In Akron Public Schools, educators are redesigning classroom routines to combat shrinking attention spans that many parents attribute to excessive screen time. First‑grade teacher Roxanne Crook, who has taught kindergarten and first grade for nearly two decades at Crouse Community Learning Center, says she moves students every 20 minutes and incorporates music, dance, and dramatic presentation to keep learning lively.

Teaching with performance

“Sometimes I feel like I’m on stage,” Crook explains. “You have to be animated, have energy, and put on a show for them.” She blends movement, song, and interactive activities, treating each lesson as a performance that invites children to participate rather than sit passively.

Addressing screen‑time fatigue

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Michael Redovian of Akron Children’s Hospital notes that children crave the dopamine hits from screens, making it harder for them to sit still and focus in a traditional classroom. “Teachers need to find ways to sustain attention,” he says, underscoring the need for active learning strategies.

Sensory room provides structured breaks

School counselor Lisa Heath at Harris‑Jackson Elementary created a sensory space where students can take scheduled breaks. The room includes exercise balls, mats, bean‑bag chairs, vibrating focus pads, trampolines, activity books, varied lighting, putty, and bubbles. “Kids have a natural busyness and a need to move,” Heath says. “The room is always available and not something they have to earn.” Some students use it daily for ten minutes; others visit a few times a week, depending on their needs.

Balancing energy and instruction

Both Crook and Heath acknowledge the extra energy required to manage these dynamic environments, but they report that the payoff is evident in student growth and engagement. Crook adds that breaking up instruction into short, varied segments helps prevent overload, a concern she says has grown as technology becomes more pervasive in homes.

Community response

Parents in the Akron area have expressed appreciation for the hands‑on approach, noting that their children return home more enthusiastic about schoolwork. The sensory room, in particular, has been praised for offering a calm, structured outlet for children who struggle with traditional seating.

Looking ahead

As schools across the nation grapple with similar challenges, Akron educators hope their methods can serve as a model for other districts seeking to blend movement, creativity, and sensory support into daily instruction.

Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.