Health Annotations by

Current Events

en948631 — 2024-09-17 17:14:43 UTC

Mental Health and Emotional Health

Healthy Eating

Physical Activity

Intentional Injury and Violence

Personal Health and Wellness

Death/Grief/Loss

Safety & Preventing Unintentional Injury

Trauma

Mental Health and Emotional Health

en948631 — 2024-09-17 22:02:59 UTC

This article on how parents, teachers, and kids can take action on preventing bullying from the American Psychology Association examines how each party can pursue measures on preventing bullying. Teachers need to be observant and ready to step in and take action when bullying occurs. Parents need to be present when observing technology use, and picking up on the differences in their child's behavior. Students need to report bullying, and take the proper steps to avoid that situation, for example, never traveling alone. Bullying can take a large toll on students’ mental health, and it is important to learn about the correct steps in avoiding and/or handling these situations. In a PK4 classroom, it is important for students to learn early that bullying is wrong, and there are consequences involved.

How parents, teachers, and kids can take action to prevent bullying. (2011, January 1). Retrieved from https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent

Healthy Eating

en948631 — 2024-09-18 04:55:54 UTC

This article on early childhood education programs that are fighting food insecurity from Chalkbeat examines that some students were being properly fed at home for a number of reasons; some include, parents getting home late from work and financial issues. This causes the students to feel food insecurity within their childhoods. The Power Packs Project provides students with ingredients and recipes for low-income families. Teaching students about food insecurity is very important because some students may be struggling with this issue themselves. It is important as teachers to be attentive to this, and help students get the food they need to be successful throughout the school week. In a PK4 classroom, it is important for students to feel comfortable enough to ask for help and open up about their troubles, therefore, they can get actual help.

Macaluso, N. (2023, November 1). Early childhood education programs fight food insecurity in Philadelphia and beyond. Chalkbeat. Retrieved from https://www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2022/12/7/23482251/philadelphia-early-childhood-education-food-insecurity-hungry-children-schools-data/

Physical Activity

en948631 — 2024-09-18 05:07:30 UTC

This article on the benefits of physical activity and exercise in the classroom from Fresno Pacific University Staff examines the improvement of physical health, mental health, and academic performance by students when engaging in 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Physical activity can help ease anxiety and depression while also increasing self esteem. Physical activity also improves concentration, and decreases distraction in the classroom. Students should learn the importance of physical activity and the improvements it can make within the school day. Elementary school teachers should have physical activities in the classroom, and encourage students to move around. In a PK4 classroom, students should think about their lifestyles, and participate in physical activities to improve their own wellbeing.

Fresno Pacific University. (n.d.). The benefits of physical activity and exercise in the classroom. Retrieved from https://ce.fresno.edu/news/the-benefits-of-physical-activity-and-exercise-in-the-classroom/

Intentional Injury and Violence

en948631 — 2024-09-18 05:17:00 UTC

This article on educators playing a role in preventing suicide from NEA News examines the actions educators can take when encountering a suicide situation. For ages 5-9, suicide is 10th leading cause of death, and a caring school enviornment can help prevent students from commiting suicide. There are many signs of depression in a student that teachers can look for and determine if the student needs help. Teachers should also keep suicide in the conversation, no matter the age, because everyone goes through mental health issues. It is crucial for students to learn about suicide, and where to get help if needed. They should always be offered assistance, and know they are not alone in this situation. As elementary teachers, we need to be active, and observant when seeing the students, and change in behavior. In a PK4 classroom, students should be comfortable enough to ask for help, and they can learn tools, at a young age, to help them get through the bad days.

Álvarez, B. (n.d.). Educators can play a role in preventing student suicide | NEA. Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/educators-can-play-role-preventing-student-suicide

Death/Grief/Loss

en948631 — 2024-09-18 05:28:52 UTC

This article on supporting your students after the death of a family member or friend from New York Life Foundation examines the ways you can support students after going through loss. Young students may not know how to grieve, and it may be confusing for their brains. Students should always know it is okay to talk about their feelings, and it is okay to be in pain. They should be offered with help and learning support to assist them during this difficult time. As teachers, it is important to always show support and make it known to students that they are not alone. In the PK4 classroom, students should learn about death and grief because it is important to know there is always help and tools to use during the harder times.

Schonfeld, D. J., Quackenbush, M., New York Life Foundation, AFT, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, & Russ Curtis. (n.d.). SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENTS. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/2015/supportingyourstudents2013.pdf

Trauma

en948631 — 2024-09-18 12:10:23 UTC

This article on supporting students experiencing trauma by Regional Educationsal Library examines different classroom strategies that teacher can use to assist students when faced with trauma. Teachers need to form a trauma informed classroom, and provide supports to their students. Trauma can effect the academic performance of the students, therefore, educators must understand the impacts of trauma, and see the signs of different behavior within the students. Dealing with trauma isn’t the easiest thing, but there are ways that teachers can help. It is important for students to learn about the tools they can use when dealing with trauma. As teachers, we need to make a trauma informed classroom, and be observant when watching students behavior change. Students can encounter trauma with anything, some things you don't know about. In a PK4 classroom, they should learn tools to help, and feel the support to get through this difficult time.

Regional Educational Laboratory Program (REL): Appalachia. (n.d.). Classroom strategies to support students experiencing trauma. Retrieved from https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/appalachia/blogs/blog51_strategies-to-support-students-experiencing-trauma.asp

Personal Health and Wellness

en948631 — 2024-09-18 12:24:48 UTC

This article on hand hygiene in schools from Clean Hands examines the importance of keeping your hands clean, and staying healthy through the school year. It is important to promote hand hygiene in your schools and ECE programs because washing your hands for 20 seconds can keep you clean and safe. Hand sanitizer is not a proper substitute for soap, so only use it as a last resort. It is important to monitor young students when using hand sanitizer, because poisoning is common with chemicals. This teaches health to students by educating young students about germs, and keeping clean to stay healthy. As teachers, we can teach the proper way to wash hands, and monitor the students to make sure all students are staying clean. Teachers should also keep hand sanitizer out of reach for young students for safety reasons. In a PK4 classroom, students should have access to hand washing stations, and hand sanitizer when needed. It is important for students to know the importance of washing you hands, and eliminating germs.

About hand hygiene in schools and early care and education settings. (2024, April 19). Clean Hands. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/prevention/about-hand-hygiene-in-schools-and-early-care-and-education-settings.html#:~:text=School%2Dbased%20and%20early%20care,water%20are%20not%20readily%20available.

Safety & Preventing Unintentional Injury

en948631 — 2024-09-18 12:56:11 UTC

This article on teaching young children basic first aid skills by Kids College examines the importance of teaching young children basic first aid skills to keep calm when dealing with situations. Children must stay calm when getting injuried, and there are tools to ease panic. Teachers can play doctor, use imaginary medical supplies, and give fake symptoms to teach the students how to care for hurt people. Young students should learn about a first aid kit, and what each thing does. This teaches young students health because it is important to know how to care for eachother in situations when you can’t reach a professional. As a teacher, there are many activities to help students, and it is important to give them a safe environment to help each other. In a PK4 classroom, students should learn how to help each other, and stay calm in situations.

Scafidas, J. (n.d.). Teaching young children basic first aid skills | Kids College. Kids College. https://kidscollege.com.au/teaching-young-children-basic-first-aid-skills/