As students become involved in higher level courses, sports, extracurriculars, work, and other activities, sleep can seem harder to come by. The days get longer and nights get shorter. But aiming for 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night is essential for teenagers. Sleep deprivation can not only take a toll on health and mood, but also academic performance. Getting adequate rest is key to supporting learning.
Sleep helps with focus. When students are tired, it is more difficult to pay attention and stay engaged. They are more likely to miss important information as their mind drifts. A good night’s sleep allows them to approach the day with more energy and alertness. They come to class better able to pay attention, participate, and make sense of what they are learning.
Sleep may help consolidate memory. Scientists believe that sleep plays a critical role in encoding learning into memory. The brain can only process so much information at a time, and rest periods may help with storing and recalling information more effectively. Many students find that when they cram before a test, they remember what they learned for a shorter period of time than if they study a little bit each day leading up to the exam. Pulling an all-nighter can do more harm than good and make it harder to concentrate and recall information the next day.
Lack of sleep affects judgment and decision making. When students are tired, they are not able to think and reason as clearly as when they are well rested. They may have more trouble analyzing information and making sound decisions. This can certainly affect academic performance, especially when it comes to taking tests.
Poor sleep affects mood. Students may be more irritable or depressed when they don’t get enough sleep. When they are not feeling their best, it is harder to stay interested and engaged in class. They may not be as motivated to get their work done or put forth their best effort. They may also become frustrated when something doesn’t make sense or come easily.
How Tutoring Can Help
Tutoring can help students to better manage their time and study more effectively so that they are not staying up late trying to finish homework or prepare for a test. They can learn better note taking and organizational skills to stay on top of assignments and complete tasks more quickly. In addition, a tutor can help them keep pace with challenging classes by presenting information in a different way and reinforcing key skills so they feel less stressed in class.
Creating a consistent routine can help students ensure they are getting enough sleep at night and wake up ready to learn. If your child is struggling with their academic performance, contact Crafting Scholars to find out how we can help. From content area tutoring to test prep to study skills, we create customized plans to meet their needs.