

How would you like an extra hour of nightly sleep, even on weekdays? For years, scientists have studied the effects of pushing back the morning school bell. A delayed-start experiment in December’s Science Advances reveals that students who catch more Z’s make more A’s.
A good night’s sleep is one of God’s great gifts. But most teens don’t snooze the recommended nine hours. They live like night-owls for a variety of reasons. One is their changing body clocks. God created sleep/wake cycles and internal sensors to postpone sleepiness as humans age. That allows teens to stay awake longer as they prepare for adulthood.
Teens also have increasing academic and social commitments—like soccer, debate, and friend group get-togethers—that occupy them into the evening hours. Of course, social media too can keep many teens (and adults) posting and chatting long after dark.
Sleep researchers wanted to know: Would teenage students sleep longer if school started later? Or would they simply stay up longer?
During the 2016-17 school year, researchers were able to experiment in Seattle. Schools there planned to adopt a later start time—moving from 7:50 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
For the study, teachers helped recruit 178 sophomores at two schools. The students wore wristwatch-like monitors for two weeks. They also kept diaries about sleep start, waking, napping, moods, and other data.
Student Hazel Ostrowski’s comments reflect her struggle: “I’ll wake up so tired I wish I could go back to sleep. At night, I’ll be on my phone, and I just want to stay up.” But she admits sleeping later made it easier to pay attention during class.
Study results showed the extra hour before school added an average of 34 minutes of slumber per night. It also resulted in less daytime sleepiness and better grades. Researchers say they can’t prove more sleep means straight A’s and B’s. But they call it “reasonable that students who are better rested and more alert should display better academic performance.”
Surprisingly, more sleep resulted in fewer absences and tardies—but only at the school in the poorer area. Researchers suggest delaying school start times “could decrease the learning gap between low and high socioeconomic [income] groups.”
Horacio de la Iglesia led the study. He says, “Given all the pressures keeping our teenagers awake in the evening—screen time, social media—this is a great thing to see.”
More study on the effects of more sleep for teens is needed. But one thing seems certain: You snooze . . . you win.
Elsie
I know how to make frappachinos too! It honestly isn't that hard!
I like being home schooled. When I was little I wanted to go to a Public school is so I could see my friends everyday, but now I have more friends and pretty much see them everyday anyways! I think the only reason I would like to go to a public/private school is to get away from the noise at my house! Including my parents and adult cousin that lives in our add on we have 10 people living in my house. Plus a dog that is ALWAYS barking. It makes it hard to concentrate.
My cousin goes to a private
My cousin goes to a private school none of her friends are Christian but she doesn't get made fun of, but I do hear of that happening
My friend is 13 years old, a
My friend is 13 years old, a couple months younger than me; she'll be 14 in June.
about school. . .
I went to a christian school for Pree school. and you know whats funny? i usaly see my pree school teacher around!! like on random days its fun!!
Hmmmmmmm...
I feel that it wouldn't help to have school start times later because then after school activities will be pushed back, so kid's family time will be cut back, they will get home later and go to bed later, and it might affect parents getting to work if they bring their kids to school.
Hmm
I think school should stay at it's normal time. It would less up bus schedules and kids would be getting home later and it would also make it harder for parents to get their kids to school
NEAT
I wouldn’t care if this happens I would still wake up at the same time.
I think that they should
I think that they should leave the start time as it is. if it gets moved back, the after school activities will get moved back, and kids will end up having to go to bed later anyways.
Megyn M.
I agree!!
OOOPPPSS!!! I meant Megan M.
OOOPPPSS!!! I meant Megan M.
wow
i'm sometimes really sleepy in school all the time so i'm all about this study with teens and maybe instead of teens they could move to younger kids as well to help them with sleep. You never know.
OOOOOOOOOOOOpPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSS
OOOOOOOOOOOOpPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! I mean Megan G.!!SORRY!!
I really think that teens
I really think that teens could go to sleep earlier, but they spend their evening on social media and stay up late; just my opinion.
I want the time to say
I want the time to say because its better to just get done earlier so you have more time in the day.
@ Alyssa S
i agree completely
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