I would like to take this opportunity to thank my former student, Jackson, for giving me the nudge I needed to start opening up my eyes. But first, let’s go back 20 some odd years in time. My principal had just returned from an administrative retreat. She called a meeting with the faculty to let …
I recently read a tweet where someone held the belief that period blood could be held in, just like urine. It reminded me that often if it’s not something you personally deal with, a person doesn’t get taught a lot about how menstruation works. Period education is for everyone. Regardless of your gender, regardless of …
On June 1, 2020, I woke up to the room spinning, with a headache that made me feel like my head was going to burst at the seams and a brain fog that clouded both my thoughts and memory. I didn’t think too much of it at that exact moment, so I put on my …
What do you do once you’ve returned home after an awesome conference? What should you do next to ensure that the post-conference ‘feels’ inspire you to get the most out of your trip? Here’s my list of 5 things to do to keep the fire burning. 1. Get Some Rest: If you maximized your time in New …
As health education becomes the latest target of sections of the community we have seen an increase in the number of attacks on the provision of comprehensive sex education, which somehow also seems to include attacks on SEL practices. As misinformation continues to be spread, it has left educators wondering how they can push back. …
Having set the scene at the start of the semester, explained the skills and topics we will cover together and the rationale behind teaching the way that I do, I provide my students with an opportunity to shape our curriculum. Now that you know the why and what we will cover in class this semester, …
Launched in 2020, over 100 educators and authors have joined in with the last two #microblog events here on slowchathealth.com and they have been a huge success, lasting a full month and featuring voices from across the globe. Sharing bite-sized blog posts of approximately 500 words, there have been submissions from experienced bloggers, first-time writers, …
Young people say they don’t use protection during oral sex. F.G. Trade/E+ via Getty Images Tammy Chang, University of Michigan; Arianna Strome, University of Michigan, and N'dea Moore-Petinak, University of Michigan The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Young people are largely unaware of the risk of contracting …
Since 2004 the Dove Self-Esteem Project. has worked with leading experts in the area of body image to develop evidence-based tools. Aiming to ensure that the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look—helping young people raise their self-esteem and realize their full potential. Through the Project, Dove has reached …
As a health teacher I have become the neighborhood "go-to" for questions and conversations about difficult parenting and care-giving conversations that need to be had with tweens and teens but still remain awkward. I don't mind embracing that role. After all, I've been teaching health education for so long that I have trouble remembering just …
Continue reading Three New Sexuality Education Books for 2022
Are you ready to invest in your future self? Shannon Casson, the author of this guest post believes in your potential so much that with the help of her transformative bike retreats for women, she is committed to helping you reach it. Her website states "Leave your 9 to 5 behind as you retreat into nature …
How often do you talk to yourself? Perhaps more often than you think. I don't mean long conversations with yourself, but those short statements to yourself at times when you are feeling vulnerable. If you've ever got nervous at the thought of presenting in front of a group and said to yourself "I've got this" …
I love to read, and I want my students to experience the joy of getting lost in a book, or the aha moment that comes when you recognize yourself in a character, or when you learn from a character’s experience that you are not alone. I discovered one way to accomplish this, even with reluctant …
Continue reading Implementing Social Justice Biblioguidance in the High School Classroom
When I was a young basketball coach I was influenced by the coaches who often caught my eye in the media, and they tended to be the loud, aggressive ones. The ones who picked up the coach technicals. And picked up chairs and threw them. The ones who shouted a lot...and I thought that that …
This is the 2022 #OneWord post - the 2025 version can be found here!! As we start a new year, there's much hope and promise ahead. Regardless of how the past year panned out, there's always a sense of potential in the months that lay ahead of us, and now is a great idea to …
As a teacher with many years of experience in the classroom, I've learned the power in reflecting on my practice in order to become better at what I do. Exit-slips, student surveys, feedback from my peers, and thinking about my day during my 70 minute commute all help me analyze and evaluate my teaching, allowing …
As we look to wrap up another year in which health dominated our lives thanks to the ongoing global pandemic, here's a look at the top 5 most read #slowchathealth blog posts. #1. Choosing Your #OneWord2021 was by far the most popular post of the year, perhaps because it followed a pattern of annual posts …
I've written before about how Instagram has become a place where I find thought provoking, ideal-for-the-classroom images, and braver voices sharing their ideas in ways that aren’t possible on Twitter. Their language, their imagery and their message speaks to Millennials and Generation Z and keeps me on my toes. I am toying with the idea …
It's that time of the year when my social media feed seems to be inundated with gift guides, and so with one eyebrow raised and with my tongue-in-cheek, here's my attempt at what a #slowchathealth gift guide might look like. If you're following me on social media you'll know that I coordinate a gift giving …
Regular readers to the blog will know how much I value the incorporation of movement into my classroom, harnessing it's many benefits to increase learning. I've presented on this at conferences across the country, and have blogged about it many times. As such, I'm always looking for ways in which to authentically add movement to …
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