Daily Biological Rhythms Affect Teaching and Learning Kelly Pyzdrowski

Circadian Rhythms Bodies have Daily Cycles for: Bodies have Daily Cycles for: - temperature - breathing - digestion - hormone concentrations Timing of Cycles depends on daylight Timing of Cycles depends on daylight

Suprachiasmatic nuclei What is it? What is it? What does it do for our bodies? What does it do for our bodies? How can this change the way we teach? How can this change the way we teach?

Psychological- Cognitive Cycle Refers to our ability to focus on in coming information with intent to learn Refers to our ability to focus on in coming information with intent to learn Research has drawn attention to sleep wake cycles of students Research has drawn attention to sleep wake cycles of students During low points of focus students (20 to 60 minutes past middle of day) must use more effort to learn (called “dark hole of learning”) During low points of focus students (20 to 60 minutes past middle of day) must use more effort to learn (called “dark hole of learning”)

Importance of Learning and Memory: More sleep= more storage of memory More sleep= more storage of memory Deprivation of sleep also means increased irritability, and leads to fatigue which can cause accidents. Deprivation of sleep also means increased irritability, and leads to fatigue which can cause accidents.

How does no sleep change your life? v=lQ2LE2xUlhM v=lQ2LE2xUlhM v=lQ2LE2xUlhM v=lQ2LE2xUlhM

When we get enough sleep.

When we do not get enough sleep….Like most of our students.

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder: (DSPD) Prevalent in Middle and High School Students Prevalent in Middle and High School Students Refers to a persistent pattern that includes difficulty falling asleep at night Refers to a persistent pattern that includes difficulty falling asleep at night Most of the information and skills into long term storage is believed to occur during REM Most of the information and skills into long term storage is believed to occur during REM 8 to 9 hours = 5 REM cycles 8 to 9 hours = 5 REM cycles 5 to 6 hours = losing last 2 cycles 5 to 6 hours = losing last 2 cycles