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This article on chair yoga from CNN examines the benefits of participating in chair yoga, especially those who spend the majority of their day at a desk. This yoga practice can be done without leaving your chair. Just fifteen minutes of chair yoga a day is scientifically proven to improve stress and other psychological factors. It also helps improve your concentration and focus. In the PK-4 classroom teachers can integrate this practice without the children having to leave their desks. This is a great low impact activity that all students will be able to participate in. Chair yoga can be used as a quick brain break activity to improve the students concentration.

McManus, M. R. (2024, September 3). Chair yoga is not just for older people. it’s good for everyone, especially the desk-bound. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/health/chair-yoga-flexibility-stress-relief-wellness/index.html

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Chair yoga is not just for older people. It’s good for everyone, especially the desk-bound | CNN

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Chair yoga has benefits for all age groups and allows you to get moving without leaving a seat. Experts share easy poses to improve flexibility and relieve stress.

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This article on nutrition from CNN focuses on the importance of ensuring you are getting enough of the following seven critical nutrients: calcium, folate, iodine, iron, magnesium, niacin, and riboflavin. These nutrients are all essential to our daily diet. A research team concluded that 99.3% of the population has a deficiency. PK-4 teachers can teach their students about healthy eating habits. Teachers can discuss different foods that contain each of these different nutrients. For example, milk has calcium and niacin is found in meats and poultry.

Rogers, K. (2024, September 11). Billions aren’t eating enough of 7 critical nutrients, study finds. CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/health/global-nutrient-intake-study-wellness/index.html

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Billions aren’t eating enough of 7 critical nutrients, study finds | CNN

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More than half the global population doesn’t consume enough of seven nutrients critical for human health, according to a new study. Here’s how you can.

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Personal Health & Wellness - Bedtime Anxiety

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Personal Health & Wellness - Bedtime Anxiety

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This article on sleep anxiety from CNN discusses the common challenge of anxiety before bedtime. One in four children are facing sleep troubles due to anxiety and stress. This can be triggered from many different factors, such as a change in routine. Bedtime anxiety can be reduced by using techniques such as drinking herbal tea, saying affirmations, and reading books together. PK-4 teachers can integrate meditation techniques into the classroom. For example, they may have students take a couple deep breaths when they become frustrated. The teacher should then tell the students that they can use these strategies before bed to help them get a better sleep.

Nicioli, T. (2024, June 17). Why your child may be feeling anxious before bedtime. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/17/health/children-sleep-issues-bedtime-anxiety-wellness/index.html

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Why your child may be feeling anxious before bedtime | CNN

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One in four parents say they have trouble getting their anxious child to sleep, while one in five resort to giving their kids melatonin, according to a new poll.

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Mental & Emotional Health - Bullying and Cyberbullying

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Mental & Emotional Health - Bullying and Cyberbullying

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This article on bullying and cyberbullying from Medline Plus discusses the different types of bullying and how to address bullying. Signs of bullying and cyberbullying can be hard to notice. The three types are physical, social, and verbal. Children who are isolated, have depression, have a disability, and are viewed differently than others are more likely to experience depression at some point during their lives. PK-4 teachers can integrate this topic in the classroom by having a class discussion about the dangers of bullying and how to ask for help. The teacher should also share with the students what to do if they are a bystander.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, January 29). Bullying and cyberbullying. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/bullyingandcyberbullying.html

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What is bullying?

Bullying is when a person or group repeatedly harms someone on purpose. It can be physical, social, and/or verbal. It is harmful to both the victims and the bullies, and it always involves:

Aggressive behavior.

A difference in power, meaning that the victim is weaker or is seen as weaker. For example, bullies may try to use physical strength, embarrassing information, or popularity to harm others.

Repetition, meaning it happens more than once or that it probably will happen again

What are the types of bullying?

There are three types of bullying:

Physical bullying involves hurting a person's body or belongings. Examples include hitting, kicking, and stealing or breaking someone's stuff.

Social bullying (also called relational bullying) hurts someone's reputation or relationships. Some examples are spreading rumors, embarrassing someone in public, and making someone feel left out.

Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things, including name-calling, taunting, and threatening

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through text messages or online. It could be through emails, social media, forums, or gaming. Some examples are:

Posting rumors on social media

Sharing embarrassing pictures or videos online

Sharing someone else's private information online (doxing)

Making threats against someone online

Creating fake accounts and posting information to embarrass someone

Certain types of cyberbullying can be illegal. The laws on cyberbullying are different from state to state.

How is cyberbullying different from bullying?

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying, but there are some differences between the two. Cyberbullying can be:

Anonymous - people can hide their identities when they are online or using a cell phone

Persistent - people can send messages instantly, at any time of the day or night

Permanent - a lot of electronic communication is permanent and public, unless it's reported and removed. A bad online reputation can affect getting into college, getting a job, and other areas of life. This applies to the bully as well.

Hard to notice - teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place

Which children are more likely to be bullied?

Children are more likely to be bullied if they:

Are seen as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, dressing differently, or being of a different race/ethnicity

Are seen as weak

Have depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem

Don't have many friends or are less popular

Don't socialize well with others

Have an intellectual or developmental disability

Which children are more likely to be bullies?

There are two types of children who are more likely to bully others:

Children who are well-connected to peers, have social power, are overly worried about popularity, and like to be in charge of others

Children who are more isolated from peers, may be depressed or anxious, have low self-esteem, are easily pressured by peers, and have trouble understanding other people's feelings

There are certain factors that make someone more likely to be a bully. They include:

Being aggressive or easily frustrated

Having trouble at home, such as violence or bullying in the home or having uninvolved parents

Having trouble following rules

Seeing violence positively

Having friends who bully others

What are the effects of bullying?

Bullying is a serious problem that causes harm. And it doesn't just hurt the person who is being bullied; it can also be harmful for the bullies and for any kids who witness the bullying.

Kids who are bullied can have problems at school and with their mental and physical health. They are at risk for:

Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. These problems sometimes last into adulthood.

Health complaints, including headaches and stomachaches

Lower grades and test scores

Missing and dropping out of school

Kids who bully others have a higher risk for substance use, problems in school, and violence later in life.

Kids who witness bullying are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol and have mental health problems. They may also miss or skip school.

What are the signs of being bullied?

Often, kids who are being bullied don't report it. They may fear a backlash from the bully, or they may think that no one cares. Sometimes they feel too ashamed to talk about it. So it is important to know the signs of a bullying problem:

Depression, loneliness, or anxiety

Low self-esteem

Headaches, stomachaches, or poor eating habits

Disliking school, not wanting to go to school, or getting worse grades than before

Self-destructive behaviors, such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide

Unexplained injuries

Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry

Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares

Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations

How do you help someone who is being bullied?

To help a child who is being bullied, support the child and address the bullying behavior:

Listen and focus on the child. Learn what's been going on and show you want to help.

Assure the child that bullying is not his/her fault

Know that kids who are bullied may struggle with talking about it. Consider referring them to a school counselor, psychologist, or other mental health service.

Give advice about what to do. This may involve role-playing and thinking through how the child might react if the bullying occurs again.

Work together to resolve the situation and protect the bullied child. The child, parents, and school or organization should be part of the solution.

Follow up. Bullying may not end overnight. Make sure that the child knows that you are committed to making it stop.

Make sure that the bully knows that his or her behavior is wrong and harms others

Show kids that bullying is taken seriously. Make it clear to everyone that the bullying will not be tolerated.

Department of Health and Human Services

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Bullying is when a person or group repeatedly harms someone on purpose. Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through text messages or online. Both can cause lasting harm. Learn the signs of bullying, and how to help a child who is being bullied.

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Intentional Injury & Violence - Gun Safety in Classrooms

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Intentional Injury & Violence - Gun Safety in Classrooms

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This article on school shooting safety from CNN discusses the changes that are taking place in the classroom in order to create the safest space possible for students. A rising number in school shootings means schools and parents must take safety rules into their own hands. Just this year, 32 school shootings took place on K-12 school grounds, and at least 13 others on university campuses. With the increased number of shootings, schools are installing door window covers, whiteboard safe rooms, bullet resistant windows, and auto locking doors. PK-4 teachers should ensure that all students know where to go in the case of an emergency. They should talk to students about the safety procedures and the school building should host safety drills to ensure the students understand these rules.

Cable News Network. (2024, September 5). Gun violence is remaking America’s classrooms. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/us/changing-classrooms-shooting-safety-dg/

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With the rising number of school shootings and a lack of meaningful legislation to curb gun violence, schools and parents are attempting to take safety into their own hands.

Gun violence has changed day-to-day life in and out of the classroom, with more time and resources being funneled into preparing for worst-case scenarios.

While some school districts invest in additional safety measures, such as easy-to-exit emergency windows, some parents are adding bulletproof backpacks to their children's back-to-school shopping lists.

This year, at least 37 shootings were reported on K-12 school grounds, according to a CNN data analysis as of September 19. There were at least 16 others on university and college campuses.

With the exception of 2020 - when schools largely switched to online learning - school shootings have become more frequent nationwide. More than 300 have been reported since 2018, according to CNN's analysis.

"I've come to terms with the fact that I might die in my classroom," said Briana Takhtani, a seventh-grade teacher in Middlesex County, New Jersey. "School was a good place to be a kid, and it just feels like that's kind of changing."

In light of rising gun violence, classroom fixtures - such as door locks and windows - have been upgraded to increase security.

Here are some items that educators across the country say have been installed in their schools that may seem ordinary but serve a hidden purpose.

Bullet-resistant windows that double as emergency exits

Hannah Lee, a high school English teacher in Irvine, California, who started her career during the Covid-19 pandemic, said she thinks frequently about how she would barricade her door or what she would do if a shooter broke through her door lock.

"I'm a young teacher and sometimes I wonder, is it going to be the best right now?" she said. "Will it just get worse and harder?"

Lee isn't the only one questioning her future as a teacher. With school shootings on the rise and pandemic-disrupted learning taking a toll on teachers who feel increasingly burned out, public education is struggling to attract - and retain - qualified school staff, said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the largest teachers' union in the country.

Gun rights activists have long proposed arming teachers to combat school shootings. Most educators, however, say putting guns in teachers' hands isn't the answer. More than half of US teachers believe being armed would make schools less safe, according to a recent survey from the RAND Corporation.

"I'm already a babysitter, a mother, a mental health counselor," said Takhtani. "I don't want to be a police officer."

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Gun violence is remaking America's classrooms

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School shootings are on the rise, and some schools are taking preventative action as gun safety measures remain stalled.

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Preventing Alcohol/Drug Use - Drugs & Alcohol to Cope with Stress

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Preventing Alcohol/Drug Use - Drugs & Alcohol to Cope with Stress

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This article on drugs and alcohol from CNN examines the link between stress and drugs and alcohol. Nearly 75% of teens admitted to leaning on drugs and alcohol to feel calm and relaxed. Most substance use begins in early adolescent years, creating disorders and overdoses in the adult years. PK-4 teachers should discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol use. They could show animated videos explaining the dangers and side effects of using drugs and alcohol, and should be familiar with what to do if they are ever offered these substances.

McPhillips, D. (2024, February 8). Stress is a key factor driving some teens to drugs and alcohol, CDC study warns. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/health/youth-mental-health-substance-use-wellness/index.html

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Stress is a key factor driving some teens to drugs and alcohol, CDC study warns | CNN

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Supporting and improving mental health could have a direct impact on substance use among teens in the United States, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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This article on suicide from CNN discusses the dangerously high number of suicide attempts that have taken place. In 2022, 49,000 people died by suicide just in the United States. More than 72,000 people died globally, and is the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 15 to 29. It also discusses the five things you should know about suicide. PK-4 teachers can discuss the dangers of suicide and the possible warning signs to look for. They should also educate their students on how they can help in ways such as familiarizing themselves with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Rogers, K. (2024b, September 11). Billions aren’t eating enough of 7 critical nutrients, study finds. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/health/global-nutrient-intake-study-wellness/index.html

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National Suicide Prevention Month: How to reduce suicide risk | CNN

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Here's how you you can reduce suicide risk for yourself and your loved ones - including being aware of stigmatizing language, warning signs, myths and more.

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This article on protecting youth from vaping from the CDC discusses the harmful side effects of youth using vaping devices. In 2023, 4.6 % of middle school students and 10% of high school students used vapes. Using nicotine products before the age of 25 can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, impulse control, mood, and learning. Nicotine is highly addictive and can be a leading factor of stress and poor mental health. PK-4 teachers should educate their students on the dangers that come with vaping. They can host a class discussion on what to do if you are peer pressured into vaping by a friend or peer, as well as providing them resources if they ever become addicted and need help.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 26). Helpful tips for protecting youth from the harms of Vaping. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/tobacco-features/back-to-school.html

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Helpful Tips for Protecting Youth from the Harms of Vaping

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CDC feature article on what parents and educators can do to protect youth from the harms of vaping.