Attentional Focus meets Positive Group

Our most recent Teaching & Learning meeting looked at Attentional Focus and mood, and emotional regulation.

Here is what we discussed in the meeting.

• Brief outline = Discussion around the importance of Attentional Focus, mood, and emotional regulation, linked to the work we have been doing with Positive Group (https://www.positivegroup.org/​) at Putney High. Questions were raised about how mood influences attention and how can we use mood-priming to improve our students’ attentional focus?

• Reading = There is a wealth of reading out there on this particular topic. Some of the articles include: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156609/ http://www.psy-ed.com/wpblog/attention-regulation-mindful-or-mind-full/?maxwidth=1000&maxheight=1000 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-brain-and-emotional-intelligence/201311/attention-regulates-emotion-focus-and-self-control

• Take Away! = Research in cognitive psychology suggests that positive mood improves attentional focus, and that improved attentional focus improves working memory and wellbeing. Here are three ways to prime your class's mood:

1. Make use of Kawaii! Studies into 'cuteness' suggest that people have better attentional focus after viewing cute images: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046362

2. Update your display... using images and biographies of successful people, as discussed by Cordelia Fine in her book, 'Delusions of Gender': https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delusions-Gender-Science-Behind-Differences/dp/1848312202

3. Add some music to the mix: http://www.songsforteaching.com/brewer/music-positive-mood-management.htm