Health Annotations by Talia Romasco

Mental Health

tr971143 — 2024-01-17 01:34:23 UTC

This article is an article from pbs.org that touches on mental health in schools. The article talks about mental health becoming a growing concern in students, especially due to the pandemic. It mentions that school staff and psychology researchers are trying to keep up with the growing rate of mental health issues among students. This is important for students to see that mental health is all around them in their day to day lives at school. This will allow them to be aware that they are not alone or that someone they know at school may be struggling. It is important for teachers to let their students know that they can talk to teachers or counselors in the building if they need help with something mental health related. It is also important that teachers are aware that some of their students may be struggling with mental health.

Potter, S. (2024, January 16). Student-led network helps address shortage of mental health professionals in schools. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/student-led-network-helps-address-shortage-of-mental-health-professionals-in-schools

Physical Activity

tr971143 — 2024-01-17 01:48:01 UTC

This news article from Good Morning America talks about an exercise and brain function study. This study shows that if you are more physically active, your brain function will increase. This article pertains to teaching physical activity to elementary students because it shows that students being physical outside at recess or in gym class is beneficial due to its ability to increase brain function. This will allow students to gain more knowledge in the classroom. Teachers can help students learn about this by incorporating more physical activity in the classroom. This is also important for teachers to know, so they can help their students get a better learning experience by allowing their students to get more time with physical activity.

Good Morning America. (n.d.). Study shows physical activity increases brain function later in life. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/video/study-shows-physical-activity-increases-brain-function-life-97379907

Intentional Injury & Violence

tr971143 — 2024-01-17 18:10:22 UTC

This CNN article touches on the topic of intentional injury and violence in schools. The article states that anonymous reporting systems used by schoolchildren to report concerning behavior among their peers has resulted in the prevention of numerous instances of suicide, school violence and planned attacks. The article also talks about how nearly 10% of tips received were related to firearms. I think this important to teach to students. It is critical that students know what to do or where to go if they see something suspicious going on. This could prevent lots of injury and violence in schools. To help students learn about this, teachers could introduce an anonymous note drop off box in their classrooms, so at any time a student can drop a note into the box if they are concerned about anything. This is important for teachers to know because they need to be aware of the violence or injury that could occur in their school.

Campbell, J. (2024, January 17). Anonymous tips work to prevent school shootings and suicides, new study finds. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/health/school-shooting-prevention-anonymous-tips/index.html

Healthy Eating

tr971143 — 2024-01-17 18:20:31 UTC

This article from npr.org talks about healthy eating within schools. The article focuses on a national study finding a small but significant decline in the average body mass index of more than 14,000 schoolkids ages 5 to 18. The schools increased healthy eating habits by increasing the quantity of fruits, vegetables and whole grains required in school meals. This teaches students how to eat healthier by allowing them to choose a healthier variety of foods. Teachers can teach students about this by going over the food pyramid and what healthy food choices consist of. This is important for teachers to know, so they can also demonstrate what healthy eating looks like.

Press, T. A. (2023, February 15). A new study offers hints that healthier school lunches may help reduce obesity. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1157176728/healthy-school-meals-nutrition-obesity-study

Preventing Alcohol/Drug Use

tr971143 — 2024-01-17 18:41:52 UTC

The article from newsweek.com talks about efforts to prevent drug use and encourage kids to live free from drugs have come under increased attack. The article talks about D.A.R.E and how the program focuses on decision-making processes, instead of statistics about drugs. This is important because schools need to keep students safe and away from using drugs. This will teach students why not to do and it will teach them why they should not use drugs. Teachers can help students out by being open listeners and letting students know they can talk to them if they need to. It is important for teachers to know about this in order for them to be aware what could be going on in their classroom and allowing them to be able to prevent drug use in their schools.

Sabet, K. (2023, December 22). Education should focus on stopping drug use before it starts. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/education-should-focus-stopping-drug-use-before-it-starts-opinion-1853930

Death/ Grief/ Loss

tr971143 — 2024-01-18 17:18:49 UTC

This article from edweek.org is about how schools can play a key role in changing that dynamic for students as they process the death of a family member, a traumatic community event, or the loss of a family pet. The article also mentions that being able to cope with major loss is an important part of promoting mental health. This is important for students to know because everyone has to deal with a loss in their life at some point. This will help students be more comfortable knowing that other people have dealt with death, loss, or grief. To help students learn about this in classrooms, teachers can find an age-appropriate book to share with the class in the beginning of the year, so students can start to understand what it is about. It is important for teachers to know about this because they need to understand that they are one of the biggest supports in these student's lives, so they may need to be there for a student if one of them is going through a loss.

Blad, E. (2024, January 17). Three things schools should know about student grief. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/three-things-schools-should-know-about-student-grief/2024/01

Trauma

tr971143 — 2024-01-18 17:26:30 UTC

This news article from KQED is about the COVID pandemic and how students had trauma from being isolated so long. The article states, "not only did the pandemic increase social isolation, but the social isolation that children ages 6-17 experienced dramatically increased their rate of diagnosed anxiety." The article touches on how schools had the urgent goal of bringing down the number of suicide threat assessments and improve the mental health outcomes for all students, especially after the pandemic. This teaches students that trauma can form in anyone and it effects everyone. Teachers can help students with this by letting them know that they are there for them and that they are not alone. This is important for teachers to know because they need to know and understand what their students are or could be going through.

Jackson-Retondo, M. (1970, January 16). When adults learn about trauma-informed practices, students can recover. KQED. https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/62965/when-adults-learn-about-trauma-informed-practices-students-can-recover

Personal Health & Wellness

tr971143 — 2024-01-18 17:27:06 UTC

This article from The Conversation talks about personal health and wellness for teachers. The article talks about how teachers are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety and work-related trauma in the classroom. It also mentions that not only do teachers personally benefit from improved mental health, but their students do, too. This is important to teach students, so they can understand that not only do they have feelings, but their teachers do too. Teachers can teach students this by saying when they need a break and that the students need to do activities quietly. Teachers can also express when they are upset or having other strong feelings. It is important for teachers to know about this because they need to know it's okay to feel stressed or overwhelmed.

MSN. (n.d.). https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/students-do-better-and-schools-are-more-stable-when-teachers-get-mental-health-support/ar-AA1nbgYm