Esports, or organized competitive video gaming (Jenny et al., 2017), have proven to be a global phenomenon that attracts millions of players and audiences. The esports industry is massive, with professional tournaments offering multi-million-dollar prize pools and streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube enabling influencers and talented gamers a full-time income (Ahn et al., 2020). …
If you are under the age of 45 years old, you have probably been there: hours spent glued to the screen, trying to “level up” in a favorite video game or competing for that top high score or ranking. But while you were focused on your gaming skills, there’s something that was likely ignored: your …
Continue reading Sit Up, Game On: How Gamer Posture Can Make or Break Your Health
In the rush of daily life, school drop-offs, work meetings, dinner prep, washing, and a never-ending to-do list, it's easy to let "playtime" fall to the bottom of the priority pile. But what if we told you that playing together as a family could be the most impactful thing you do for your family's health, …
Continue reading Press Pause and Play: The Family Habit That Changes Everything
In most multi-activity curricula, when asked “what are we doing today?” the all too familiar response is “games, or aquatics, or dance and so on”. These activities are therefore “the organising centre” of your physical education programme. These are the ‘things’ we plan our lesson around them, it is the skills and techniques of these …
Continue reading Making it Count: Organizing PE Around What Really Matters
Have you ever considered the cultural backgrounds of the students you teach? As an educator, I have come to realize that considering the cultural backgrounds of students is not just beneficial but essential in creating an inclusive and effective learning environment. My experiences teaching in International Schools have profoundly shaped my perspective on this matter. …
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Chinese Proverb A journey of discovery is rarely paved in a straight line. We have all been down that long, winding path before, pulling us towards the unknown. When Robert Frost wrote about “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,” he was telling us …
Make It Stick is the best education book I have ever read. The reason I love this book so much is because it so intimately connects to skills-based health education and has changed my teaching strategies forever. Peter Brown, Henry Roediger, and Mark McDaniel explain complex neuroscience in a digestible and novel way and I …
Continue reading Make it Stick in the Health Education Classroom
Preface: Although we write this blog from a Canadian perspective, we know that this topic is relevant within the American landscape as well. We recognize the complexities that currently exist advocating for and implementing inclusive sexual health education. Teacher Educator Perspective (Alexandra Stoddart) While it has many names, sexual health education (also known as sexuality …
“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” - Paul Brandt This weekend*, treat yourself. Step outside. Admire the full moon, the May full moon which is known as the Flower Moon. It will appear full all weekend and peak on Monday. The name comes from the blooms that appear in …
It all started at the NYSAHPERD conference, where the one and only Andy Milne was delivering a keynote speech. As he enlightened the crowd with his motivational words, he shared a powerful thought about being a rebel educator. A few seconds later, I received this text from a rockstar colleague (Jessica Butts) from a neighboring …
Professional development doesn’t always have to come from a conference or a new book. Sometimes the best inspiration is already in your pocket—literally. Like many teachers, I’m a collector of great ideas. I hit save on Instagram posts that inspire me. I pin classroom strategies and eye-catching infographics to Pinterest boards I haven’t visited in …
Almost all I think about these days is class culture, and I know I am not alone. For me, this means a culture that builds trust, embraces confusion, encourages attention and sparks curiosity and joy, After 30+ years as a high school English teacher, creating and sustaining this culture is simultaneously more difficult and more …
Art is a powerful tool for cultivating health and well-being. Students can explore complex issues, express emotions, and advocate for positive change by creating, performing, and responding to art. This process fosters critical thinking, health-enhancing behaviors, and effective communication, essential skills that support our health and wellness. Analyzing Influences In a world of constant connectivity, …
Continue reading Fostering Deeper Connection: Art’s Impact on Health Education
As educators of Health, whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, it’s common to encounter adults in the community who have little understanding of what occurs in a health classroom. For many, their perception of health education is shaped by their own experiences, which may not reflect the Health Skills we teach today. …
Continue reading Why I “Write Home”: Advocating for Health Education
Let’s be honest: You already advocate every day, even if you don’t call it that. Holding firm on physical education minutes? Advocacy. Defending your gym space? Advocacy. Reminding folks that physical education is about the ‘E’ in ‘PE’? Every day, all day? That is advocacy! But here’s the truth: Now, more than ever, is the …
Since 2019, the month of May has been recognized as Sex Ed for All Month, an effort put forward by numerous sexual education organizations that are dedicated towards advocating for sexual health, rights, and increased education. Young people having access to quality sex education has been found to improve social-emotional learning skills and help them …
Continue reading May – The Month that Sex Education is Highlighted and Celebrated!
Have you heard the news? Puberty, that period-of-time when children begin the wild ride into adulthood, is beginning earlier and lasts longer than the puberty you likely experienced. Over the last several decades, studies have challenged the long-standing pubertal benchmark created back in the 1940s by pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Joseph Tanner, who identified the average age …
Continue reading Puberty is Beginning Earlier; Will Your Students be Prepared?
Hey there! As a health teacher at Chestnut Hill Middle School, I’ve had the chance to work with some amazing students and watch them grow, learn, and figure out the many things that make up their health—both social, mental and physical. It’s a fun, but sometimes tricky time in their lives, right? With everything going …
I woke up to what I thought was a normal Tuesday morning in October, only to open my phone to a flurry of texts and DMs. “Watch this vid! Shawn came out last night!”. My heart exploded in my chest. “No f***ing way”, I screamed. My crush. My obsession. The muse for my ‘#ShawnSundays’ IG …
Continue reading What Shawn Mendes Can Teach Us About Sexuality
Teacher Appreciation Week at my school is quite the affair. This year our Student Council decided to make it 'Cruise Ship' themed. On Monday they're providing us with stickers, Tuesday all staff are entered into a prize draw to win breakfast for their department, Wednesday we have snacks provided, Thursday they will be distributing appreciation …
#slowchathealth 