Hello @isaria this is the first post of yours I have seen, it hit me in one of those really tender places : )

You are right about being present to what is the now, I have struggled a lot over time with such things. The biggest life changer for me was realizing that I could not not feel peace, love or gratitude etc unless I was channeling those feelings through my own system in the now.
And that happened just the way described with your students counting out loud for a couple months until they internalize the division of rhythm.