True or False:
It is normal for your Attention Flashlight to 'wander' or 'drift'.
True!
Everybody's Attention Flashlight wanders. Noticing it moved and bringing it back to where it should be is how we make our Attention Flashlight muscle stronger.
What can you practice doing when your Attention Flashlight wanders?
Notice it has moved and bring it back to where it should be.
Your friend says "I'm bad at paying attention."
What can you tell them to help them understand their Attention Flashlight?
"Everyone's Attention Flashlight moves during the day. Practicing NOTICING where our Attention Flashlight is pointing and bringing it back to where it should be is how we make our Attention muscle stronger"
What is your brain's Attention Flashlight used for?
It helps your brain know what is MOST important to notice and think about right now.
Keeps things that are not important in the dark.
What question can you ask yourself to check if your Attention Flashlight has moved?
"Where is my flashlight shining right now?"
"Where should it be shining right now?"
During silent reading, you hear other students in the hallway. What might happen to your Attention Flashlight?
The noises from the hallway might distract your attention from your book.
Your battery might drain from moving your flashlight back and forth between your book and the noise in the hallway.
What is an example of a time you should use your:
1) Attention Floodlight
2) Attention Flashlight
Floodlight:
Crossing the street, playing tag, walking in a busy hallway, being in a new place.
Flashlight:
Listening to your teacher, working on an assignment, talking to a friend
Name 1 thing you can do to charge your Attention Flashlight battery.
- Take a break
- Have a snack/drink water
- Move your body
- Get a good sleep at night
- Take care of big feelings/emotions
- Go outside
- Deep breathing/mindfulness
Your teacher is explaining today's writing assignment. You notice your Attention Flashlight is pointing towards recess.
What questions can you ask yourself?
1. "Where is my flashlight pointing right now?"
2. "Where SHOULD it be pointing?"
What is the difference between our Attention Floodlight and Attention Flashlight?
Floodlight - Moves around and shines on MANY things at the same time.
Flashlight - Shines on ONE thing at a time. Makes what is important bright and clear and keeps things that are not important right now in the dark.
What is 1 example of something that drains your Attention Flashlight battery?
- Constantly moving it back and forth between different things
- Distractions
- Big feelings or emotions
- Loud volume/noise when you are trying to listen or do your work
Your teacher is a reading a story, but you keep hearing friends whispering behind you.
True or false
Only loud voices and sounds can distract our Attention Flashlight.
False.
Everyone's brain works differently. For many people even quiet conversations or sounds can grab our attention automatically.
Where in your brain is your Attention Flashlight?

Behind your forehead (Frontal Lobe/PFC)

What is a clue that your brain or body gives you when your Attention Flashlight battery is running low?
Might feel:
Wiggly, tired, frustrated, hungry, bored
Your eyes are on your worksheet, but you're thinking about a funny story your friend told you. Where is your Attention Flashlight shining?
Your friend's funny story.