Jen Christensen from CNN News has written an article pertaining to the rise of suicidal thoughts in students. Christensen describes the increase in the number of children seen in emergency rooms for having suicidal thoughts. She discusses the unprecedented mental health crisis due to the rise in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in children. The article states some anticipated factors for the rise in suicidal thoughts in children including other mental health problems, children responding to trauma in their lives, and a lack of access to therapy and counseling services. The end of her article discusses ways for adults to identify students who may be having suicidal thoughts such as students having friendship problems, students isolating themselves, students who seem increasingly tired, or students showing higher amounts of anxiety and aggression than usual. She closes by discussing the need for adults to intervene as soon as they see these behaviors in children. Christensen’s article pertains to educators teaching health to students as its vital for educators to know the signs that a student may be having suicidal thoughts. Teachers also need to be aware of the increase of these suicidal thoughts in students. Educators can help students learn about suicide prevention by having counselors and health educators speak to students about the warning signs and how to respond when peers may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.

The CDC has written an article on how to help students eat healthier at school. The article discusses that schools can help children practice healthy eating habits by serving healthy foods. The CDC recommends educating families about school meal programs and to also make families aware if their children are eligible to receive free or reduced meals. The article also recommends encouraging students to eat breakfast, and to promote healthy eating throughout the school day. Finally, the CDC discusses the importance of giving students enough time to eat school meals as doing so is linked to increased consumption of meals for students. Teachers need to be aware of the importance of students consuming healthy meals because when students do not have access to healthy meals, their success in the classroom may suffer. Educators can teach students about the importance of consuming healthy foods by providing students with nutrition education, growing a classroom garden, and by teaching about cultural food traditions. 

Collin Webster from the University of South Carolina has written an article on the need for physical education for children. Webster reports that students who are more physically active get better grades and develop increased levels of self-confidence. He includes that the Department of Health and Human Services recommends that school aged children spend at least an hour a day doing a physical activity however, according to the CDC, about one in four kids between six and seventeen were meeting that recommendation. Overall, most schools are not doing enough to keep children fit during the school day and a majority of children need to spend more time being active in both school and at home. Webster concludes by discussing what parents can do to encourage physical activity at home for their students. The information in Websters article is important for teachers to know because students who are more physically active tend to perform better in class. It is important for teachers to include movement activities in their day-to-day classroom lessons. Educators can assist students in acknowledging the importance of being active by engaging in physical activity with them and to reinforce the skills they learn in physical education class in general education curriculum. 

The Ohio Department of Education has written an article on the impact of trauma in students. Trauma from ongoing neglect, abuse, homelessness, or violence causes children to have difficulties with learning and behavior. The article discusses the ways trauma can impact an individual and how an individual’s response to a traumatic event may vary. The article discusses the potential impacts on children’s physiological, emotional, behavioral, and neurological development. Finally, the article discusses how the implications impact student’s academic success. It is vital for educators to understand the impact traumatic events will have on their students development.  They must be aware of the different life experiences the student’s in their class will bring to the table. Educators can assist students who are experiencing trauma by providing them with resources and by having them meet with the guidance counselor for support. 

The American Psychological Association has written an article on students exploring their gender identity. The APA defines gender identity, gender expression, and gender diversity. They then write about how gender identity impacts students school experiences. The APA gives educators ideas of what they can do to support students gender identities such as modeling gender inclusive behavior, implementing non-discriminatory policies, maintaining an open mind, and becoming aware of their own implicit biases and assumptions.  Finally, they provide resources teachers can use to support their students. It is important for educators to support their students gender identity as it is a vital component in order to maintain a classroom culture where students feel welcomed, respected, and safe. Teachers can educate students on gender diversity through including LGBTQ+ literature in their classrooms and by teaching their students to respect one another’s gender identities. 

The American Red Cross wrote an article on practicing and educating children on fire safety. The beginning of the article states how to prevent children from starting fires through investing in flameless candles and by keeping ignitable substances secured out of student’s reach. The next section discusses how to help children survive fires. The American Red Cross talks about installing smoke alarms and replacing batteries once a year, checking once a month to ensure each alarm is working, teaching students about what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one, creating a fire escape plan, and teaching stop, drop, and roll if their clothes are to catch fire. It is important for educators to be aware of fire safety in case a fire is to ever occur in their school or classroom. Teachers can educate students on fire safety by routinely practicing fire drills and creating a plan for escape if a fire was to start in their classroom. 

Evie Blas from Education Week writes an article in how respiratory illnesses are hurting school attendance. The CDC has warned the country about the surge of the flu and RSV. These two viruses are causing a decrease in students school attendance during a time where educators are working to restore school attendance habits created during the pandemic. The surge in respiratory illnesses is causing children’s hospitals throughout the country to reach capacity. Some schools are also feeling the effects and are shifting to remote learning or closure to slow the spread within their buildings. It is important for teachers to be aware of the symptoms of these respiratory illnesses and to have students go to the nurse to be sent home to help stop the spread on the virus to other students. Teachers can educate students on how to prevent infection by teaching them healthy habits such as hand washing and covering their mouth when they sneeze or cough to aid in lowering the spread of these respiratory viruses.