With only three states explicitly including youth with disabilities within their sex education requirements, one can't help but be concerned that we have made little progress since Waxman (1994) stated that "No group in this country faces the sort of sexual and reproductive restrictions disabled people do; we are frequently [prevented from] learning about sexuality, …
Continue reading Teaching Sex Education to Young People With Disabilities
Health data is all around us, perhaps more so than at any other time in my teaching career. The never-ending stream of coronavirus data became addictive early in the pandemic but soon became a ghoulish fixation before I had to intentionally stop pouring over the numbers. However, with information on vaccination rates, plus news articles …
Whether I'm teaching health, or physical education, one thing is certain...my students want to learn more about mental health. The pandemic has tested their mental and emotional skills in the same way that it has for us as educators, and it's important that we address this situation. This blog post considers the role that schools …
This week's blog post is the first in a series of three posts from health educators working with Candor Health Education, an Illinois-based nonprofit organization that educates students, their trusted adults and communities on the topics of drug and sex education. I think you'll enjoy what Sandi Metcalfe has to say about the role that …
As women's sports advocate for greater recognition and support from mainstream media I have recently become more aware of powerful voices from female athletes and their allies than ever before. With the Tokyo Olympics almost upon us, our media feed runs the risk of once again being flooded with the quadrennial acknowledgement of women's sporting …
After a school year that challenged me more than any other, and brought me close to exhaustion, I closed my laptop (shed a tear) and turned my attention towards a summer of self-care. In addition to quality family time, listening to music, and riding my Peloton, reading is one of my favorite acts of self-care, …
As P.E. teachers and other K-12 school P.A. leaders head off for a well-deserved summer break and prepare to refresh and restore their craft for the “more normal” school year ahead, there are at least three opportunities for you to have a positive impact on kids in the fall. Some of the best P.E. leaders …
Continue reading 3 Crucial Jobs for P.E. Teachers that Aren’t in the Job Description
https://youtu.be/jMtC_7jkMRc To the Teacher Class of 2020/2021, Through the months of this pandemic, I have seen Health and Physical Education Teachers, Administrators, Association Boards, Lecturers, Professors come together like never before. Perhaps this shared common dilemma of meeting this historical moment with a combined mission of responding to a crises while maintaining a relevant learning …
What does it take to be and stay healthy? This past year has tested us all. It has taken the subject of health and made it a topic of discussion all day, every day.Yet many school districts have not seen health education as a top priority. The importance of Social and Emotional Learning has been …
Continue reading If Health Is a Priority, Then Health Ed Must Be a Priority
It all started in March 2020, my wife had to fly from our home in Hanoi to Bangkok for surgery. Due to covid, we knew we would not see each other again until at least the summer months. I was to be on my own throughout online learning for the rest of the year and …
People often look for new sources of health-related information, which are often aimed at behavior change. As you probably know, apps (i.e., applications) are software that can run on mobile devices. With increasing smartphone ownership, many users actively seek health information and app developers have responded by producing thousands of health-related apps. Nearly all smartphone …
Continue reading Health-related App Analysis Assignment through the Lens of Behavior Change Theories
April 1, 2021 The Well Family, 333 Panacea Avenue, PANGEA. WLD. 001 Re: Your children- Well, Ness (Grade 10A) and Well, Being (Grade 10B) Dear Well family, I write to advise the conclusion of investigations into the conduct of your children, Ness and Being. As advised in previous communications, these investigations were commenced in response …
Continue reading The Provocative Ponderings of a Perpetual Pessimist
As health teachers, we often feel like we are defending our subject matter because we are constantly advocating to help develop the whole child and their overall health. And, up until recently I felt the same thing. However, back in November I noticed a shift in my colleagues thought process because of the increased level …
Ask any teacher what their least favorite part of teaching is and the likely answer is “grading.” I know that’s my answer. I hate grading. Hate It! Hate It! Hate It! I used to spend hours writing lengthy comments only to learn that my students couldn’t read cursive handwriting. Then I worked to create specific …
While I sit in my covid bubble reflecting on Shape Up Illinois week 2021 and the ‘state of Physical Education and Health Education’ in the age of a pandemic, I am totally convinced that the time to become a Physical Education and Health Education advocate is now. I would venture to guess that the physical …
I probably don’t need to point out 2020 has been a challenge for all, or the 20-21 school year didn’t quite live up to hopes and expectations. A timeline of adapting to digital teaching, fast forward professional development to keep the head above water, and remaining in an unsatisfactory state of fluidity could top the …
I apologize to my classes all the time. I apologize because I can’t be the teacher that I know I am. I apologize because I know they are bored and I HATE IT. I apologize because while I am working my hardest to deliver meaningful, interesting information it is mediocre at best. I have been …
Passion drives learning.... I started teaching in 1986 as an 8th grader. I worked with special needs students in a gymnastics setting. I cried leading up to that first day as I was scared and nervous but my parents insisted I would be fine. I let my emotions decide before I tried, however, in retrospect …
If I had a student teacher or someone who was on their way to enter the field of health education, and they were looking for a piece of advice, what would I say? I know the tips I got were things like…. “know the curriculum”…“don’t work harder than the kids”… “don’t smile until Christmas”… “ …
"Was you a good boy or a bad boy?" It was clear that this young man in the making was attempting a “measure up.” Kids begin their comparison journeys very early and often begin assuming identities that may not be their own or truly unique to the individuals they are. And I don’t know how …
