• This map shows when school starts across America — way too early according to specialists.
• Due to early school starts, America’s students are “chronologically sleep-deprived.”
• California is spearheading a change, which should result in improved academic results.

Why do American high schools generally start so early?

One large part of the answer: school buses. A lot of school districts re-use the same buses to pick up students from different schools: first the high schoolers, then the middle schoolers, and finally the elementary schoolers. In South Carolina, the order is generally reversed, which is why it is among the “latest” states on this map.

Early school starts are not the only cause of teenage drowsiness, but they are a crucial factor — especially because natural sleep cycles make it difficult for post-puberty teenagers to fall asleep before 11 pm.

A poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that 59 percent of 6th through 8th graders and 87 percent of high school students got less than the recommended amount of sleep (8.5 to 9.5 hours) on school nights. In the words of America’s leading soporific publication Sleep Review, the average American adolescent is “chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy”.

Chronic sleep loss in adolescents has been linked to a host of negative consequences:

• Adolescents with sleep debt and/or disrupted sleep-wake cycles may suffer from poor judgment, lack of motivation, and overall reduced alertness, leading to poor academic performance.
• There is a bidirectional relationship between sleep disturbances and mood disorders, especially depression.
• Irregular and insufficient sleep in high school students has been found to predict certain types of risky behavior such as drunk driving, smoking, taking drugs, and delinquency.
• Adolescents with insufficient sleep have an increased risk of suicidal ideation.
• Several studies found links between sleep deprivation and obesity. One study estimates that for each hour of sleep lost (over a long period of time), the odds of being obese increased by 80 percent.
• Sleep deprivation leads to metabolic perturbations that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Sleepiness increases the risk of traffic accidents. Young people are particularly affected. A 1995 study found that 55 percent of crashes due to drowsiness were caused by drivers 25 years or younger.
• In 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Bill 328, which requires middle schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 am and high schools no earlier than 8:30 am. It will go into effect in 2022.
• If the measure proves successful, other states may consider similar moves. And there is some evidence that starting school later is beneficial. Around 400 school districts around the country have already moved their start time to 8:30 or later, often resulting in dramatically improved test scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates. (One Texas school district reported an 11 percent increase in its graduation rate.)

Reference: https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/heres-how-early-school-begins-and-why-it-is-bad-for-students

School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout — but there’s often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize their well-being. Hailey Hardcastle explains why schools should offer mental health days and allow students time to practice emotional hygiene without stigma. Follow along to learn how she and a team of fellow teens transformed their advocacy into law.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study last fall that showed mental health-related emergency room visits among children increased 24% for those between the ages of 5 and 11, and 31% for ages 12 to 17 since around the start of the pandemic in April 2020, compared to 2019.

“As society continues to increase the importance of addressing mental health as a part of health care, we must ensure that our students have the ability to address issues they are dealing with,” State Sen. Robert Martwick said in a statement after the bill passed the Senate. “This bill removes the stigma and allows students to prioritize their mental health and stability.”

Reference: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/02/illinois-students-mental-health-five-days-off-school-law/5705035001/?fbclid=IwAR3NLjkZ7oyzIPFV8gcKqEA0R4H3JnaXFhsZpYGll0A2ZxNKwUtZ8PHGqXA

As a teacher in Taiwan, I wondered if it is feasible/ acceptable for Taiwanese parents? However, I think it is a good idea for kids to share their toys/ play stuff together.

This school year has been far from normal but leave it to the amazing teachers to come up with brilliant ideas for keeping our children healthy and safe. Take these recess bags for example…

WHAT IS A RECESS BAG?

It’s exactly how it sounds. A recess bag is a baggie filled with things to keep kids busy during recess time while they are stuck inside. Since items are meant for one single child, kids can safely play alone while maintaining social distancing.

• Small LEGO Sets
• Playdough
• Rubik’s Cube
• Toy Cars
• Small Puzzles
• Coloring book/notebook
• Crayons
• fidget Pop its! (recently popular one!)

Basically, anything you can think of that will give your kids quiet play at school works for these bags.

Reference: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/152745/recess-bags/?fbclid=IwAR2iMYcEEGaV8Thbi1atxxy0wK1VIsF5Tg4Vw8W1KaIC8QloktI63rjZqlY

• Do you have a nickname you would like to be used in the classroom?
• What are the things you expect to learn this year? This question helps students share their expectations and aspirations. Having clear expectations is a good way to start.
• What kind of job would you like to have when you grow up? Part of knowing your students is to know what they want to do in the future. Such questions will help you know the things that spark your students’ interest and probably give them guidance and advice.
• Can you describe yourself in a few words?
• How would you describe a successful academic year? This question provides students with an opportunity to think and reflect on what is coming. If they can answer this, they will probably be motivated to work harder.
• What the things you don’t like about being at school? This question will you know students’ inconveniences and challenges. These are the things you should look at to help them resolve.
• In what way, can I, your teacher, help you? An important part of teaching is to know your students very well. This question will help you get more insights about your students, their motivation, their background, and their passion.
• How would you describe your best teacher? This question will help you know the characteristics and qualities of students’ best teachers. It is a great way for teachers who want to improve and enhance their interpersonal skills.
• What is your passion? A great way to know your students is to know their passions. Knowing the things that your students like most can drive your teaching practices and create an engaged classroom.
• What are your strong and weak points? This question helps you present ways for students to turn their weaknesses into strengths. It also gives you an opportunity to help your students focus on their strengths.
• What digital tools do you prefer to use? This is a related question. Since we live in the digital era, it is very important to know your students’ preferences, the websites they browse, the tools they use, the things they know…etc. As a teacher, you will have to use remote teaching tools to help your students, so it is important to know what your students know about technology. 
• What new technology are you interested in this year? The beginning of the year is the perfect time to create that link between education and technology. There are many technological tools that students prefer to use, and knowing about them will work for your favor.
• Do you think you are a good student? What does that mean for you? Students will share their conceptions and beliefs about what constitutes a good student. They may not ask the first part that relates to them, but they will definitely share ideas about what it takes to be a good student.
• What does it mean to be a creative student? This will help you develop students’ creativity and create activities and learning tasks that stimulate your students’ creative thinking skills. 
• How do you prefer to study? This is an important question to ask. Your students might not be familiar with learning styles, but they will definitely tell you something about their learning preferences and ways of study. You can use the information to know the types of students you have and plan your instruction accordingly.

Reference: https://teachingutopians.com/2020/06/06/15-questions-you-certainly-need-to-ask-students-at-the-beginning-of-the-year/?fbclid=IwAR1gK3z4GNpbUxI8I5mzahanTPTngHJsnW85ropjk2JxqCa3OsyztkfrVgc