Yawning, daydreaming, complaining, fidgeting, distracting others – we’ve all been there at some point, so let’s talk about boredom. Boredom is real to those that feel it and you can’t just tell someone to be less bored. In the classroom it’s often taken personally, and teachers can respond defensively.
Fintan O’Regan joins Dale on this week’s podcast ‘Why boredom is truly interesting and absolutely vital’. Fintan highlights that without a doubt boredom has been a factor in the development of some of the greatest discoveries and inventions in history.
There could be any number of reasons why someone in a school environment could be bored, but teachers need to understand that it is more of an alert system than a challenge to authority. Boredom is an emotion that is simply confirming that they aren’t meaningfully engaged in what is being taught.
Listen to understand and gain a new perspective on boredom, so that you can make your classroom a more stimulating and engaging environment. You will never feel the same about boredom again!
About Fintan O’Regan
Fintan was the Head teacher of the Centre Academy from 1996 -2002, which was the first specialist school in the UK for students between the ages of 7-19 specialising issues related to ADHD, ASD and ODD.
He is an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, the Institute of Education, the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and the former Vice Chairman of the UK ADHD Network and of the European ADHD Alliance.
Fintan now works as trainer and consultant for schools and school support systems including, Social Services, Health, the Police and Foster carers with regards to providing behaviour management strategies for children and families struggling with SEND and behaviour issues.
Contact Fintan O’Regan
Website – www.fintanoregan.com
Email – fjmoregan@aol.com
Twitter – @fintanoregan
Useful Links
Development and Validation of the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale
The quiet alarm: The virtues of boredom https://www.readersdigest.in/quotable-quotes/story-beware-of-boredom-125864
Why Boredom Is Interesting First Published November 8 2019 https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419884309
