I'm delighted that this guest blog post comes from Alex Bocian an educator who I had the pleasure of meeting at #SHAPETampa. My conversation with him was one of the highlights of the week for me as we talked about service dogs, their training and the roles that they can play for their handlers. It …
In the final week of this school year I tried something new with my #PhysEd class that was extremely successful and I owe it all to the virtues of being a 'Connected Educator' and my global PLN. The best part of introducing the Maori game of 'Tapuwae' to my students is that I can trace …
Just as our #PhysEd peers battle the old image of gym teachers, climbing ropes, playing dodgeball and bullying students, we too as health teachers have to push back against the perception that others have of what it is exactly that we do. I reached out to teachers to ask what misperceptions people have of health …
Summertime is the time for me to read books. Yes, real, sniffable, hold them in your hands and try not to bend the spine too much, books. My morning commute during the school year is filled with podcast listening, but with good weather forecast for the next few months I'm excited to update last years …
If you are discussing the subject of students and appropriate phone use in the classroom, you'll love what Allisha Blanchette has to say in this week's #slowchathealth guest blog post. Like you, I have been there, teaching my students to identify the fine line between appropriate use and distractions that can hinder learning. Allisha's journey …
Podcasts as a medium continue to flourish and there's more content for the #HealthEd teacher than ever before. I should know, I get to listen to 70 minutes worth of podcast audio on my commute to school every morning! I’ve previously shared Podcast & Chill Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, posts inspired by the good people …
Irrespective of the health model that you use in class, you can't escape the fact that mental health is intertwined with all other aspects of health. Historically teachers might have taught 'about' the topic of mental health, but we know students learn best when we take a more holistic approach, seeing the connections between health …
Who is talking to teens about pornography? Are you? Do you have a stance on the issue? Parents are hoping that teachers are talking about this, and teachers are hoping that parents are. With parents and teachers both avoiding the P-O-R-N conversation, there is no doubt that there is a need to give kids the …
Continue reading To be anti-porn or not to be, that is the question?
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 followed my advice from last …
As a fan of classic hip-hop, and someone who was actually listening to Run DMC in real time (yes, I was old enough to purchase my own music in the early 80's) you can guess how excited I was to be present at the #SHAPETampa keynote delivered by Darryl McDaniels. His story is powerful and the …
If you want valid and reliable #HealthEd information to come to you, click here and ‘subscribe’ to some of these great organizations, sit back and watch your inbox fill up with resources that can be used immediately or saved for another day. Many of these free subscriptions can be refined to reflect your needs, or …
When tragedy hits we feel many emotions, and each of us deals with that tragedy in their own way. Feelings of anger, confusion and isolation are common and yet the way in which our community reacts can define us. As my PLN, comprising mostly of educators, came together to show support for those affected by …
We are just weeks away from the biggest conference of the year and I am getting very excited for #SHAPETampa, which will be the fourth time that I have attended the SHAPE America National Convention. I’ll be presenting once, attending some meetings, focusing on the #HealthEd lineup, checking out anything assessment-related....and of course meeting up with as …
World Sleep Day 2020 occurs on Friday March 13th and is the 13th annual celebration of sleep and raising awareness of the health and societal value of getting sufficient sleep. Sleep medicine professionals, researchers and teachers alike face the same beliefs that sleep is not important enough in personal health and well-being to be a …
One of the most popular blog posts on #slowchathealth are the oh-yes-you-really-have-to-watch-these-documentaries-on-Netflix posts. So it's time for an updated list of 'must-watch' shows on everybody's favorite subscription service. Again here’s a list of 9 documentaries that have a #healthed slant to them that I’m sharing for you to view. Some I’ve seen, the rest are …
Continue reading 9 Netflix Documentaries to Watch This Spring (2019)
Do transgender and gender-expansive students feel seen, safe and supported in your puberty and health ed classes? This week's blog post comes from @genderspectrum who today released new “Principles for Gender-Inclusive Puberty and Health Education.” You can use the principles without changing your current curriculum. Find the principles, FAQs for educators, and more at this …
Continue reading Life-Affirming for All, Life-Saving for Some
One highlight of my job as a high school teacher is having conversations with young adults. My students give me hope with their questions, their deep reflections, their aspirations and also with the stories that they share. Witnessing my students develop their voice and use it to shape a narrative, advocate for causes about which …
Slowchathealth is venturing into something new, and exploring another social media platform. Up until now you have found us at slowchathealth.com, and you may have seen the fundraising initiative that raises money for health and physical teachers via sendateacher.com. If you are on Instagram you may have stumbled across this account, and if you can't …
Advocating for the subject that we love, is an important role that we can all play and I am delighted that this week's blog post is written by an educator and passionate advocate for whom I have nothing but the utmost respect. Read about Jamie Spark's journey from the classroom to roles at a state …
What is your favorite quote about your subject? The one that you've got printed and pinned above your desk, or on a coffee mug...or tattooed on your arm. As a #HealthEd teacher I'll suggest to my students that "The greatest wealth is health" or ask them "Without health what are we?". I used to …
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