Positive Living Skills 

Week 5:  Focusing through Distractions 

This week students will be learning how to stay calm, centred and focused during distracting times. 

Children need to be able to focus to learn and get things done. Some children have no trouble tuning out distractions and focusing on what they’re doing. But others have a harder time and need help with it. To help your child develop their focusing skills, try these six simple strategies:

1. Start early:

Help your child start assessments or jobs early.  The longer you wait to start a task, the harder it is to focus on it. 

2. Practice mindfulness:

Mindfulness exercises are all about paying attention and focusing. Studies have shown that mindfulness can help children improve their behaviour and their ability to focus in school. 

3. Limit instructions to one or two at a time:

When children struggle with focus, it can be hard for them to listen to, remember, and follow through on directions. So try not to overload your child with too many directions at once.

4. Set a timer: 

When children know there’s a limit to how long they have to stay focused on a task, it can be easier to hang in there a little longer.

5. Be open to what works: 

Some people need total quiet to focus. Others do better with noise. That’s why it’s important to ask children what works best for them. 

6. Direct focus back to the task: 

Come up with a signal for when your child’s mind starts to wander. It might be putting a hand on your child’s shoulder or saying a specific word. 

Class Highlight: Public Speaking 

Learning to speak confidently in front of others is a valuable skill and one in which the students in the Burke Ward public speaking group have worked hard to develop this year.  Mrs Ball and Ms Mortlock have had the pleasure of working with the group over the last two terms, and it has been a highlight for us both to watch the students develop their confidence when speaking in front of an audience.  

A number of students participated in our school competition, with Myles, Amelia, Charlie and Ashton being selected to represent our school at the Broken Hill Competition. All four students felt that representing the school was a highlight, particularly Myles and Amelia who were named Junior

Runner-up and Champion respectively.  

The achievements of all members of the public speaking group will be celebrated on Friday, 30th August when they will receive a certificate at the 3-6 Assembly.