Why senior students can afford to sleep in a bit while homeschooling continues across Australia
Researchers have actually proven why adolescents sleep in — and experts say it’s all right for some to do it while they study at home.
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Parents across the globe know that teenagers have a different sense of time but researchers have actually proven that there is a biological reason that adolescents sleep in.
After puberty hits teens tend to wake later, up until the age of 20 - at this point the body’s waking times start to creep earlier again until at the age of 55 you wake up a the same time you did when you were 10, according to research done by the University of Munich.
Curriculum and education expert Karen Green said this would be a good reason for parents to take advantage of a flexible schedule offered by home schooling and allow senior students to sleep in a bit.
“The could design their own timetable based on their sleep preferences. With this responsibility, however, comes a sense of obligation and commitment to their school work. “You might find that now is a good time to have a conversation about productivity and motivation. Many teenagers go to great pains to convince their parents (and themselves) that they are organised and have everything under control.
“Sometimes it doesn’t take much to scratch below the surface and find teens that are quite disorganised and lacking in structure.”
She recommends starting with the study space and making sure it is clear and organised. and removing any distractions such as social media or music.
“Then it is up to your teen to prioritise their learning, identifying their work from most to least urgent. There is a tendency to want to start the ‘fun’ stuff before tackling tasks that require greater concentration and effort.
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“A great habit to get into is to get the more rigorous tasks out of the way first. They will end up with a more positive mood and they will also be more productive.”
Associate Professor David Smith, Head of School in the School of Education at Charles Sturt University said that senior students who were feeling overwhelmed by their changed circumstances should remember that much of the learning in the later years of school is self-directed regardless.
”There is a little bit of increased self-discipline in that they need to set aside the correct amount of time to get their work done.”
He also recommended students take regular breaks but make sure they are valuable ones likes exercising or talking to friends.
”Something that refocuses you, gives you a bit of a break, gives you an opportunity to stretch your legs but not something that, as I said, but not something that can take you away and you’ve lost the day.”
Originally published as Why senior students can afford to sleep in a bit while homeschooling continues across Australia