Month: February 2017

Sleeping habits

mblair

This week in Pastoral groups the boys are discussing their sleep habits.

Sleep is a vital component of life. It assists with our development, performance, and good health.

Research has demonstrated that certain daily habits and routines assist in a good quality and quantity of sleep. Research has also demonstrated the effects of sleep deprivation on the human body and brain.

Encouraging reading

mblair

Below are some tips on encouraging reading from our Head of Library, Mrs Linda Roden.

So what can I do to help encourage my son to read?

  • Acceptance: Accept the broad range of reading in which your son is engaged in. Not all boys will be drawn to reading the “classics” and if this is all we will accept from them, they are likely to further turn away from reading. Encourage your son when he reads a variety of texts including newspapers, magazines, websites, comics, graphic novels, humorous books, fiction and non-fiction. It is all reading and is helping your son further develop his skills as a reader.
  • Modelling: A male role model is invaluable as teenage boys often view reading as a feminine activity. Teenage boys need to see that men read too. A powerful act is for dad or a significant male to read the same books as your son and open up discussion about this book. It not only sends the message that reading is valuable, but also that your son is valuable and that you are interested in what he is involved in.
  • Environment: Try to provide a home environment that values reading. Keep reading material available and let your son see you reading. Ideally, set a regular reading time, such as 20 minutes of reading each night before bed. It is important to build a reading culture around boys. On a long road trip play an audio book.
  • Praise: Praise all efforts your son makes in reading. Do not criticise your son if he is reading magazines or graphic novels.
  • Tap into their interests: Try to match reading material with your son’s interests. If your son is not reading for pleasure, perhaps begin by purchasing him magazines or information books in his interest area. It is OK if your son is reading comics – encourage this and then start to slowly introduce new and more challenging texts. Have a look at the Top 10 list in the reading pamphlet provided. All of these books are extremely popular with Joeys boys, and most are part of a series and the boys will often get hooked once they start the first book.
  • Embrace other technologies: Many teenagers enjoy technology so try to get it working for you:
    • encourage them to read blogs on topics that interest them
    • if they loved a particular  movie, buy or borrow the book from which the movie was adapted. The book is almost always better.
    • encourage them to go online to find out more about a movie they have enjoyed
    • try an eReader. Some teenagers love to read from an electronic device. We have eBooks available for loan in the Joeys library, as do most public libraries.
  • Don’t give up: keep encouraging him to read.

Preparing for Year 9 NAPLAN

mblair

On Monday morning Year 9 were given some information on the upcoming NAPLAN tests by Mr Matthew Bookallil, Director of Teaching and Learning, Mrs Emma Rothwell, Head of English, and Mr David Hill, Year 9 Academic Coordinator.

The presentation “busted some myths” about minimum standards and told the boys what they can do, and what the College is doing, to prepare for the NAPLAN tests.

Mr Bookallil has also written to all parents with similar information presented to the boys which is included below.

 

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Consumer choice in Commerce

mblair

As part of our topic on Consumer Choice, Ms Clark’s and Mr Capelin’s Commerce classes are looking at factors that influence consumers including the role that brands play and how they can affect consumers perceptions of quality and value. Boys got the chance to ‘blind taste’ three different brands of different chips and biscuits and rate their preference. We then ‘revealed’ the brands and price of each.

Boys really enjoyed it, learnt something and might not have eaten all their dinner as a result.