As for Korean students (who I think must lead the world in total hours of schooling per year), I’m not really sure. In a former life, I was an English teacher at an academy in Seoul, and if I remember correctly, most students ate a bowl of steamed rice, a few side dishes, and maybe some soup.

I have to admit it though, I’m like the Japanese mentioned in the post, I usually survive (thrive?)on a few cups of black coffee with a pastry or piece of fruit.

“If you got one hour more sleep, how much would it increase your effectiveness of learning?” etc

You’ve nailed two biological barriers to many adult and college students performing at peak levels. In the United States, the federal government has released some rather stunning statistics over the last few years on sleep deprivation. Did you know that more car accidents are from lack of sleep than excessive alcohol or cell phone use? Also the government estimates that over 40% lack adequate sleep. Finally, a principal reason for both the subsidized breakfast and lunch programs in K-12 remains research linking lack of breakfast to an inability to concentrate among youth. In short, both these biological factors remain real, persistent problems – at least in the United States.

How do I deal with this in the classroom? I nudge them to sleep at least six hours just to pretend they are mere mortals. Sometimes I include sleep on the homework list. Sometimes I even encourage students to go see a doctor and make clear that President Obama wants everybody who might have the flu to stay home. Everybody includes all of us in this class. You and me.

Students seem to appreciate the concern – even if they fail to follow this simple advice!

Anyway, if it’s true, I feel bad for any teacher who teaches class before lunchtime…

Cornflakes are something I reserve for a snack; honestly, the real nutrition there is mostly in the milk. Something with whole wheat or oats is a bit better, but you still need fruit and so on, and a little fat is necessary both for satiation and for the brain. I actually need to start doing better in the morning. I’ve gotten lazy again (whole-grain cereal and organic milk, and maybe a banana)…

As a child my parents made us eat fish just about everyday for breakfast and sometimes I feel a bit stupid about saying it, but I think it’s one of the reasons I have a really good memory.

I mean a really good one (oh that sounds like blowing trumpets but let’s put it this way I can remember images or emails for months or even years).

A while back I was having a conversation with a mother-friend of mine and she was complaining that her son was turning into the school bully. She was incredibly upset about this phase he was getting into – he was such a good kid and now having entered real school he kept acting up and even biting kids.

I said, being the non-Mommy type – all the other women who are mothers wouldn’t dare add their opinions (:-)), what’s the biggest change in your schedule.

She sighed.

We’re racing out of the house every morning. We grab a pretzel on the way to school – it’s all so hurried.

I told her about how my parents fed us fish. I said, well, it doesn’t have to fish but how about getting up early for a week or two and making the old fashioned type breakfasts that Mum’s used to make before cornflakes took over… you know, meat -eggs, porridge, fruit.

She was skeptical – or rather the other Mommies were (and one Daddy who insisted on the value of Special K)…

but she tried it.

It worked.

I mean it seriously worked. Her son is calmer, concentrated, enjoys school and stop bullying!!!

Anyway, those are my thoughts – enjoyed my visit to your blog and your thought-provoking (comment inspiring) post – I’ll definitely be back!

Karenne