Sean Castle Reflects on Ways To Become More Productive

Sean Castle, a senior educator, says sometimes it feels like our list of things we need to get done is never-ending. It’s really easy just to neglect, or straight out forget about, some of the stuff that needs doing, which is why this list of tips is a handy tool for pointing you in the right direction and helping you get stuff done. He say this can be helpful if you Prioritise. Sean Castle makes the point that some stuff is urgent, some things aren’t urgent just yet, and other stuff isn’t very important at all. Try to differentiate between things you need to do right now and others that you can put off for later.

Sean Castle says it can be useful to make to-do list.  Whether you use a special diary, a scrap of paper or a to-do list app, writing down the things you need to do is one of the most effective ways of keeping track of them all. And nothing beats the satisfaction you feel in checking things off your list once you’ve completed them. Sean Castle also believes it is important to set realistic deadlines, and get a friend to check on how you’re doing with meeting them. If you have some kind of accountability to someone other than yourself, you’ll be more committed to getting stuff done. If you’re only accountable to yourself, there’s no one to set you straight when you find yourself saying ‘ I’ll do it later.’ Sean Castle reckons that getting the balance rights is important in getting stuff done and ensuring you get enough rest and fun. It rhymes, so you know it’s a good idea! You can’t be productive during every waking moment. We all need to take breaks. Take time out to do something relaxing or enjoyable. Try to separate your work environment from your play environment, so that you can focus completely on one or the other.

Sean Castle makes the point that overcoming procrastination is no easy feat. When you need to be productive, remove potential distractions from your vicinity, such as your mobile phone or computer. Set yourself a time frame for how long you need to do productive stuff before you allow yourself a break. He also say that managing stress is key to success. Stress can be a useful force, up to a certain point. If you stress too much, it becomes completely counterproductive. Have a look at some ways to relax.

Being  realistic in your goals is important, says Sean Castle. Don’t set yourself up to fail. If you write yourself the world’s biggest to-do list, chances are you’ll feel totally overwhelmed and you won’t want to do everything on it. Set yourself achievable goals and a realistic time frame. Get active to help you focus and feel motivated, Sean Castle believes. Whether it’s just a stroll around the block, a session at the gym, or a sports game with friends, exercise has been proven to improve concentration levels. Increased concentration equals increased productivity, so go put on your runners or gym equipment.

Sean Castle says remember to ask for help. And reward yourself. This one’s pretty self-explanatory. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you’re not managing the pressure as well as you could be, talk to friends or a family member. When you complete something on your to-do list, Sean Castle points out not only do you get to experience the pleasure of ticking it off, but you can reward yourself with all sorts of fun things: have a night out with friends, take a nap, or make some pancakes – even if you don’t have excellent skills in the kitchen.

Content Source: https://techbullion.com/sean-castle-reflects-on-ways-to-become-more-productive/

Sean Castle Looks At How To Help Students With ADHD Achieve Their Educational Best

When people think of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), they often think of the common symptoms of the condition, including inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. But this list of symptoms doesn’t tell the whole story. Sean Castle, a senior educator with over 20 years’ experience, looks at ways to help parents with children with ADHD achieve in school.

Sean Castle

Sean Castle points out that the fact is, children who have ADHD, also referred to as ADD, often share a number of beneficial traits that can potentially contribute to their success, both in school and in the workplace. He says that ADHD students are often extremely creative, curious, passionate, and energetic—all attributes of successful entrepreneurs and inventors. Sean Castle highlights some of the highest achievers on recent history had ADHD. These include Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, John Lennon,Mozart, Winston Churchill. Henry Ford, Stephen Hawking, Jules Verne, Alexander Graham Bell and Woodrow Wilson.

The key to helping students with ADHD succeed, Sean Castle says, is to remember that they are individuals, with individual strengths and challenges. Instead of seeing their unique traits as problems to be suppressed, celebrate their differences, and discover their strengths.

Keeping that in mind, here are some strategies that can be helpful for children with ADHD.

Sean Castle Looks at How To Help Students With ADHD Achieve Their Educational Best

Allow Exploration of Interests is a positive thing for many ADHD students who will be interested in a variety of subjects and want to learn more. Allowing them to explore these areas and discover their strengths will be helpful to their confidence and their eventual career aspirations. Sean Castle says it is important to remember to embrace Your Child’s Strengths. He says that while ADHD students may have trouble focusing on subjects that don’t hold their interest, they tend to excel at their strengths. Once you’ve determined what those strengths are, be sure to encourage your student to pursue the areas that most interest him or her. Facilitating the best learning model, according to Sean Castle, is key. He says that while trouble focusing can be a challenge for many ADHD students, others also tend to hyperfocus on a topic and, therefore, are not ready to leave a particular subject. Either tendency can be a problem in a brick-and-mortar school. Online learning can be an excellent alternative for such students because it allows them to focus on one subject for as long as they need, moving on to another subject when they lose interest or keeping with a subject for a longer period if they are hyper focused on it.

Sean Castle Looks at How To Help Students With ADHD Achieve Their Educational Best

And remember to ensure frequent breaks Sean Castle adds that for students with attention issues, taking breaks is important, whether in school or with homework. He suggests breaking school time into 30-minute intervals with five-minute breaks in between. The breaks can also be a motivation to help students stay on track. “It is best to use a visual timer that will sound when the break ends,” The breaks can also include a planned activity such as having a snack or walking the dog. That way, the child can have something to look forward to after learning.

Content Source: https://whatsnew2day.com/sean-castle-looks-at-how-to-help-students-with-adhd-achieve-their-educational-best/

Sean Castle discusses the issue of alcohol drinking and teenagers

Sean Castle

Parents can help reduce the harmful effects of alcohol on their teenagers by setting clear expectations about what is acceptable and unacceptable drinking behaviour during their child’s early teens and beyond. Sean Castle encourages parents that this conversation is one you’ll have to repeat throughout their teenage years. Set good standards that your teen can learn from by role modelling responsible drinking behaviours yourself.

It’s common for parents to think that if they allow their teenager alcohol in moderation while they’re in a safe environment, such as a glass of wine with dinner at home, this will lead to a better relationship with alcohol. But research tells us this isn’t the case. Parents should actively encourage their teenagers to delay drinking any alcohol for as long as possible.

What does alcohol do to a developing brain?

Alcohol affects a young brain more than a fully developed adult one. Developmental processes are still happening in the brain until around age 26.

If your teen drinks alcohol, it can cause irreversible changes to their brain, particularly to the area that’s responsible for rational thinking. Sean Castle is concerned that damage to this part of the brain before it’s fully developed can lead to learning difficulties, memory problems, and impaired problem-solving. The longer your teenager delays using alcohol, and the less they drink, the better their brain functioning will be, both now and in later life.

Other risks of alcohol use for teenagers

Alcohol can affect how teenagers function, how they recognise risks, and their ability to make good decisions. Drinking makes teens more likely to put themselves in risky situations, which may result in harm to themselves or others.

Sean Castle reminds parents that alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the brain. The more alcohol is consumed, the greater the effect. This can lead to:

  • slurred speech
  • poor judgment
  • lack of coordination
  • slower reactions
  • confusion
  • heightened sense of confidence
  • poor sleep.

What to do if your teenager drinks

It’s likely that at some stage your teenager will drink, in spite of all the risks. Recent research has shown that 75 percent of 12–17-year-olds admit to having tried alcohol.

The only way to eliminate the risks associated with alcohol use during the teenage years is to encourage your child not to drink. It can be useful to talk to them about the pros and cons of drinking, and talk about ways of having just as good a time but without alcohol.

But, knowing that your teen will probably be exposed to alcohol, it’s probably more realistic that you set clear boundaries about how they consume it. Read Things to try: Alcohol for tips on doing this.

Reducing the harmful effects of alcohol

Parents can help reduce the harmful effects of alcohol on their teenagers by setting clear expectations about what is acceptable and unacceptable drinking behaviour during their child’s early teens and beyond. Sean Castle encourages parents that this conversation is one you’ll have to repeat throughout their teenage years. Set good standards that your teen can learn from by role modelling responsible drinking behaviours yourself.

It’s common for parents to think that if they allow their teenager alcohol in moderation while they’re in a safe environment, such as a glass of wine with dinner at home, this will lead to a better relationship with alcohol. But research tells us this isn’t the case. Parents should actively encourage their teenagers to delay drinking any alcohol for as long as possible.

Content Source: https://www.issuewire.com/sean-castle-discusses-the-issue-of-alcohol-drinking-and-teenagers-1716772166016628

Sean Peter Castle recommends: “Discover new resources on the HSC hub”

Recommended by Sean Peter Castle – HT T&L.

The NSW DoE has put out this information on HSC resources and I would encourage HSC teachers to log into their portal and have a look around.

We’re adding new items to the HSC hub every week in early Term 3 that are inspired by your feedback. Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts.

You can access high-quality, on-demand video lectures, demonstrations and other engaging content specific to your learning area.

Aligned to NSW syllabuses, the support materials on the hub are created by the department, including Aurora College and WooTube. You can also access third party modules from Edrolo.

We’ll keep you updated on new items through your Statewide Staffroom. If you’re not already a member, you can join now. ​

Visit the HSC hub today to choose relevant resources for your students.

Sean Peter Castle presents free hours Professional Learning for NSW DoE teachers: “CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING”

Sean Castle – Head Teacher Teaching and Learning:

I have written and published this free course to assist teachers. It is available via MyPL and contributes 8 hours registered hours at Proficient level with NESA.

Classroom Management and Effective Teaching

Consistent with the “Positive Behaviour for Learning” approach to education, “Classroom Behaviour: A Practical Guide to Effective Teaching, Behaviour Management and Colleague Support” draws on the expertise and research of Dr Bill Rogers to create a learning environment that strives for best practice.

Effective Teaching, Classroom Behaviour and Collegial Support challenges educators to learn and apply both established and new approaches to teaching and classroom management, requiring thinking and application on multiple levels within a differentiated educational setting. At its core in classrooms, teachers will be challenged to examine alternative and proven approaches to their instructional model to improve and reflect upon their teaching craft in a non-judgmental, collegially support environment.

The research tellingly provides the following rationale: “Rogers, offers teachers a wide repertoire of relational management skills that is centred in providing clear guidance for professional integrity and emotional literacy in responding for minimal intervention right through to responding effectively to the most challenging student learning situations”.

MyPL Identifier: SR01522

Sean Peter Castle recommended reading for NSW DoE teachers: Supporting our HSC students – July 2020

Supporting our HSC students

Sean Castle – HT Teaching and Learning: I have read through this article and strongly recommend that all teachers read through and become aware of this important information from the NSW DoE.

On Thursday 2 July we’re launching the HSC hub to further support HSC students this year. The platform will include high-quality on-demand sessions that teachers can provide to their students to help them prepare for their exams. 

The HSC hub is a carefully curated central repository for third party material as well as new items created by the department. Schools will have free access to third party curriculum software via the hub, including Edrolo until the end of 2020.

We encourage teachers and students to enrol in relevant Edrolo modules today. This way, access to the hub will be much faster and easier on the day of launch. Any school that hasn’t considered the third party offerings, including Edrolo, can do so via Third party software.

We will continue to add new items to the hub during Term 3, including content that is produced by the department and inspired by your feedback. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts.Once the hub is live, we will be encouraging teachers to work with their students to help identify and allocate relevant sessions to supplement student’s existing course work.

Further support and detail of what courses will be available in time for use during the school holidays will be posted in your relevant statewide staffroom.

Visit Statewide staffrooms to join a staffroom specific to your learning area.