Imagine you get to be the person that helps someone affirm their calling into a particular profession. Imagine that profession has impacts on each and every one of the 50 million students in today's K-12 Schools. Yes, Health Education and Physical Education Teacher Education Faculty have the best jobs in the world, but we are …
I can’t imagine what it must be like. To be a teacher in a school in 2025. As I watch the news each day I am beyond puzzled about the decisions, orders and mandates that are unfolding in our government on a regular basis. Never have we had to be so vigilant when it comes …
In early 2023 our organization was contacted by the Physical Education and Sports Teachers Association of Zambia (PESTAZ) and were asked to help improve the quality of physical education in their country. One of the goals for the project was to provide equipment. This was a huge need for them as many of the schools …
Continue reading Crochet: Using Community Resources for Physical Education Equipment
In my personal opinion, there can sometimes be a disconnect between the health education classroom and the community resources that students truly need. Health, in general, can get a bad rap—but I want health to be celebrated. I want students to be excited about it. That’s how “Health-a-Palooza” was formed. Also keep in mind that …
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 …
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 …
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
Have you ever heard of TED? Thyroid Eye Disease. Maybe from the latest commercial about medication for TED? If not, you’re in the right spot. My Mother, 57, lives with TED, a condition that has developed from her Grave’s Disease. This disease went undetected for 52 years, 2 years into being a first time grandmother. …
Whether at home, in healthcare, the classroom, or the workplace the importance of self-advocacy is undeniable. However, even for an adult, self-advocating isn’t always easy. The ability to “speak-up for [ourselves] and the things that are important to [us]” is a necessary life skill. As young people’s trusted adults we can both teach and model …
I have almost completed my second year back in the district from which I graduated (7th year in total). A little over a year ago, in my first group of students at my current school I had a student ask “Mrs. McGee, do you teach any other health classes? I’ve really enjoyed having you as …
"We need to stop debating people’s humanity. And we need to care about future generations having access to medically accurate health information and services." @MsEmilyZien has written a powerful #microblog
Close your eyes for one minute and think about the political landscape of our country at this moment. No, really…do it…wherever you’re at. Focus on how you feel. **Pause for one minute** What feelings came up for you? Why do you feel that way? My feelings: Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Hopelessness. Guilt. Why: People are dying, …
I have been teaching college sexual education for 10 years and over those years I had hoped I would hear of more students having a comprehensive sexuality education. Sadly, that has not been the case. So many wished they had learned more about sexual issues. Topping the list of topics they wished they had had …
In a recent keynote address at the awesome North Dakota SHAPE conference I included some thoughts on the different stages that a teacher might go through during their career. It was a slightly tongue-in-cheek adaptation of a 2018 article from Terry Heick and I can definitely identify various stages of my own career, many of …
Continue reading Be a Change Agent: Join a Task Force and Shape the Future of Health Education
This week’s blog post comes from Barb Thayer, Executive Director at Candor Health Education, an Illinois-based nonprofit organization that educates students, their trusted adults and communities on the topics of drug and sex education. As Executive Director of Candor Health Education, I am all too familiar with the issues related to young people and alcohol use. …
Continue reading Prevention Starts Now: Talking to Teens About Alcohol and Breast Cancer
Regular readers of the blog, particularly those who read the #Microblog posts, will know that many health teachers are under attack from community members who have taken issue with elements of our curricula. Often these efforts are well-organized, well funded, and very vocal. Often these efforts are mis-informed, seek to intentionally mis-inform, and always seek …
When asked what it is like to teach teenagers, I tell people it's wonderful, because I know the future will be safe in the hands of my students. Many of my students have budding advocacy traits, and see themselves as someone who will make change. For that reason, teaching advocacy skills in health class is …
When my three children were learning to walk, each in their own ways and by their own timelines, they delighted in that adorable “hold both hands of a grownup while walking” thing we all do with our toddlers. But eventually, when they were ready, they learned to walk on their own. They needed to learn …
We need to share our impediments as teachers and fully disclose our struggles. We need to refrain from positioning ourselves as experts, most especially if we have secret challenges that keep us up at night. We need to speak of our shortcomings, mistakes, and battles as much as we speak of our triumphs. We also …
#slowchathealth 