Term Paper on "What Is the Effect of Breakfast in the Classroom on Students' Attention Span?"

Term Paper 10 pages (3293 words) Sources: 6 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Breakfast in the Classroom on Students' Attention Span

THE INNER CONNECTION

Breakfast and Students' Attention Span

Attention span refers to the length of time a person can concentrate on a given idea, topic or subject (Dictionary.com 2007). A person's attention span is said to be abnormal if he cannot complete a thought or if he gets easily distracted by other stimuli (Medline Plus 2007). Causes may be attention deficit disorder or ADD, confusion, a mental illness or personality disorder. A normal attention span is necessary for learning. This led neuroscientists, educators, nutritionists, psychiatrists, geneticists and other experts to study the connection between a normal attention span and bodily conditions (Weiss 2001). Their study found that the brain's ability to learn and update current knowledge depends on the production of new brain cells. It meant that the mind and the body work together in keeping attention, solving problems and remembering solutions. It also meant that the condition of the body supports all mental efforts, including paying attention, in learning. According to Dr. Candace Pert of the Department of Biophysics and Physiology at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC, any thinking involves the participation of the whole body. A normal attention span affects learning. Bodily health affects that attention span, which determines learning. Bodily health, in turn, depends on nutrition. These experts noted that the brain is the hungriest organ in the body and that eating is its most powerful and affective stimulant. Psychiatry professor John Ratey of the Harvard Medical School explained how neurons burn and connect in the process of learning. The nerve growth factor and the brain-derived neuro-tropic factor facilitate the growth of neuronal connections between and among brain cells. These substances are released when the brain's cells are active. This happens when a person or student thinks, solves a puzzle or considers something. This happens when his attention span widens and intensifies. The brain gets hungry to learn how to manage information, which is fed to it in class. New learning happens at the cortex, specifically in that area called the association matrix. This enables the person to adapt to changing environments. When adaptation happens, the body makes more growth factor as the person continues to learn new things. Affecting one area affects many others. Thoughts continue to influence the body and the body continues to affect the mind and thought, according to Ratey (Weiss). Breakfast is the first meal of the day. Breakfast, therefore, largely determines all these occurrences in his body and in his brain. These occurrences in the brain include attention span and the entire process of learning each day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture studied the effects of eating breakfast on childhood learning, using target school districts and with the cooperation of the American Food School Service Association (Nation's Restaurant News 1999). With a funding of $6 million for the study's three-year schedule, it was to pursue the recommendation of the Association for a universal and free breakfast. The concept would provide a free breakfast to all students, regardless of economic status. The intention was to gather hard data on the relationship between eating breakfast and school performance. This was in reaction to the findings of researches conducted at Harvard and Tufts Universities that students who eat breakfast every day would tend to have higher grades, be less absent from class, are better able to concentrate and are more inclined to behave properly in class than those who do not eat breakfast (Nation's Restaurant News).

Article 1

But not any kind of breakfast will do. A nutritionally inadequate breakfast is just as detrimental to learning as no breakfast (Werbach 2005). Neither is it enough to consume an adequate amount of calories. There should be a proper balance of the nutrients the body needs to function optimally. Health experts agree that a nutritionally balanced breakfast helps improve learning in children who may be poorly nourished. Studies provided evidence that sugar intake could have negative effects on learning. One of these studies showed that normal preschool children who consumed 6 ounces of sweetened juice demonstrated lower class performance and problem behavior during free play. These were not observed when the juice had only an artificial sweetener. In addition, a significant increase in blood adrenalin levels after eating cupcakes at breakfast inclines children to be anxious, irritable and less able to concentrate (Werbach).

According to a separate study of 184 schoolchildren, aged 5 to 16, refined foods eaten during breakfast reduced reading performance (Werbach 2005). A related study of 150 schoolchildren, aged 5 to 16, pointed to cadmium as responsible. Findings revealed that eating refined low-nutrient breakfast increases the body's cadmium burden. Caffeine also affects learning. It may perk students up during exams, especially if they cram. But these seemingly beneficial effects may just be caffeine withdrawal symptoms themselves. Caffeine intake is characterized by increased anxiety, depression and other physical and emotional responses. This suggests that prolonged coffee drinking may be deleterious to learning. Surveys on college students found that heavy coffee drinkers performed less than those who abstain from coffee. Overall findings suggest that coffee stimulates a person who does not drink it regularly. This may have beneficial or harmful effects. It may help learning by raising alertness. Otherwise, it injures it by increasing anxiety. When coffee is taken regularly and beyond 5 cups daily, it is likely to impair learning, especially when the habit or intake is suddenly reduced or stopped (Werbach).

Article 2

Instant oatmeal at breakfast helps schoolchildren perform memory tasks better (School Administrator 2002). This was the conclusion reached by a study of cognitive performance conducted by Tufts University on schoolchildren, aged 9 to 11. More than 2/3 of the respondents showed improved memory tasks after eating instant oatmeal for breakfast, as compared to no breakfast at all. Psychology and nutrition professor Robin Kanarek of the Tufts University said that oatmeal's whole grain, high fiber and protein contents may be behind the improved spatial memory performance (School Administrator).

Article 3

Other studies provided evidence that the absence of breakfast can adversely affect a student's attention span and concentration in class (Jet 1997). Many families are unable to provide children with balanced meals, especially breakfast. An adequate breakfast includes juice or fruit and hot or cold cereal. Children who rush to school as their parents run for work may be eating convenience foods, such as muffins or tarts, for breakfast. These are high in fat and calories when eaten for breakfast. They contain refined sugar and processed flour, which have minimal or no nutritional value. Collective findings say that a healthy breakfast is critical to assuring that a child will have a fruitful day in school. It must be nutritious and filling to healthy. Parents must make sure that the foods they choose for their child's breakfast should contain no more than three grams of fat for every 100 grams of calories. Examples are yogurt, pancakes or waffles, and low-sugar dry cereal. Yogurt is good for schoolchildren rushing for school. Additives, such as fruit or low-fat granola, make it taste better. Pancakes and waffles are good as quick but tasty and nourishing breakfast. Low-sugar dry cereals are also good, hot or cold. No more than one or two teaspoons of sugar should be added. Parents should check the label for lots of sugar in the cereals. Dairy products, like milk and cheese, are good sources of energy, calcium and protein, especially for children. They may take chocolate milk instead if they do not drink regular milk. Eggs should be served only occasionally. They contain cholesterol in high levels, which may cause health problems (Jet).

Article 4

Statistics showed that 30% of Americans eat breakfast outside the home and half of these take the to-go type and in their cars (Liebman 1999). Cinnamon rolls, sausage biscuits, hash browns and bagels make up most of the breakfast served by famous fast-food outlets. These sugary junks hardly make breakfast the most important meal of the day. Although incomplete, current studies point to the importance of breakfast at least in the case of schoolchildren and their performance in class. A research group tested school children in a laboratory a few hours. Some of them had breakfast and some of them did not. Previous laboratory studies proved that students who skipped breakfast got poor grades on tests, which measured attention and their ability to distinguish among pictures. Ernesto Pollitt of the University of California at Davis said that poorly nourished school children in the U.S. And other industrialized countries would tend to suffer the serious effects of not eating breakfast. Eating breakfast would logically improve learning ability and learning requires a sufficient attention span. Other studies yielded different, even conflicting, findings from other age groups. Despite the lack of solid conclusions, psychologist David Schlundt of Vanderbilt University in Nashville believed that most people should eat breakfast. Breakfast foods are made of low fat and these keep them from getting very hungry for lunch and… READ MORE

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