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Despite protests from parents and teachers, many students adopt and embrace habits of insomnia during their essential school years. Especially in the middle and high school years, many young teens receive far less than the recommended average amount of sleep.

The (NSF) suggests that all people—both teens and adults—should receive at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Despite this recommendation, however, studies show that most students receive less than 6.5 hours of sleep each night. According to experts, the amount of sleep a student receives during his or her school years ultimately influences the outcome of each student’s academic performance.

The Significance of Sleep

As reported by , a 2007 study of sleeplessness revealed that a lack of sleep leads to an array of health problems. Specifically, a lack of sleep actually drops the number of white blood cells in the body. With a loss of white blood cells, the body’s immune system is also taxed and less powerful. In a 2007 study, as experts examined the influence of sleep in rats, scientists discovered that after significant and consistent sleep loss, the rats’ immune systems eventually completely failed.

While sleep helps restore our immune systems and bodies, the role of sleep in one’s academic abilities is a bit more unique. As the (NINDS) supports, sleep is not only

While every teacher naturally wants to help students learn and excel, there are inevitably some “favorites” in the classroom. However, based on expert information and educators themselves, parents can be involved and take simple steps to help get on the teacher’s “good side.”

Meet the Teacher

Most schools host “open-house” or “meet the teacher” events at the beginning of any school year or new semester. If your child’s school provides the community with this opportunity, try your best to attend! The open-house invitations allow parents and teachers to interact face-to-face.

This parent-teacher meeting can ameliorate various miscommunication issues down the line. For example, if your child comes home complaining of a teacher’s unfairness or assignment, you can use your own knowledge of the teacher (based on your meeting) to assess if your child’s perceptions are accurate. Upon meeting parents at open-house events, many teachers can clearly outline their classroom procedures, grading policies, and so forth. By becoming aware of these guidelines and the teacher’s personality, you can more clearly assess any future issues that your child may encounter in the teacher’s class.

Establish Communication

If you can meet the teacher at an open-house event, then you’re off to the right start! However, if you cannot attend a meet-the-teacher event, try offering your introduction through another alternative method. For example, email the teacher, introducing yourself in a friendly fashion. Offer your home number or

To provide students with academic, social, and personal enrichment opportunities year-round, many public schools and national institutions have created unique and diverse summer programs. With programs focusing on core subject areas, such as math and language, in addition to programs that spotlight team development and leadership skills, students of all ages can benefit from the exclusive perks of summer programs.

Stimulate Academic Advancement and Cognitive Development

For students who struggle in specific academic areas, or for students who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities in core areas, summer programs that focus on academic instruction allow students to enhance their cognitive skills and abilities. For example, as the American Mathematical Society reveals in their list of summer camps and programs, there are hundreds of local universities, public schools, and community colleges that provide kids with the opportunity to engage in mathematical practice, research, and investigations.

While these opportunities, in any subject area, will provide students with unique and engaging intervention activities and lessons, many of the academic programs also help support personal development and social development advancements as well.

In this video, Socratica offers 5 reasons for attending summer school.

For example, in thoroughly investigating the array of summer math programs across the country, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) directs an academically rigorous math camp with a unique social twist; the UNL camp caters specifically to young girls ranging from grades 10 through 12. Striving to

As parents struggle to navigate the balance of fostering their child’s autonomy, versus being actively involved, the timeliness and appropriateness of meeting with a child’s teachers is highly dependent upon a child’s age, his or her behavior, and potential special needs. Whether a child is gifted, struggling, or displaying average abilities play a large factor in determining when to intervene and meet with school leaders.

This video offers an example of a parent-teacher conference.

When to Meet with a Teacher

• Collaborating Insights

If you have serious and pressing concerns about your child’s behavior, his or her academic progress, or other specific or general concerns, teachers can provide a great deal of insight into your child’s behavior. According to Terri Mauro, the author of The Everything Parent’s Guide, “If you have a pressing concern that needs to be addressed right away, don't delay in requesting a meeting yourself.”

Surprisingly, teachers may actually see your child at more constant time frames throughout the day than most parents; once kids are at home, they may play with friends away from supervision, or they may play in their rooms with the door closed. As a result, meeting with a teacher to find out his/her observations about your child’s behavior can help ameliorate concerns, and bring problems to the forefront, while working to brainstorm solutions for success.

• Early Communication to Foster Success

According to the Child Development Institute, “The

While the United States does not nationally mandate the study of a foreign language in public schools, many global schools around the world have incorporated such requirements long ago. In 2001, The Center for Applied Linguistics discovered that most countries have mandatory foreign language requirements for children beginning at eight years old. However, in the United States, most students do not begin to learn another language until ninth grade, or the age of fourteen.

For both young children and teenage students, the study of a foreign language, whether in supplemental or immersion classes, offers intellectual, social, and collegiate opportunities. As young children have the ability to develop language skills early, educators and psychologists are encouraging the instruction of foreign linguistic studies from an early age. In addition, according to researcher Julia Tagliere, “being able to speak another person’s language is a critical skill, especially as increased travel opportunities, satellite programming, and international use of the internet have begun to create a truly global community.”

In this TED talk John McWhorter outlines 4 reasons to learn a new language.

Foreign Language in Elementary School

Cognitive Benefits

Since the 1960s, studies have shown that the best time to begin the study of a foreign language is in elementary school. Because children at this age show better mental flexibility, more creativity, divergent thinking skills, and improved listening and memory skills, kids are able to