Get a good night's sleep. Children need to get at least eight hours of sleep a night to be fully rested. Set a bedtime and stick to it.
Eat a healthy breakfast. Breakfast gives the body the energy it needs to function effectively. If a student is hungry, paying attention will be more difficult.
Make sure you have all of your materials for school ready. Check for homework, supplies and lunch. If you don't have what you need for school, it is difficult to pay attention.
Take notes. Force yourself to listen by writing down important information. Do not doodle.
Ask questions when you don't understand something. Engage yourself in the class by participating in class discussions. By getting actively involved in the class, you make it easier to focus.
Make sure your seat assignment works for you. If you tend to look out the window or have trouble focusing from the back of the room, request a seat change. Sometimes simply moving a seat can help students pay attention more in class.
Make periodic appointments with your teachers for extra help. Review the lessons taught to make sure that you have grasped the concepts. This also provides an opportunity to see for yourself if you have truly improved your attention in class.