The Science of Attention: The Difference One Teacher Makes

We want kids to “pay attention” But is it realistic that they could actually pay attention all the time? How about the attention at the beginning of class? Or multiple peaks of attention?

Myriam Da Silva, CEO of CheckITLearning and author of the first AI neuroscience lesson planning tool, Cleo, talks today about the aspects of attention that can help us be better teachers. She dives into practical examples, research, and we share lots of ideas for helping our classroom students learn while having an engaging, exciting environment (and realistic expectations.)

This show is sponsored by CheckIT Learning. All opinions are that of the respective person.

The, I share a story of Sue and Mrs. Scruggs about the power of 20 minutes of a teacher’s attention of a young girl living in Alabama in the 1960’s. This is a special story and I hope you enjoy how we’ve retold and remastered it just for high quality radio.

I hope you enjoy this show. The content is so great, I’m going to also be sharing a full blog post with the ideas in written form, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the show.

Listen to the Show

Myriam Da Silva – Bio as Submitted

Myriam Da Silva is a visionary, entrepreneur, AI ethicist, speaker, and artist driven by a singular mission: to inspire people to believe in themselves. Through her work and her story, she empowers audiences to embrace their unique gifts as a force for contribution, leading lives filled with meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.

As the CEO of CheckIT Learning and President of the CheckIT Foundation, Myriam is pioneering a new vision for education grounded in human development. She is the creator of Cleo, the world’s first AI neuro-mentor designed to support teachers and students through the science of learning, and she developed a widely adopted Science of Learning micro-course that helps educators bring neuroeducation into daily practice.

Myriam works with global organizations on AI ethics and child-centered design, including UNESCO, iRAISE, and international coalitions shaping responsible AI in education. She will also be featured on Women in Power, an Inside Success TV series highlighting female leaders who are redefining impact and innovation.

She is the author of the forthcoming book The Black Sheep (2026), a powerful call to reimagine education so that every student’s uniqueness becomes their strength, empowering them to live, lead, and contribute with lasting impact. 

Blog: www.checkitlearning.com

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/myriamdasilva

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”