A1: Summer Months, mind is fresh, mood is better, more exercise/activities, less snacking. Winter months, less natrl light, more tired, less thirsty, eyes hurt, etc...#gfedchat
A1: I do know that the absence of natural sunlight has a definite impact on mood which will impact learning. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real and we're prone to it up here....#gfedchat
A1: I do not know a lot, but I have anecdotal evidence. I have no windows in one of my rooms, and Ss (and myself) are left under fluorescent lighting. It’s hard to stay energized and motivated. #gfedchat
A1: I don't know a ton officially, but I know how a lack of sunlight impacts me and my productivity levels.... hint: lack of sunlight doesn't produce good results... #gfedchat
A1: I don't know much, actually ... I used to have an interior classroom, which definitely affected me (not knowing that it's sunny, rainy, snowy, etc.) #gfedchat
A1: Not much studying into it. I know it has a huge impact on kids and teachers. I don't have windows and can tell I need natural light sometimes #gfedchat
A1: I know that natural lighting is important for general well-being, mental health, and learning. Not sure about all the science behind it... #gfedchat
A2: YES! A ton! One entire wall of my class room is GIGANTIC windows! I love it! Almost too many tho... makes my smart board hard too see on sunny days! #gfedchat
A2: No, the office where I do most of computer work does not have windows. Very hard on my eyes. I usually move to the Library for natural lighting. #gfedchat
A2: It does have one in the corner! I have a killer view of the brick entrance! :) I moved from an interior room to this one ...further from the bathroom and English office, but it has a window! #gfedchat
A2: the entire outer wall is windows in my classroom. My former classroom had 2 small windows that didn't even open. I like my new room better! #gfedchat
A2: One of my classrooms has two gorgeous garden windows, and they greatly impact my Ss and myself. Another room has no windows, and Ss definitely complain. #gfedchat
A2: My classroom has windows that look into the library and the library has many large windows that let in natural light, so I get some light from those #gfedchat
Q3: Lots of teachers don’t have access to natural light in their classroom. How does this lack of natural light affect them throughout the day? #gfedchat
A3: Honestly I think I have gotten use to it over the years, but it is very refreshing to get outside or into the hallway by the library that is full of windows. #gfedchat
A3: Teachers spend less time in the hallways where they may find some natural light. Cooped up in the classroom. May affect mood and communication with Ss may suffer.
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A3: Lose track of what time it is, what season it even is, etc. Especially a bummer when you arrive in near-darkness and leave in near-darkness! #gfedchat
A3: It's depressing! The only good thing about it is Ss don't get distracted by scenery or snowfall, or others outside. . . other than that, having no windows is a HUGE drawback for everyone! Plants need light to grow; so do humans! #gfedchat
A3: I can certainly tell that days where I can't get out and get some light it gets really hard to concentrate and get things done towards the end of the day #gfedchat
A3: Difficulty concentrating, staying organized and on task. More daydreaming, not listening correctly, need to sit more, very tired. Lack of energy in the afternoon and just want to go lie down. Procrastinate more. #gfedchat
A3: I think lack of natural light makes the day drag on and the students seem more sleepy than those in a classroom with natural light. It also helps with the energy bill and being able to discuss weather with students. #gfedchat
A3: Difficulty concentrating, staying organized and on task. More daydreaming, not listening correctly, need to sit more, very tired. Lack of energy in the afternoon and just want to go lie down. Procrastinate more. #gfedchat
A3: I would think it would decrease motivation and energy. Possibly could make someone feel trapped or claustrophobic without any windows to see outside. #gfedchat
I purchased mine online for around $30 I think? It's pretty small...I like to use it at home in the morning when I'm getting ready and it's pitch dark outside! #gfedchat
In reply to
@buchhop25, @JVasichek, @Tweets_from_2nd
A3 My last room had no windows. It was tiring. I think it affected everyones mood. Now I have windows and I'm more motivated. The hardest was the winter when you come in the dark and leave in the dark. #gfedchat
A3: Even though windows to the outside can be distracting (people, snow falling, leaves falling etc.) I feel like it's a good distraction that helps me get back on track. #gfedchat
A4: Ss definitely complain. Some ask to go for walks to see outside, or comment on the brightness of the fluorescent lights. It’s never positive comments. #gfedchat
A4: Nothing directly but they have commented on how depressing it can be coming to school in the dark and leaving school after practice in the dark....#gfedchat
A4: Ss get anxious and sometimes down-right crabby. I think this is why everyone (Ts included) crave recess in the winter months. They need the sunshine to improve the classroom attitudes #gfedchat
A4: I can't say if I have ever heard students talk about that before. I imagine it affects them about as much as listening to @MrMcFarlane00 tell you a story for the 10th time. At least he adds something different every time! #gfedchat
A4: I honestly haven't heard kids mention much about it. I sometimes don't think they realize it because they are in the classroom for just one period at a time. #gfedchat
A4: being at the elementary level students still get recess. This can be seen though on days when the weather does not allow them to get outside, they can get restless. #gfedchat
A4: Maybe it would be a good class meeting/discussion about how sunlight & short days make us feel. Gives Ss insights to their own feelings & mental health. #gfedchat
A4: My Ss comment that they like how I keep only part of the fluorescent lights on vs all on (too bright) During nice weather they always want to have class outside! #gfedchat
Q4: My Ss haven't really mentioned it other than liking a large classroom so they're not so crowded! I do see them lying in the hallway near the doors with windows whenever they get the chance! I think naturally Ss gravitate towards light. Even their bodies KNOW! #gfedchat
A4: In previous years, I've had students who would constantly ask to go outside if their wasn't a window for them to look out from time to time. #gfedchat
A4: My 4th graders haven't ever really said anything...but after seeing what others are saying I am thinking some behaviors that I see may be due to lack of natural light #gfedchat
A4. My preschoolers haven't actually said how it affects them, but the school day gets long for everyone when we can't get outside-even with windows!
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A4: Also, most (if not all) elementary students have at least one recess each day. Our middle and high school kids don't get that typically...then if they don't have windows...ugh. #gfedchat
A4:I haven't heard Ss say anything about it. I never have the ceiling lights on in my room. I have 4 lamps& then a string of lights& we get some natural light from the library windows.Ss &other teachers have made comments that the lighting in my room is calming/relaxing #gfedchat
A4: Ss don't say too much, but when the blinds are open and the sun beams in they complain it's too bright - it's just something new! I keep the blinds open & have Ss move seats if the sun is too bright - it doesn't last long. #gfedchat
A3: Yes! I'm so thankful to have windows in my room! The students are definitely more awake when it's sunny outside. I am too! They want to be by the window and to soak it all in! #gfedchat
Yep! Turning the lights back on is usually a big groan followed by, "Can we just have one of them on? Or, can we just keep them all off?!?" "No, we cannot read our novel without any lights on ...." :) #gfedchat
Q4: My Ss haven't really mentioned it other than liking a large classroom so they're not so crowded! I do see them lying in the hallway near the doors with windows whenever they get the chance! I think naturally Ss gravitate towards light. Even their bodies KNOW! #gfedchat
A5: I notice Ss have the most energy when I pick them up for services. Once they’re in my room, they mellow out and will occasionally have a hard time concentrating. I try my best to keep the energy up in my room! #gfedchat
Q5: Our Ss rotate classes throughout the day; so fortunately experience some natural lighting throughout their day! There's nothing we can do about it; unless the district buys different bulbs! I don't know that I have time to notice this or that it's related to this!
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A5: Well I am starting to think that some of the tiredness and at times the lack of attention could be due to the the fact that there is no natural lighting in my classroom... #gfedchat
A5: I think students get grumpier and more tired. People need vitamin D and even the sunlight doesn't provide us with enough. At least it is something though. #gfedchat
Q5: I just figured they are teens being teens. Not sure if it has to do with sunlight. As long as they don’t end up like @pb4gfc waving his arms around and listening to kids make noises from their mouths, I can tolerate it. #gfedchat
A4: I always only have half of the lights on and that's the way they want it too. Today I had a headache so we had them all off with a few lamps on. #gfedchat
A5: I'm not sure what I'm seeing from Ss is a result of lack of natural lighting; or just what I can expect of Ss these days. Motivation, energy, mindset, tiredness...is it from something else out of my control? There are many factors at play here! #gfedchat
A5 Harder for my own kids to get up in the morning & harder to know when to go to bed...it's been pitch black outside since 5pm so 10pm doesn't seem much different! #gfedchat
A5: Definitely hard to determine whether "teen behavior" or lack of natural light is to blame for tiredness and difficulty concentrating/being motivated. #gfedchat
A5 The last 3 years I've had a window in my room. I've felt like I've had fairly well behaved kids the last few years. In my room with no windows I had my toughest years. Is it a coincidence or is it because of the windows? I don't know. #gfedchat
A3: I definitely need natural light each day! I try to get some sun each day, especially at lunch if I'm able to walk! affect you throughout the day? #gfedchat
A5: The students just seem worn out, but it is tough to tell if that is because they don't sleep or lack of sunlight. Likely a combination of both. If only the I had @MrMcFarlane00, a true beacon of light in this dim world, to brighten my classroom. #gfedchat
A5 That article is fascinating...not just natural sunlight but cold TEMPERATURES also lend to more mistakes. Must be why I dislike dark and COLD work environments. #gfedchat
A6: From edutopia The Science of Effective Learning Spaces https://t.co/1PSJ6QYCo1 has info on the blue light screens are students are often on! #gfedchat
A6: light good, dark bad. When we visit my parents in Florida over Christmas, the sunlight, blue skies, and direct heat from the sun INSTANTLY makes me happier. It’s like having a conversation with @pb4gfc#gfedchat
A6: From edutopia The Science of Effective Learning Spaces https://t.co/1PSJ6QYCo1 has info on the blue light screens our students are often on! #gfedchat
#gfedchat A6, I remember when I went to Ben Franklin elementary school, we used to go outside daily to read, do math workbooks, spelling. It made me much more focused and Lord knows I needed some help with that.
A6 Did you know that the sun sets at 5:22 pm on Jan. 1 in Grand Forks? But by Jan. 31, the sun won't set until 6:00pm! That's almost 40 minutes more of SUNLIGHT in just one month! #gfedchat
A6: I used to take my students outside to read or independent work - somehow, with all of the distractions out there they were more focused, and had more done. #gfedchat
A7: When there isn't snow we would sometimes go outside for lessons. Now that it is snowy I sometimes take the class to our sunny hallway by the library (but that can get a little noisy) #gfedchat
A7: During the warmer months, it is fun to go outside for some lessons. During the winter, make sure the students are getting outside for recess. #gfedchat
A7 When the weather is nicer, your classroom doesn't have to be the only place in which learning can occur. Reading? Read outside! Writing in journals? Write outside! #gfedchat
A7: Short, but frequent breaks; quick walk; water breaks; movement! Outside time when weather permits; rotation to classrooms with natural lighting during their day. #gfedchat
A7: Make sure, at the very least, you let the Ss move around in your classroom. Have them pretend they are running away from another @MrMcFarlane00 story, like those about his trips to sunny Florida! #gfedchat
A7 Even when it's cold outside, sometimes it's worth it to go outside for a short break...move, get bundled up, get some fresh air, sunlight, and all the activity to get unbundled. #gfedchat
TY to all who participated in the #gfedchat discussion tonight on “Natural Lighting in Education” moderated by @KristySandbeck & @SarahBoese
Please check out the next #gfedchat on Jan 8th when @bmhanson7 leads a discussion on “NEW YEAR READY.”
A7: Make sure, at the very least, you let the Ss move around in your classroom. Have them pretend they are running away from another @MrMcFarlane00 story, like those about his trips to sunny Florida! #gfedchat
