Health Annotations by Alyssa Alosi

Healthy Eating

aa968196 — 2024-04-16 19:53:42 UTC

This article on healthy eating from NBC News discusses the decisions made to offer more nutritious foods in schools. The article describes how limiting added sugars in the school's breakfast and lunches will implement healthy habits in children. This proposal will improve the health of millions of students, aiding them into reaching their full potential due to the evidence that kids perform better academically when the meals are healthier. The article also states the importance of its wide-reaching effect, allowing children who don’t have easy access to healthy food to have it at school instead. In the PreK-4 classroom teachers can address the importance through interactive lessons, such as creating balanced meal plans, exploring food groups through games and puzzles, and more.

NBCUniversal News Group. (2023, February 3). Less sugar, less salt: USDA proposes nutrition changes to school meals. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/less-sugar-less-salt-usda-proposes-nutrition-changes-school-meals-rcna68973

Physical Activity

aa968196 — 2024-04-17 17:32:31 UTC

This article on physical activity from CNN Health explains the importance of movement in students in school. The article mentions how physical activity in school leads to better cognitive performance and fewer behavioral issues; bettering the children academically and physically. Following this research the article stated, it offers ways to incorporate movement into the classroom such as dancing videos on youtube. In the Prek-4 classroom, teachers can use those brain break dancing videos as a way to incorporate physical activity in the classroom and allow a break for the students in order for them to reduce stress, frustration, and decrease the chance of boredom. Not only can teachers include dancing, they can do yoga/mindfulness activities in order to calm the students.

New National Health Education Standards. Physical Education and Health Education-Shape America. (n.d.). https://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/health/new-he-standards.aspx

Intentional Injury and Violence

aa968196 — 2024-04-17 18:07:14 UTC

This article on intentional injury and violence from CNN shows ways schools can incorporate security procedures/fixtures in order to protect students and staff from gun violence. The article states important statistics involving gun violence in schools and the impact it has across the world.

The article offers an engaging layout that gives examples of ways to improve the security of the school such as covering any windows on the doors and even bulletproof whiteboards that turn into a safe room. In the Prek-4 grade classroom, teachers or any staff member can involve age-appropriate discussions on the importance of gun safety, promoting conflict resolution skills, implementing drills for emergency situations, all within a supportive and nurturing classroom environment.

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

Death/Grief/Loss

aa968196 — 2024-04-17 18:23:25 UTC

This article on grief from NBC News talks through death, loss, and grief in children and adults in schools. The article goes into detail about a time when a student revealed he was grieving because he had a family member who wasn't doing well due to Covid19. Rather than the teacher dismissing him to the guidance counselor to finish her lesson, she ended her lesson and began a discussion that allowed her other students to discuss their emotions. Following this story, the article mentions how teachers need to be more equipped to support children who are grieving. In order to do this, administrators have offered grief training for educators. The main way to allow for conversations like this in the Prek-4 classrooms is teachers need to create and obtain a safe space for students to express their emotions. Ways they can do this is by teaching coping strategies and fostering empathy and support among peers and staff to help them navigate the grieving process in a healthy manner.

NBCUniversal News Group. (2020, November 23). How grief training is helping educators manage pandemic-related trauma in schools. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-grief-training-helping-educators-manage-pandemic-related-trauma-schools-n1245167

Trauma

aa968196 — 2024-04-17 18:40:02 UTC

This article on trauma from NBC News addresses how schools are using new ways to deal with childhood trauma. The article discusses how in Ridgeview Elementary School, instead of taking a student outside for recess one day, he went into a converted classroom, known as the "Calm Room" due to his violent behavior on the playground. The article mentions his behaviors derived from trauma at home which caused him to struggle with his behavior in school. One staff member mentioned the importance of the "Calm Room" because he states that some kids just need a safe space to reset and calm down. The article also specifies that the room is open to all students, but it is aimed especially at those who are coping with issues at home (abuse, neglect, divorce, etc). When it comes to addressing these hardships in the Prek-4 classroom, teachers can incorporate this "Calm Room" as well as providing access to resources and support services to help students process and cope with their experiences in a safe and nurturing setting.

NBCUniversal News Group. (n.d.). From aromatherapy to yoga: How schools are addressing the “crisis” of childhood trauma. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/aromatherapy-anger-management-how-schools-are-addressing-crisis-childhood-trauma-n1006076

Personal Health and Wellness

aa968196 — 2024-04-17 19:51:54 UTC

This article on personal health and wellness from CBS News elaborates on ways to prevent illnesses in schools. The article discusses how sickness sky rockets during back to school time due to the cluster of children being in the same room and near each other all day for 5 days of the week. Because of this, the article lists 3 ways to prevent illnesses such as staying healthy, getting vaccinated, and practicing prevention. Lastly, this article offers ways to help children prepare for vaccinations and medications to prevent any illnesses. When it comes to addressing prevention of illnesses in the PreK- 4 classroom, teachers can teach students about personal hygiene practices like proper handwashing and covering coughs, educating them on the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system.

CBS Interactive. (n.d.). Back-to-school sickness: Pediatrician shares 3 tips to help keep kids healthy this season. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/back-to-school-pediatrician-tips-to-kids-healthy/

Mental and Emotional Health

aa968196 — 2024-04-18 20:33:20 UTC

This article on mental and emotional health from The New York Times discusses ways educators are experimenting how to ease the stress students are facing. The article mentions one student who was suffering from depression and anxiety which then lead to behavior problems at school. This student and many others like him learned different coping mechanisms that assured them to not ignore their feelings and instead express them, bringing out a sense of peace and comfort. The article discusses new programs called CHAMP and TRAILS which are one of many programs schools nationwide are using in order to help students who are struggling mentally and emotionally. In the Prek-4 grade classrooms, it is important for teachers to address mental and emotional health because it lays the foundation for students' overall well-being and academic success. Teachers can do so by incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques into daily routines, always modeling healthy coping strategies and positive behavior, and Encouraging open dialogue about emotions and feelings through class discussions or journaling prompts.

Zimmerman, E. (2022, October 6). Meeting the mental health challenge in school and at home. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/education/learning/students-mental-health.html

Safety and Preventing Unintentional Injury

aa968196 — 2024-04-18 20:53:27 UTC

This article on safety in children who play school sports from CNN News mentions ways to protect children from injuries. The article uses statistics to inform the readers on the dangers of playing sports and the injuries that have been occurring due to those certain sports like basketball, football, soccer, etc. Stated by the article, the most dangerous team sport is football and the most common injury is a concussion. The article discusses ways parents/guardians, staff, and coaches can look out for the children during their physical activity and ways to prevent it from happening. When it comes to Prek-4 graders, even though they are young they may still participate in sports and physical activity. What teachers of those grades can do in their classroom is promote teamwork and communication skills to ensure a safe and enjoyable physical activity experience for all students.

Holcombe, M. (2023, January 10). How to protect your kids when they play sports, according to doctors. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/health/sports-injuries-kids-safety/index.html