reading, writing, and following instructions.

Strategies:

• Provide written instructions alongside verbal directions to reinforce understanding.

• Use audiobooks or read-alouds to support comprehension for struggling readers.

• Incorporate hands-on learning activities such as puzzles, drawing, or building models to strengthen visual-motor skills.

• For reading challenges, try color overlays on text or practice eye-tracking exercises using a pointer while reading.

  
  

6. Make Learning Active and Multisensory

Engagement increases when students learn through multiple senses.

Strategies:

• Use manipulatives like blocks, counting beads, or letter tiles for math and literacy activities.

• Encourage interactive learning through role-playing, storytelling, or hands-on experiments.

• Create anchor charts or visual mind maps to help students organize their thoughts.

• Incorporate music and rhythm—turn lessons into songs or use clapping patterns to reinforce concepts.

  
  

7. Encourage Self-Reflection and Growth Mindset

Teaching students to recognize their own strengths and challenges helps them become more independent learners.

Strategies:

• Have students set personal learning goals and track their progress.

• Use positive self-talk strategies—help students reframe “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.”

• Allow students to reflect on their learning by journaling about what they learned and what strategies helped them the most.

• Celebrate small successes to build confidence and motivation.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Whether in a homeschool setting or a traditional classroom, understanding and addressing the Spokes on the Wheel of Capacity can transform the way students learn. By implementing these practical strategies, educators can create an environment where students feel supported, engaged, and equipped to reach their full potential.

References

Winchell, K. (2024). Spokes of student capacity. Kentucky Association of School Psychology. Presentation.