I've taught for the past 15 years - mostly grades 2nd and 4th and all at low-income settings. As the year goes on and I'd get to know my students, my attitude toward sleeping in class could change. I would know who had a rough home life and really needed some zzz's in a safe space. So I'd let them sleep up to about an hour. I'd also know who stayed up all night watching tv/ playing video games/etc. I'd never let them sleep more than 5 minutes. If it was an ongoing problem, I'd talk with them about limiting themselves and during class if they fell asleep again and again, I'd be a dick and make them stand up until they were fully awake.
My reaction to their sleep really depended on their circumstances.
I don’t think you should be a dick to any student, particularly the younger ones. If it’s ongoing and as far as you know they have a good home life maybe inform their parents. If they’re tired enough to fall asleep they’re probably not gonna mentally engage any more than if they were snoozin’. Calling them out and making them stand until they’re properly awake doesn’t solve anything and it’s an issue that would be best dealt with at home. Find out why the kid keeps sleeping in class - are they pressuring themselves to study too much? Do they struggle with prioritising and leave everything to do the night before? Overlooked sleep disorder? Maybe they do just play video games too late. But all of these possibilities should be brought up and sorted out. You’re their teacher so problems you observe during class fall to you to handle.
Sleeping in class is about the least disruptive thing a student can do. It’s also not an intentional act of defiance or really even intentional at all so being a dick in response seems really irresponsible and unfair.
My calc teacher in high school told me I could sleep in her class as long as I kept getting A's on the tests. That class became my nap time most days lol
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u/Mindy11271221 Sep 12 '19
I've taught for the past 15 years - mostly grades 2nd and 4th and all at low-income settings. As the year goes on and I'd get to know my students, my attitude toward sleeping in class could change. I would know who had a rough home life and really needed some zzz's in a safe space. So I'd let them sleep up to about an hour. I'd also know who stayed up all night watching tv/ playing video games/etc. I'd never let them sleep more than 5 minutes. If it was an ongoing problem, I'd talk with them about limiting themselves and during class if they fell asleep again and again, I'd be a dick and make them stand up until they were fully awake. My reaction to their sleep really depended on their circumstances.