There's definitely a difference between the educator interaction on Twitter and that on Facebook, and recently a teacher on the latter put out a call for resources that I retweeted on Twitter. Within an hour, the resources shared were so great, I had to drop them all in this short blog post so that it …
This is my 6th year of choosing a #OneWord to guide me through the year ahead. The theory behind this idea is that our guiding word points us towards the type of person that we want to become.
Reflecting on the previous year before setting goals, or in my case choosing my #OneWord for the year, is important if we want to do it right. This year I am being more intentional in my end-of-year reflection so that I can set myself up for success for next year. Joey Feith reflects by identifying …
Cold and flu season is here, and do I know it? Despite having already had my flu shot, and promoting germ hygiene at my school and at home, I always chuckle when I, the health teacher, fall victim to these pesky viruses. At my school, seasonal healthy habits are promoted in the health classroom and …
Inspiring teachers can be found most places, and they don't have to be veterans of the classroom to be someone from whom you can learn. I first met this week's guest blogger in my role as Health rep for my state organization where she served as President for the IAHPERD Council for Future Professionals. Rachel …
Continue reading Operation: Do Something to Make Someone Smile Today
Instagram has proven to be a refreshing way for me to see the work of health and sexuality service providers and I am inspired by some of the creative images and resources that they share. If you are on Instagram you should check out accounts such as @resiliencechi, @icahgram, @nobodywantstoseeyourdick, @ourmusicmybody and @betweenfriendschi. This weeks …
Teaching is all about relationships, and relationships with students are crucial, even once they have moved on from your classroom. I am delighted that the latest 'Student Voice' guest blog post comes from a student who I last had in class 3 years ago. We have kept in touch as she has transitioned from high …
December sees the launch of the second #slowchatgiftx winter gift exchange. A twitter gift exchange with 60 educators from across North America signed up to take part in a feel-good activity that will see them paired up with another educator with whom to share a gift up to a value of $20. If you follow …
A growing national concern for adolescent health is the use of e-cigarettes, often referred to as vaping or JUULing (for a popular brand name). In just a few short years, there has been a dramatic increase in teen use of these devices, and my school is no exception. The latest data from our own YRBS …
Students continue to report high stress levels with academics, social and parental pressure, juggling extra-curricular activities and post high school plans all impacting their lives on a daily basis. While we hope that they manage their stressors in a healthy way, we know that some of their coping mechanisms are less healthy. I am delighted …
We all have our favorite lessons to teach and this might be mine. With students working in small groups, big groups, collaborative work, research, some kinesthetic instruction and an engaging use of technology, there's something here for everyone. Assigning Students an STI Sit students in groups of 9. Print and cut out multiple sets of …
Habits are formed by repeating a behavior enough times to become automatic, and for two reasons healthy habit formation has been on my mind a lot this week. The first reason is the recent release of Atomic Habits by James Clear, a book that is so impressive, and of such crossover potential for #HealthEd teachers we …
You don't have time to seek out new podcasts, I get it. Well, I do have time during my 70 minute commute. And that's on a good day! I've previously shared Podcast & Chill Part 1 and Part 2, two posts inspired by the good people at Podcast Brunch Club, (think book club but for podcasts). In …
Interactive experiences in the #HealthEd classroom are always a hit, and this Sexually Transmitted Infections Dice Game from Andy Horne is no exception. This post originally appeared four years ago on another blog that Andy and I ran and it continues to be extremely popular, and so it's time to dust off the dice and …
As we enter conference season - at least SEVENTEEN state conferences between now and the end of next month - I thought I would share a creative way to increase the visibility of your event and easily provide all presenters and attendees with the opportunity to share your brand. I've shared on Twitter in the …
Nancy Reagan's 1982 "Just Say No' campaign reached far and wide, even landing on my radar as a 12 year old (I'll let you do the math). However, despite its catchphrase and good intentions, the evidence suggests that telling students to 'just say no' is ineffective and, coupled with scare tactics about the dangers of …
We all know that active students are more engaged in school and that activity can help our students academically. October sees another event that encourages our school community to be more active. International Walk to School Day is held every October in most countries*. It is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries …
This weeks post shares an update of a food label game that I created and blogged about in 2014. It's a game that was very successful in my classroom at the time and I think many teachers will like it. I played a game as a child called Top Trumps, a card game that was …
One of the joys of teaching #HealthEd is that it is such a dynamic topic. I don't think any one year has been the same as another, in fact every semester has been different for me. As society ebbs and flows, health topics become du jour and the media jump on the latest headline grabbing …
With the return to school completed, some of us will be still be running on the adrenaline rush from the start of the school year - new faces, implementing new ideas, and the chance to grow as an educator. However, as the night get shorter, the temperature drops and we get more school weeks under our belts it's inevitable that stress will creep into our lives. For that reason I'm delighted to welcome Caroline Black back for another guest blog.
#slowchathealth 