Words of Wisdom from Plato

 

Words of Wisdom from President Bill Clinton

 

Words of Wisdom from George Washington Carver

 

Words of Wisdom from Albert Einstein

 

Words of Wisdom from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Words of Wisdom from John C. Maxwell

 

Words of Wisdom from John Heywood

 

Words of Wisdom from Oprah

 

This Is Why Your Kids Should Select Their Career Path

 

Why You Should Help Your Kids Develop a Positive Attitude

 

Courage Can Help Kids After Setbacks

 

Sports Motivational Quotes Apply to Academics Too

 

Teach Your Kids They Can Tackle Any Goal

 

Even Little Children Can Set Goals

 

Why Should Students Set Their Own Life Goals?

 

Parents, Teach This to Your Little Ones

 

Gifts to Help Kids Earn Scholarships

 

 Take a minute and watch this short video. It could save you thousands of dollars when paying for college.

            https://youtu.be/2369Oe7PgFI?si=19K_595S7JBeh7xI

Music Makes a Difference in Surprising Ways

 

How Proper Sleep Fuels Your Child's Health and Education

As an educator and advocate for families striving to minimize college loan burdens, I'm here to emphasize the significance of ensuring your K-12 grade children receive the recommended amount of quality sleep each night. In this article, I’ll list several educational and health benefits of sufficient sleep, provide you with expert insights, recommended hours of sleep for different age groups, and valuable data sources.

Quality sleep is not a luxury; it's a necessity, especially for growing minds. Sleep directly impacts a child's ability to learn, concentrate, and excel in school. Education experts universally agree on the importance of proper sleep for children. Dr. Sarah Anderson, educational psychologist, emphasizes, "Sleep is the foundation of effective learning. Without enough sleep, children struggle to retain information and perform well academically."

Safety light for nighttime trips to the bathroom, CLICK HERE (ad). 

 

Recommended hours of sleep for different age groups:

1. Elementary School (Ages 6-10): Children in this age group require 9-11 hours of sleep per night to support their cognitive development and overall well-being.

2. Middle School (Ages 11-13): Adolescents in middle school need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Sleep aids in their emotional stability and helps them manage the challenges of adolescence.

3. High School (Ages 14-17): Teenagers should aim for 8-10 hours of sleep as well. Adequate sleep is crucial during this phase of intense learning and preparation for college.

4. College-Aged (Ages 18-24): Even as young adults, college students benefit from 7-9 hours of sleep each night. It enhances their cognitive abilities, memory retention, and mental health.

This book will help younger children understand why they need sleep, Naomi Learns the Importance of Sleep, CLICK HERE (ad).

 

There are also health benefits of receiving sufficient sleep.

1. Boosts Immunity: "Sleep strengthens the immune system, helping children fend off illnesses more effectively." - Dr. Lisa Walker, a pediatrician.

2. Enhances Growth: Growth hormones are primarily secreted during deep sleep. Ensuring your child gets enough sleep supports their physical development.

3. Improves Mood: Sleep is a natural mood regulator. It reduces irritability and enhances emotional stability, crucial during adolescence.

4. Enhances Memory and Cognitive Abilities: "Sleep plays a vital role in memory consolidation and problem-solving skills." - Dr. Mark Evans, neuroscientist.

5. Reduces Stress: Sufficient sleep reduces stress levels in children, helping them cope with academic and social pressures.

6. Prevents Obesity: Inadequate sleep is linked to obesity in children. It impacts hunger-regulating hormones and leads to unhealthy eating habits.

 

The relationship between quality sleep and a child's health and education is undeniable. As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children receive the recommended amount of sleep for their age group. This investment in their well-being and future success is immeasurable. "Consistent sleep patterns, including bedtime and wake time, are crucial for optimal sleep quality." -Dr. David White, sleep medicine specialist.

 

Sources:

To provide you with credible information, I've gathered data from various reputable sources:

•  American Academy of Sleep Medicine

•  National Sleep Foundation

•  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

•  Harvard Medical School

•  American Psychological Association (APA)

 

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE. It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

How to Teach Time Management to High School Students

I learned time management by reading books by John Maxwell, Steven Covey, CLICK HERE and Benjamin Franklin, CLICK HERE. This skill has made a world of difference in my life. But I couldn’t expect my high school foreign language students to do what I did. So I simplified what I learned and created a short lesson.

I wanted my students to know how to manage their time, so they would be able to complete their homework assignments and projects. I ended my language lesson a little early one Friday and asked them to take out paper and pen.

I told students I wanted to help them have time for fun, while still finishing their school work. This got their attention. I explained during the two years I was in South Africa, I worked pretty much all the time. I knew I wanted to “get a life” when I came back to the US. To do so, I needed to identify my goals. I wrote my five goals on the white board in front of my classroom.

1.   Spend more time with family and friends.

2.   Increase my level of fitness.

3.   Have fun.

4.   Buy a dog.

5.   Earn enough money to live comfortably.

I answered any questions they had and asked them to suggest something I might want or need to do during the coming weekend. As they shouted out suggestions, I wrote about fifteen of them on the board. They included chores like doing laundry, going shopping, cleaning the house, grading papers, and fun activities like going to the beach, going to the movies, etc.

I told students to put an “A” by the most important activity or chore, “B” by the next significant and “C” next to those not really important at all. They all said grading papers was most important. I asked them where that appeared on my list of goals. It may have been important to the school or to them, but work was low on my list, so it only received a “C”, the lowest of the three choices. They understood. It was a real eye opener for them. We went through all activities on the board until they all had letters next to them.

Then we ranked the items in each category by urgency, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. So all items on the list were identified according to the time management grid: Important-Urgent, Important-Not Urgent, Not Important-Urgent, Not Important-Not Urgent.

This lesson helped them schedule their time by their priorities, not those of someone else. It may have been most important for them to do school work, since it would help them reach their college goals. But my goals were not theirs. My goal was to get a life. After this little exercise, they understood the first step in time management is always to identify long term and short term goals. When they did so, they finished more school work while experiencing less stress and having more fun.

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE. It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

Photo Credit: Google Images