Congratulations to our students for the manner in which they have adapted to Off Campus Learning and thank you to our teachers for the quality of learning experiences provided. As we continue with Off Campus Learning, following are some strategies to help you son focus with his learning at home. This information has been sourced from the Greater Good Magazine website.

• Provide a desk in a learning space for your son. This is a designated space for your son to engage in online lessons and complete learning experiences. Encourage him to move away from that space for all other activities.
• Encourage your son to single-task. Having many screens open and alerts may distract your son from his learning. Turn off alerts off and designate a place for your son’s phone during lessons. This will help increase focus and efficiency.
• Find ways to foster your son’s intrinsic motivation. This can be done by acknowledging his competence. Assist him in seeing what he has done well through his own efforts. Allowing independence can support your son’s motivation. This can be done by asking him what his plan is for completing a particular task.
• It will be difficult for your son to remain focused when tired. It is important that he gets enough sleep.

During this time, it is important to remain flexible and foster positive emotions to further support your son in adapting to the current learning environment.

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Following are some RESILIENCE QUOTES that your family may find inspiring:

Seek Silver Linings
When going through a difficult period such as now, try to list three silver linings. Look for positives. This is a great way to foster an optimistic outlook. A scientific study showed that people who regularly looked for silver linings felt happier and more engaged with their lives.

Create a Gratitude List
Spend some time listing all the things you are grateful for in the present. Write the list in a journal, not on a piece of paper that you might lose. Remember to return to it, reflect on it and add to it. This will help you to refocus on the things that truly matter. As Oprah says, “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more.”

Play to your strengths
Empower yourself by spending time doing something you’re really good at. For example, bake a cake, complete a crossword, build a jigsaw, be a listening ear for a friend. Engaging in activities within your skill set will help affirm that you are clever and capable. Because you are.

Consider you mindset
The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.
American Proverb

Challenge yourself
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Neale Donald Walsch

Set your sights on the goal
If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan. Never change the goal.
Anon.

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LITERACY VIDEOS

The College is producing literacy videos that will further support our students with their learning. The following videos have been placed on LERA:

• Apostrophes
• Correct Formal Language
• PEEL
• Punctuation
• Sentences

To access these videos, please click HERE

Take time to view these videos with your son(s). Further videos will be produced and uploaded during Term 4.

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PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT

Following are three puzzles for your family to solve:

1. What is it that is bought by the yarn and worn by the foot?
2. Can you make one word from the letters of NEW DOOR?
3. Can you spell out another animal from the letters of PIGEON?

Gerry Sozio
Director of Learning and Teaching