“Hey, Coach! If you were going to punish us, how would you do it?” “Huh?” I glance up as one of my sophomores, new to the team, looks over the workout plan for the week. “Why would I punish you?” “You know, if we mess up.” (Full blown ‘I dare you grin’ here). “It’s not …
Unity. Solidarity. Togetherness. Kotahitanga is a mātauranga Māori concept that is prevalent everywhere and for everyone. Historically, kotahitanga has strong links to Māori people who may not have connections with hapu (extended families) or iwi (tribe usually made of several hapu). Kotahitanga is to unify and unite these Māori. Irrespective of your whakapapa (genealogy) and …
Continue reading Kotahitanga: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
1. Understanding Intersectionality in Health Education Intersectionality is a critical framework in health education that examines how various social identities (e.g., race, gender, class, sexuality) intersect to influence individual experiences of health and healthcare. By recognizing these overlapping identities, educators and policymakers can better address the nuanced needs of diverse populations. 2. The Role of …
Continue reading Intersectionality in Health Education: Leading with Love and Equity
There are many ways to ensure equitable experiences for all students in physical education. One effective approach is to remove or modify activities and games that involve eliminating students from play. Games that require students to sit out after not meeting a certain criteria, such as being tagged or dropping a ball, can induce feelings …
Have you ever heard of TED? Thyroid Eye Disease. Maybe from the latest commercial about medication for TED? If not, you’re in the right spot. My Mother, 57, lives with TED, a condition that has developed from her Grave’s Disease. This disease went undetected for 52 years, 2 years into being a first time grandmother. …
We have heard time and time that social media is bad for teens and causes depression and anxiety despite the lack of evidence supporting this fact. Even the Surgeon General in 2023 stated the lack of robust evidence stating social media was the cause of teens’ mental health issues. Motivation is a critical factor in …
I'm thankful for my SEVENTY minute commute to school (NINETY on the journey home), because it's ‘me’ time. This time in my car, away from the demands of my family, is where I do my best thinking, my best lesson planning and get some of my best free professional development through podcast listening. I'm always …
Continue reading Podcast Picks: 5 Episodes That Deserve Your Attention
This week in Physical Education class, I posted a question on the projector for the students to see and reflect on. The question is, "What can you say to yourself that will help you overcome something in life that is challenging to you?" The goal is for students to learn how to overcome obstacles, whether …
The gaming community needs to be aware of the importance of getting up and moving during video game play, staying active when not gaming, and doing active stretches regularly. This is important for all gamers no matter what competitive level (i.e., rank) or age. Gamers need to be aware of how long they are sitting. …
Caffeine is a well-known stimulant substance used by athletes, students, and workers to provide an energy boost and enhance alertness throughout the day. However, while caffeine offers some positive effects, it can also cause negative side effects as well. With the massive growth of esports – i.e., organized competitive video gaming (Jenny et al., 2017), …
As the landscape of education rapidly evolves, staying relevant and supportive of our teachers and students requires continuous evolution. Because of this, SHAPE America and our state AHPERD organizations need to start actively embracing change to ensure progress, membership, and inclusivity. If we want change, we need to make change. Here are three suggestions: Affordability …
Are you feeling as weary as I am? Lately, it seems my words, whether in blog posts or tweets, are increasingly critical and politically charged. And who can blame us? In the midst of an election year, our choices boil down to two problematic, out-of-touch, geriatric white men. It's a disheartening reflection of the state …
In my opinion, students need positive rewards now more than ever! Surely, you can make an argument about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation…. but that's for another blog post. All I know is that I love my job, but I wouldn't work for free! So, with that said, how can we motivate students to do the …
If you are anything like me, you are always looking for new ideas, strategies, activities, and/or methodologies that foster holistic development in students. Several years ago I was in a professional rut and could not stand the feeling, so I made a conscious decision to step out on a journey to change how I was …
The greatest threat to public health is the way we live, and the systems which influence our choices. People, institutions prioritize convenience and the unfortunate norms of modern life, wrap them in the generous title of ‘efficiency’ and unintentionally degrade the experience – the existence – of those we would like to see succeed. Schools …
The unique skill set educators hold making them capable elected officials. Izzy Gogarty is a full-time Middle School Health Educator in Middlebury, Vermont, and at night, Izzy heads to Town Hall to serve on her seven-person Selectboard. At twenty-three years old, Izzy was elected to her seat following a successful political campaign supported by her …
(For those of you counting at home, even the title is seven words.) Don't do it! This might be from the “advice that is easier to give than to take” category. It's unfortunate, but there are people who will go out of their way to ruin our fun. Kids in school can be mean sometimes, …
Whether at home, in healthcare, the classroom, or the workplace the importance of self-advocacy is undeniable. However, even for an adult, self-advocating isn’t always easy. The ability to “speak-up for [ourselves] and the things that are important to [us]” is a necessary life skill. As young people’s trusted adults we can both teach and model …
For nearly fifty years, schools have turned to Candor Health Education (formerly The Robert Crown Center for Health Education) to educate their students on puberty and sex education. For decades, the vast majority of schools have selected 5th grade as the year for puberty education, with many schools waiting until the very end of 5th grade to …
Continue reading Puberty is Starting Earlier – Kids Need the Facts Earlier Too
Though the opioid epidemic has been well publicized, the landscape of this epidemic is ever evolving and changing; and ultimately the prevalence of these harmful drugs persists. So how do we support our young people in developing an awareness and understanding of the dangers of opioids? Increased education. It appears that young people are more …
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