School Culture Archives - Project School Wellness https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/tag/school-culture/ A Health Education Blog for Health Teachers Who Want to Change Lives Thu, 24 Jun 2021 12:53:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.4 https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-PSW-Favicon-32x32.png School Culture Archives - Project School Wellness https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/tag/school-culture/ 32 32 Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/jimmy-fallons-unexpected-anti-bullying-lesson-plan/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 03:03:00 +0000 https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/?p=7280 Discover how a Jimmy Fallon prank on Robinson Cano turned into an unexpected and impactful anti-bullying lesson plan!

The post Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]>

Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan

A quick and easy anti-bullying lesson plan

A Prank That is Actually the Perfect Tool for Teaching Anti-Bullying

I'm not sure if Jimmy Fallon realizes this or not, but this clip of Yankee fans booing Robinson Cano is quite possibly the perfect discussion starter for a talk on cyberbullying. 

Jimmy Fallon's Unexpected Anti-Bully Lesson Plan - A quick and easy lesson on bullying and building an anti-bully school culture

The fans are happy, even giddy, to boo a picture of Cano. But as soon as he's standing in front of them, they instantly change their demeanor. They are friendly and kind and they stand in awe.

It's a perfect look at how easy it is to become a bully when we're hiding behind a screen. We feel bold enough to say things we would never say to another human's face when we don't have to acknowledge the pain and hurt we cause. 

Play Video

A Simple Discussion & Anti-Bully Learning Activity

So how can you use this clip as an anti-bullying lesson plan in your classroom? Here's an outline for using this clip to launch a discussion on cyberbullying in your classroom (of course, adapt however you see fit!):

  • Watch the video clip (Please preview it first as there are some bleeped out words). 
  • Then, in pairs, ask students to discuss the following:

    • What did fans do when they saw a photo of Robinson Cano?  
    • How did the fans treat the real Robinson Cano? 
    • How were these two interactions different?
    • What caused fans to act differently?
  • Next, as a class, connect the video to cyberbullying. Explain how the fans' actions are similar to posting negative comments, sharing photos/videos with a person's consent to boost your social capital, talking about a person behind their back, etc. The video shows just how easy it is to say things about and to people when it's just a screen when you don't actually have to acknowledge the impact your actions and words have on another person. 
  • Wrap up the discussion by challenging students to always ask, "Would I say this to their face?" And if the answer is no, then don't post it.

I hope this quick and easy anti-bullying lesson is impactful for your students! And if you have other clips that make for great discussion starters, please send them my way!

Free Intro to Health Unit Plans

We've got you covered! Get instant access to five free health lesson plans for in-person or digital instruction.

Hello. I'm  Janelle!

A middle school health teacher turned curriculum developer (and #WAHM). I'm on a mission to share the easiest-to-teach, most impactful health lesson plans on the Internet. Because your time and energy is better spent on teaching and connecting, not on planning and prep.

DSC05252

You'll Also Love...

Project School Wellness, Health Blog, Wellness Blog, Teacher Blog, Components of Health

Components of Health Lesson Plan // Part 2

Dramatically transform school culture by intentionally increasing teacher-to-student and student-to-teacher complimenting. Project School Wellness makes it incredibly easy to acknowledge positive behavior with these simple Student Praise cards. This is a freebie for every elementary and middle school teacher across the curriculum! Don't wait to download this highly useful freebie!

How to Praise Students More Often

Teach students about nutrition with this engaging scavenger hunt! As students search for clues, they will be introduced to the 12 fundamental nutrition concepts! Your students will never eat the same again after discovery the value and importance of a balanced, health diet. Don't wait to download this health and PE must have!

Nutrition Scavenger Hunt

The post Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]> The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning and Why Health Teachers Should be Leading the Way https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/the-importance-of-social-emotional-learning-and-why-health-teachers-should-be-leading-the-way/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:41:23 +0000 https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/?p=7198 Discover the importance of Social-Emotional Learning and examine why health educations should be leading the SEL movement.

The post The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning and Why Health Teachers Should be Leading the Way appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]>

The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

And Why Health Teachers Should be Leading the SEL Movement

My Beef With SEL

I doubt I need to convince you of the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) or tell you that it's THE buzzword in education right now. Never before have educators placed so much attention (and money) on students' non-academic needs. That is outside of the health classroom. Especially as we navigate a worldwide pandemic and life as we know it has been turned upside down.

 

Social-emotional learning is defined as the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (as defined by CASEL).

 

Emotions, goal setting, empathy, relationship building, and decision making. Yes, please! I don’t think any teachers will debate the importance of social-emotional learning and these vital life skills.

 

Yet, I have, to be honest, this movement has brought me so much frustration.

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning and Why Health Teachers Should be Leading the Way - What's wrong with the SEL Movement and How to Fix It

The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

Don't get me wrong as an advocate for comprehensive, skill-based health education, this movement to strengthen students' social and emotional well-being is incredible. And absolutely necessary. But it's still left me uneasy and frustrated. Why you ask? 

 

Well, let me explain. 

 

While most teaches are familiar with SEL, few have heard of comprehensive, skills-based health education. The skills-based part refers to a teaching approach focused on students mastering practical and vital life skills. And the comprehensive aspect refers to teaching health through a multidimensional lens. Gone are the days of only talking about eating healthy, working out, and memorizing parts of the body. Now the focus of health education is much more holistic, incorporating topics like mental health, building social skills, making healthy decisions, learning how to manage money, setting goals, and living with passion and purpose. It's all about teaching students the specific life skills they need to build happy and healthy lives.

 

Notice any similarities between the skills-based movement and the movement of social-emotional learning??? Yea, me too.

SEL Core Competencies Skills-Based Health Skills Skills-Based Health Topics
Self-AwarenessPracticing Health Enhancing BehaviorsEmotional & Mental Health (Emotions, Self-Confidence, Self-Preception), Intellectual Health (Growth Mindset), and Spiritual Health (Values)
Self-ManagementGoal Setting, Practicing Health Enhancing BehaviorsEmotional & Mental Health (Stress Management), Intellectual Health (Goal Setting, Self-Discipline), Occupational Health (Organizational Skills)
Social AwarenessAnalyzing Influences, Interpersonal Communication, Decision Making, Practicing Health Enhancing Behaviors, Advocacy

Intellectual Health (Perspective-taking), Social Health (Empathy, Perspective-taking, Respect for others), Multiculture Health (Perspective-taking, Appreciating diversity)

Relationship SkillsAnalyzing Influences, Interpersonal Communication, Practicing Health Enhancing BehaviorsOccupational Health (Teamwork), Social Health (Communication, Social engagement, Relationship-building)
Responsible Decisions MakingAnalyzing Influences, Access Valid Information, Interpersonal Communication, Decision Making, Goal Setting, Practicing Health Enhancing Behaviors, AdvocacyIntellectual and Occupational Health (Identifying problems, Analyzing situations, Solving problems, Evaluating, Reflecting) Multicultural and Spiritual Health (Ethical responsibility)

As SEL started to gain traction, I was hopeful that this would be health education’s movement to shine. I dreamed of principals calling upon health teachers to train their staff, help develop school-wide programs, and prioritize health class in general. While some leaders have done this, it’s not the norm.

 

Instead, I see health teachers who have been training for this moment and advocating for SEL long before it was a buzzword, being overlooked. I see schools spending countless dollars on fancy programs and experts while health teachers desperately advocate for class time and to be recognized as a "core subject" while "core" teachers are praised for their SEL efforts. I see so much passion, talent, and possibility being left on the table. 

Can You Feel My Frustration???

We are in this unique moment where the concept of comprehensive, skills-based health has never had more attention. But for some reason, health teachers are being left out of the equation on a mass scale. And it breaks my heart. Not just for the teachers who haven't been given a platform to do what they do best, teach students how to live whole, thriving lives. More importantly, my heart breaks for the millions of children who are missing out on impactful and life-changing learning experiences.

Free Skills-Based Health Workshop

How Health Educators Can Lead the SEL Movement

Now I don't want to be a downer and spread my frustration. So here are three things schools can do to empower health educators to lead the SEL movement: 

 

  • Fund health education programs and make health education compulsory in middle and high school and recognize health as a core subject (seriously it's time to drop the "elective" label)

 

  • Establish health educators as the SEL experts

 

  • Ask health educators to collaborate with teachers across the curriculum to identify simple methods for reinforcing SEL/Skills-Based Health knowledge and skills throughout the entire school experience 

A Reality Check

Unfortunately, in a time when health education is literally being cut from the school experience, I have little faith that the greater education community will recognize the profound role health educator currently play and should be playing in the SEL movement. I don't doubt that teachers and admin will continue to recognize the importance of social-emotional learning. But I worried that health teachers will never be acknowledged for the role they could play in the SEL movement. 

 

I sure hope I'm proved wrong.

 

P.S. I'd love to hear how you're supporting the SEL movement through health education. Please share in the comments or shoot me an email! I'd love to chat.

Free Skills-Based Health Education Workshop

Get instant access to our free "How to Teach Skills-Based Health" workshop. Earn free CE hours and download free advocacy lesson plans!

Hello. I'm  Janelle!

A middle school health teacher turned curriculum developer (and #WAHM). I'm on a mission to share the easiest-to-teach, most impactful health lesson plans on the Internet. Because your time and energy is better spent on teaching and connecting, not on planning and prep.

DSC05252

You'll Also Love...

PSW Blog - Slavery Isn't Black History

Slavery isn’t Black History and other truths you should be teaching about Black History

Jimmy Fallon's Unexpected Anti-Bully Lesson Plan - A quick and easy lesson on bullying and building an anti-bully school culture

Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan

PSW Blog - How to Use Inside Out in Your Classroom

How to Use Inside Out in Your Classroom

The post The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning and Why Health Teachers Should be Leading the Way appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]> Start your year right with these freebies! https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/start-your-year-right-with-these-freebies/ https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/start-your-year-right-with-these-freebies/#comments Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:21:51 +0000 https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/?p=3450 About Meet Janelle Contact Blog Health Ed Basics The Ultimate Guide for Teaching Health The Health Skills Analyzing Influences Accessing Valid Information Interpersonal Communication Decision Making Goal Setting Practice Health Enhancing Behaviors Advocacy The Dimensions of Health Cultural Health Emotional and Mental Health Environmental Health Financial Health Intellectual Health Occupational Health Physical Health Sexual Health…

The post Start your year right with these freebies! appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]>

Free Health Resources to Start Your Year!

 

Summer is over and the start of school is around the corner. And life is starting to get busy. Back-to-school stress is real.

 

I don't have time to write and you don't have time to read, a long post about how important the start of the year is (plus, you totally already know this). So let's just get to it...

 

...Scroll to discover five freebies to help start your year right!

 

Freebies to Start Your Year Right

 

Foster a culture of belonging in your classroom with this simple freebie! This is All About Me poster is a must download for every middle school teacher. A simple way to dramatically influence your school culture!

Get to Know Students - - All About Me poster

I really love starting the year with an All About Me poster. It is so fun getting to know my students through the poster making process. And I find the pledge activity so powerful. It helps kids be intentional and gives them a standard to be kept accountable to!

 

Dramatically transform school culture by intentionally increasing teacher-to-student and student-to-teacher complimenting. Project School Wellness makes it incredibly easy to acknowledge positive behavior with these simple Student Praise cards. This is a freebie for every elementary and middle school teacher across the curriculum! Don't wait to download this highly useful freebie!

 

Celebrating Positive Behavior - - Student Praise Cards

These praise cards have really been a game-changer for me! It's so easy to praise students with specific feedback. I also love letting students fill these cards out for their peers.

 

Wonder is a must read for every middle schooler! Check out this engaging empathy building unit plan designed just for you and your students. Students will characterize Auggie and friends, dive into their points of view, and create their own precepts. Perfect for any advisory program or language arts curriculum!

 

Setting the Stage for a Great Year (and Life) - - Precept Writing

Wonder is truly one of the most profound books I've read, ever. And one of my favorite parts of the book is Mr. Browne's precepts. As R.J. Palacio says, precepts are simply words to live by. This precept writing activity helps students set the stage for a great year by defining powerful words to live by.

 

 

Creating a Progress Check Routine - - Assess Yourself

Learning from too much experience...checking grades can be a pain in the rear! It can be incredibly stressful, take too much time, and not really be that effective. This check-in sheet makes it easy and creates a routine of self-reflection that students actually benefit and grow from.

 

Download this mastery chart posters! Hey Teachers, use this Project School Wellness freebie to help students create a routine of self-assessment and reflection!

 

Building Independent Learners - - Assess Yourself

I'm a big fan the N.A.M.E. self-assessment chart. I love that it's rooted in growth and progress. And it's an insanely easy way for students to check their learning. Much easier to digest than a simple 4,3,2,1 scale.

Well, that's it. I hope these freebies help you start the year right. I wish you all the luck in the world as you begin another year of school!

 

Start your year right with 5 must have teacher freebies! Lay a foundation for success with some of Project School Wellness' top resources. Click to download self-assessment poster, precept writing activity, student praise cards, progress sheet, All About Me poster! These freebies will help you start your year right and be on your way to changing your students' lives forever!

 

Free Resource Library

Grab the freebie featured in this post, along with 30+ other free goodies in our Free Resource Library! Sign up below for instant access.

Hello. I'm  Janelle!

A middle school health teacher turned curriculum developer (and #WAHM). I'm on a mission to share the easiest-to-teach, most impactful health lesson plans on the Internet. Because your time and energy is better spent on teaching and connecting, not on planning and prep.

DSC05252

The post Start your year right with these freebies! appeared first on Project School Wellness.

]]> https://www.projectschoolwellness.com/start-your-year-right-with-these-freebies/feed/ 1