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But, forcing yourself to stay up each night because you can't grade papers until the kids go to bed, and getting up early to get the kids (and maybe your spouse) off to school and work with a good breakfast means "consuming an inordinate amount of wax from both ends of the wick."

Teachers need to take care of themselves, and getting enough sleep is crucial to physical, emotional, and mental health. Remember that the body conducts most of its repair projects during sleep, and that people burn a lot of calories when they sleep. If you are gaining weight without eating more, perhaps a lack of sufficient sleep is the culprit.

What is Sleep Deprivation?

Sleep deprivation is the chronic lack of sufficient sleep. Chronic means "long term."

Dragging in on the Monday after the Super Bowl because the party goers didn't leave (not everybody is sensitive to the needs of the classroom week) does not constitute sleep deprivation.

But, sleep deprivation is serious.

The list of ailment associated with the malady include:

• Aching muscles


• Blurred vision


• Cardiovascular disease


• Clinical depression


• Colorblindness


• Daytime drowsiness and naps


• Decreased mental activity and concentration


• Depersonalization/de realization


• Weakened immune system


• Dizziness


• Dark circles under the eyes


• Fainting


• General confusion


• Hallucinations (visual and aural)


• Hand tremors


• Headache


• Hernia


• Hyperactivity


• Hypertension


• Impatience


• Irritability


• Lucid dreaming (once sleep resumes)


• Memory lapses or loss


• Nausea


• Nystagmus (rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement)


• Psychosis


• Pallor


• Slowed reaction time


• Slurred and/or nonsensical speech


• Severe yawning


• Weight loss (or gain)

Source: Wikipedia
Sleep Deprivation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation

In addition, sleep deprivation often causes/ creates symptoms similar to 1.)
Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 2.) Alcoholic Intoxication.

Source: Wikipedia
Sleep Deprivation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation

A Teacher's Worse Nightmare

Some of the symptoms or diseases caused by sleep deprivation seem trivial, others are so serious that student school failure or loss of teacher employment are likely.

But in the range of midrange symptoms (where the student or teacher remains in school, the list of symptoms contains the high-stakes focused teacher's "worst nightmare."

This is because so many of these symptoms overlap, and the sleep-deprived person can experience a smorgasbord of symptoms in some closely related configuration.

This is also because many of the symptoms in this constellation of pain and misery are related to a lack of competent performance on high-stakes test day. In other words, sleep-deprived students struggle to perform well on high-stakes tests.

What to do if you are Sleep-Deprived

If you suspect that you are sleep-deprived, get help and take care of yourself.

Of course, this is easier said than done because:

• Sleep-deprived people loose a substantial chunk of their insight and judgment


• Habits of less-than healthy living sneak quietly upon us, and we don't notice our slide into inadequate health

Treatment will be easier and less costly if the problem is addressed early. Solutions will be expensive and more resistant to change if allowed to integrate into multiple areas of your life.

What to do to Help Sleep-Deprived Students

Students may occasionally fall asleep in class. Let them sleep if you can.

But pay attention if this happens more than once.

At a second occurrence of a student falling asleep in class, do the following:

• Document according to your district's or campus policies


• Refer to a school counselor of social worker


• Contact the student's parents


• Inform your supervisor or principal

This may seem like over reacting, but resolving an issue quickly means resolving the issue with less stress for everyone.

Follow-Up and Follow-Through

Remain alert and focused on the symptoms and effects of sleep deprivation.

Remember that sleep deprivation is a culprit in many illnesses.

Also remember that most causes of sleep deprivation can be treated, and that it costs very little to go to sleep.

Sweet dreams!