The Attention Gap

Instructional Routines That Heighten Focus, Boost Engagement, and Deepen Learning

By: Michael McDowell

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eText | 4 February 2026 | Edition Number 1

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Reclaim student attention with interval-based instruction

Struggling with student disengagement and dwindling attention spans in your classroom? You're not alone. To meet the needs of today's learners, teachers must find ways to transform instruction into a more dynamic and engaging experience.

In The Attention Gap, author Michael McDowell tackles these urgent challenges head-on, proposing a new, actionable framework—the Interval Instruction Approach (IIA)—to reshape the rhythm of your classroom. Inspired by interval training and grounded in cognitive science, this approach alternates short bursts of direct instruction with immediate, active student practice to build focus, boost motivation, and make learning stick.

This book will help you:

Alternate your instructional routine between building the learner (metacognition, focus) and building the learning (academic content)
Implement the five-step IIA approach of cognitive snacking, launch intervals, content intervals, pattern breaks, and cool-downs
Access real-world classroom examples, model lessons, and reproducible activities that can be implemented tomorrow
Apply research from the science of learning, attention science, and cognitive psychology to your daily practice

Discover how to create a classroom where all students can improve, not just in effort or engagement, but in actual growth. This innovative guide will help you invigorate your instruction, get you and your students working in tandem, and transform your classroom dynamics for lasting student success.