Home > School Issues Channel > Fit To Be Taught Archive > Fit To Be Taught, Vol. 34

Dr. Ken Shore's Classroom Problem Solver: The Sleeping Student

Students in elementary grades don't often fall asleep in class, but when they do, it can be a distraction to you and to the other students. Sleeping in class also can signify another problem that warrants your attention.

If you have a student who is nodding off frequently, do some digging to find out why. It may be that he or she is going to bed too late; is bored in school; has a medical problem, such as allergies, diabetes, or hypoglycemia; or is experiencing side effects of medication.

When investigating the reasons, look for a pattern by examining when and where the student falls asleep.

Knowing why a student is falling asleep will help you figure out how to respond, and whether to deal with the problem as a medical concern, an emotional difficulty, a motivational problem, or a disciplinary issue.

Read the full article on Education World

Wellness News
New State Exam Tests Fitness Texas students in grades 3 to 12 now have their stamina, strength, flexibility, and body composition measured.

Bedroom TVs Affect Diet, GradesTeenagers with a bedroom TV tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, researchers said.

In-School Medical Centers

Low-income elementary-school students and their families in Lexington, Kentucky, are benefiting from Healthy Kids Centers (HKC), which are comprehensive school-based health care centers. More than 95 percent of the children in those areas live in poverty and 50 percent of them are uninsured. More than 95 percent of the students who are eligible are enrolled in an HKC.

The clinics deliver primary care, dental care, mental heath care, and health education in an integrated school environment. While the first site was funded by a federal grant, the community hospitals now fully fund three additional school sites in high poverty areas. Attendance has improved significantly in schools with health care centers, and feedback from school staff members and the community has been positive.

Healthy Kids Center staff members also are involved in wellness programs. One site now plays a school-wide videotape about physical activity. Center staff members also offer Take 10, an educational physical activity program for teachers to use in the classroom. Health educators also teach nutrition and physical activity in the classroom.

The community collaborative to start school-based clinics was launched by Dr. Tom Young of the University of Kentucky.

Read more about this program at: Healthy Kids Centers.

Click to learn more about Action for Healthy Kids.

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