I was a weird kid. Not like, put spaghetti on my head during dinner just to get a laugh weird; more like asking my mom random questions that she didn’t see coming weird. Take for example, the time I asked her what semen was. My poor parents. Cornered by a child who wouldn’t stop asking questions. I asked my mom questions about pubic …
Understanding of adolescent decision making has moved beyond simple “age differences in risk perception and reasoning” to include relevant social and emotional factors that directly inform when and how adolescents make decisions about everything from substance use to condom use.[i] Adolescence is defined as the period between which “physiologically normal puberty” initiates and adulthood begins.[ii] Though …
Continue reading Just Because They Can, Doesn’t Mean They Do
The key to having a good day, one where you hit (most) of your goals and are at your best for yourself and others is having an effective morning routine. While I envy those who exercise first thing in the morning, journal in a coffee shop, and make bullet-lists of things to achieve, I think …
At GraphicMedicine.org one of the first things you'll see is the definition: "Graphic Medicine ... explores the interaction between the medium of comics and the discourse of healthcare." The Graphic Medicine exhibit at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) opens with: "Graphic medicine is the use of comics to tell personal stories of illness and …
Continue reading EIEIO – Graphic Medicine in Old McDonald’s Classroom
Six years ago, I was at a new school and I was struggling to make a connection with a student in one of my classes. I was trying multiple different things and I simply couldn’t break through. Then, I saw her with a book, and I knew exactly what I needed to do. Fast forward …
Imagine a classroom full of 8th graders knitting. I realize it’s a tough picture to visualize, but it’s a reality in my classroom. Read on for my story of bringing knitting to my 8th grade health classes with a curricular connection and how you can bring your passions to your health classes! My Story - …
It takes effort, time and money to attend workshops and conferences. Sometimes our lives prevent us from being able to attend for these reasons. I go to stay relevant. Here are my top three reasons you should attend a workshop or conference. To Learn The main reason to attend any professional development is to learn …
Continue reading Top 3 Reasons To Attend Workshops & Conferences
Since the pandemic we have seen an alarming increase in children experiencing anxiety and stress along with a decrease in positive social-emotional response. During the pandemic children were taught virtually with little to no in- person social interactions with children their own age. This has led to a rise in children struggling to self-regulate and …
Continue reading Students in Action: Mental Health Awareness & Practicing Mindfulness
What divides us, becomes us. The case for teaching all during puberty health education. As young people in the US mature in an increasingly non-binary world, rife with other idealogical deepening divides, the question of whether or not to separate genders when teaching puberty is a consideration of whether or not to take a giant …
In the Journal of School Health research article Unusual Suspects: The People Inside and Outside of School Who Matter in Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Efforts by Karen Pittman, MA; Deborah A. Moroney, PhD; Merita Irby, MPP; Jill Young, PhD, the WSCC model is explored regarding collaborative health education. The Whole School, Whole Community, …
Continue reading Enhance Classroom Instruction with Community Sex Education Professionals
At Rototuna Senior High School (RSHS), we aspire to “empower our people to be connected, collaborative, community-minded learners who are inspired to soar”. To this end, we teach modules that are collaborative. This involves two subjects sharing a context, knowledge and skills to help deepen students' understanding of the curriculum. Thomas and McDonagh (2013) believe …
For most of my life, video games have played a major role. From a young age, video games have been a key part of my hobbies, online content consumption, and identity. When I was 6, my dad handed down his SEGA Genesis, a gaming console released 13 years prior, with a copy of Sonic the …
Continue reading Teacher and Stress Reliever: From Sonic to Valorant
Esports players are consistently in front of a screen, oftentimes for long durations. I know when I was little my parents always said, “Don’t sit that close to the TV!” In my undergraduate studies I have had the pleasure of taking a class called Introduction to Esports taught by Dr. Seth Jenny. In this class …
Continue reading The Relation Between Esports/Gaming and Increased Sleep Disturbances
The relationship between esports and energy drinks has existed as long as the sport itself. Esports are organized video game competitions (Jenny et al., 2017). Just this past weekend I was watching a Super SmashSonic the Hedgehog Bros. Ultimate tournament that was sponsored by Red Bull. This, however, is not a strange occurrence in the …
Continue reading The Dangers of Energy Drink Sponsorship in Esports
“As a student-athlete, there are three main areas of life: 1) academics, 2) athletics, and 3) social life. But, you can only really do two of those three areas well! Which two do you think are most important?” I heard this stated by an NCAA Division 1 athlete guest speaker as I attended a cross …
Continue reading Technology and Life Balance: The Case of Esports
Joy. Providing students with meaningful experiences during physical education it's been a goal of mine this year. I have been learning, reading, and trying different ways to do that for the past few years, and one of the things that stuck out to me was to bring joyful experiences. I would like to thank the …
Continue reading The Power of Meaningful and Joyful Experiences
For the last twenty years I’ve focused my professional life on pedagogical change. First, mine and now other peoples and mine. For the last twelve years (or four thousand, six hundred and twenty-three consecutive days to be precise [as of 3rd May 2022]) I’ve reflectively journaled on that change. The key thing I think I’ve …
I’m walking on my Peloton treadmill in another class by an instructor that I’ve grown to like. He is young, energetic, engaging, and very humorous. He speaks with real honesty and seems very down to earth. His expressions, and mannerisms exude such warmth making our warmup less of a warmup and more like a simple …
I want to start out by sharing that I am by no means an expert on the topic of sketchnotes and visual note-taking. However, if you are anything like me and are constantly looking for new strategies to try with your students then sketchnotes might be worth a try. For several years I’ve tried to …
In my health classes I teach about stress relief. After having 3 children of my own, I realized that I needed to practice what I preach. I needed something for me, something to help relief stress. The first thing I started doing was origami. I did teach this practice in my health classes. It was …
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