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Teacher infects students with COVID-19
Source: Stock photo of an empty classroom. A report issued Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked a COVID-19 outbreak at a California elementary school to a single unvaccinated, unmasked teacher.

Teachers are increasingly using “brain breaks,” like quick movement exercises or short meditations, to help students stay focused as attention spans appear to shrink. A recent survey found that 88% of teachers believe students struggle to focus more than they used to, a problem many say worsened after months of pandemic-era screen learning. Social media apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are also often blamed for encouraging shorter attention spans.

Despite the challenge, educators say techniques like hands-on projects, movement breaks, and mindfulness exercises can help students refocus. Experts also recommend strategies for both kids and adults, including using the Pomodoro method, focusing on one task at a time, and avoiding multitasking whenever possible.
It stands to reason that brain breaks would work for us as adults too!
Lana Backman