| Z-Z-Z: The Benefits of Napping |
Ahhhhhhhh!  | |
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Nappers unite! There is now good
scientific evidence to justify the drowsy habit that many of us
indulge in on weekends and would like to practice during the workday
or school day! A study done at the University of California,
Berkeley, by a team headed by Matthew Walker, focused on whether napping prior to learning helps
us store information better. (Many studies have been done to assess
the effects of sleep after learning.) The study used two
groups of healthy young adults. Each group had two learning sessions,
but one group took a 90-minute snooze in between the sessions. When comparing changes from the first learning session to the second, the
better rested group improved their ability to learn by 10%, while
the group that did not nap saw its performance decline by 10%.
Conversely, the more hours we spend awake, the more sluggish our
minds become, according to the findings. The results
support previous data from the same research team that pulling an
all-nighter - a common practice at college during midterms and
finals
- decreases the ability to cram in new facts by nearly 40%,
due to a shutdown of brain regions during sleep deprivation.
These findings suggest that napping
frees up space in the part of our brain known as the hippocampus, a
sort of reservoir for short-term information. In order for that
information to survive, it needs to move to the cortex where
long-term memory is stored. This important transfer of information
occurs during sleep thereby, the scientists hypothesize, freeing up
space in the hippocampus for new learning. "It's as though the e-mail inbox in your hippocampus is
full and, until you sleep and clear out those fact
e-mails, you're
not going to receive any more mail. It's just going
to bounce until you sleep and move it into another
folder," Walker said. So the next time you feel
the urge to nap, know that both your body and mind will benefit. To read the University of California, Berkeley study, click here.
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Exercise and Academic Excellence
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Now that we have touted the benefits of napping, we shall sing the praises of exercise!
With so many baby
boomers on the cusp of their golden years, there has been a lot of
press recently about how exercise can help delay cognitive decline in
the elderly, but Charles Hillman, a neuroscientist at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign decided to turn his attention to
early intervention on the other end of the age spectrum. Hillman took
7-10 year olds and measured their brains' electrical signals.
"After exercise, kids have greater amounts of attention, respond
more correctly to decisions, and perform more efficiently," Hillman
explains. Even sporadic aerobic exercise boosts children's
cognitive performance, regardless of their weight, level of fitness,
or academic standing. In a 2009 study of elementary school children
Hillman's findings showed that even "a single 20-minute,
moderately intensive walk led to improved accuracy, memory, and
attention one hour later. It also improved reading comprehension." Hillman is understandably a proponent
of keeping physical education in the school curriculum. He argues
that the time spent exercising does not take away from the school
day, but rather enhances the academic achievement of students. An
hour spent in the gym translates into an equal amount of work done.
We as parents should also model active lifestyles for our children so
that they will learn healthy habits early on and continue to reap the
benefits of exercise throughout their lives. Make healthy choices by
taking the stairs instead of the elevator or biking to the park
instead of driving. We and our children will be better off for it. |
Toastmasters: Promoting Public
Speaking Skills
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 Fear of public speaking (also know as
glossophobia)is often ranked among the most common phobias,
right along with fear of spiders. Whether you are a student making a
class presentation, an employee updating co-workers on departmental
developments, or a public relations professional running a press
conference, everyone experiences a certain amount of nervousness
before and during these situations. Such nervousness is natural and
can even boost one's performance-but too much anxiety can
undermine the presentation.
Toastmasters International is a
non-profit organization dedicated to developing public speaking and
leadership skills through practice and feedback. Founded in Santa
Ana, California in 1924, it currently boasts clubs in more than 100
countries. Its members meet frequently, sometimes as often as weekly,
to hone their speaking skills through prepared speeches or by
answering impromptu questions where no preparation is necessary. Participation in these activities is completely voluntary. The
philosophy of Toastmasters is very welcoming and positive. There is
never any pressure to deliver a speech, and one can become involved
at meetings in other ways such as being a timekeeper or "grammarian."
Members' speeches are critiqued by the audience with emphasis on
accentuating the positive while also offering tips for improvement. Being a Toastmaster provides many benefits. Clearly, polishing
your public speaking skills can help you both professionally and
socially. But you will also learn organizational and time management
skills (many key events at meetings are timed), speech writing
techniques, and parliamentary procedure.
Toastmasters membership dues are very
reasonable and meetings are generally open to the public, although
there are some "closed" clubs affiliated with companies where you
must be an employee to be eligible to join. In addition, some
Toastmasters clubs offer Youth Leadership programs that are open to
teenagers aged 13-18. Teenagers can learn from more experienced
members how to overcome anxiety, build self-confidence, and become
more engaging speakers. They can then apply their newfound skills to
a variety of settings including college or job interviews, in-class
presentations, or the debate team.
For more information about this
organization and the location of local chapters, visit the
Toastmasters International website at www.toastmasters.org.
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Is Your School Interested in Offering a Test Prep Course?
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Since 1992 A+ Test Prep has offered PSAT, SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE test preparation courses at schools throughout the Delaware Valley.
We also offer free proctored ACT and SAT exams at local schools upon request.
For more information please contact Daniel Ascher, M.Ed. at 215.886.9188. |
Free Proctored ACT and SAT
Practice Exams in Wynnewood, PA
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Mark your calendars! Due to the popularity of our free proctored exams, we are once again offering free, no-obligation, proctored ACT and SAT practice exams. The exam is open to current students and to members of the community.
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010, 10:00 AM-2:15 PM
Location:
Penn Wynne Library
130 Overbrook Parkway
Wynnewood, PA 19096
Tests Offered: ACT and SAT Proctored Practice Exams
This is a great opportunity for students to take the SAT under actual test-like conditions prior to sitting for the "real" thing. Students will receive a detailed score report which includes an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses on the exam.
These tests are offered by A+ for free, on a no-obligation basis--no strings attached!
Space is limited, though, so call our office today at 215.886.9188 or 610.520.0537 to register.
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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Run for Global Children's Health 2010
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 Nearly
30,000 young children die every day due to malnutrition. That number
reaches nearly 10 million in just one year. CHOP Global Health has set
out to make a difference.
On Sunday May 2, supporters of these children will be
participating in the first ever Children's Run Around the World, in
order to raise desperately needed funds for the world's most vulnerable
children.
The Children's Run Around the World team members are all
reaching for the same goal in their first truly global fundraiser as the team will be doing activities in many different countries.
Supporters will be running in CHOP's backyard in the Broad Street Run (10 miles
through the heart of Philadelphia) and in other countries (Botswana,
Chile, and the Dominican Republic). Funds will
support the Niņos Primero en Salud nutrition program in the Dominican
Republic which provides nutritional supplements (rice, beans, powdered
milk, peanut butter and other nutritious foods), health care visits and
intensive education services to families of young children.
For more information on how you can contribute to this worthwhile cause, please visit CHOP 2010 Team Global Health. |
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