Excellent awareness, Arilton. Knowing what limits your ability to listen is important in knowing how to address it. This is not an uncommon limitation. Your brain is a powerful muscle and it tends to fill in any gaps during conversation with the many things on your to do list! One technique that you can use is the 3 R's (repeat, rephrase, or reflect). When you repeat, you're simply repeating back to the student what they've told you. Rephrasing means that you're putting the message into your own words, and reflecting allows you the opportunity to express the feelings or emotions you may be picking up on. Using the 3 R's can help you focus in on what the student is telling you and demonstrate your listening ability. What are some other ideas that you might have for maintaining your focus? Dr. Jean Norris