I have heard that many schools and districts have argued that they want to “raising their entire child” in the eight-year education career in Colorado. For example, the Colorado Department of Education supports statewide infrastructure and systems to promote a child-wide approach The whole school, the whole community, the whole child . Additionally, Denver Public Schools End the policy All students must demonstrate a balanced educational experience.
These policies can be found in many educational settings, but they are not sufficient to prepare all children for the harshness of life. To best prepare them, we recommend that there is a greater purpose in incorporating multiple wellnesses into the children’s learning experience.
The concept of wellness includes a variety of things Interconnected dimensions We aim to achieve a balanced and fulfilling state of happiness in our lives. Wellness involves fostering not only our physical health, but also emotional, intellectual, social, mental, environmental, environmental, economic and creative aspects. Among these dimensions are opportunities for children to build resilience, develop learning and development, and develop harmonious relationships with themselves and the world around them.
We firmly believe that we were unable to teach all our children Health dimensions They are not ready to tackle life challenges both inside and outside the classroom. We keep our schools out of responsibility for outstanding excellence, beyond standardized testing and uniform learning standards. We owe our children to do so. We must be without attitude in our commitment to a more holistic approach to education.
Recognize the need for health
Classrooms are more than a place to study algebra and geometry. It’s like a barber shop or a family gathering, and moments become part of an endless story that teachers can tell. These stories are like guides and show how important it is to teach across many wellness dimensions.
When I think about the wellness needs of students, I think about Rob and NA, two young, amazing black boys who have had the opportunity to work as math teachers and basketball coaches. Both were gorgeous and attractive, but each appeared in the learning environment in a very different way.
Rob was a talented middle school basketball player. He was coached well and managed to jump out of the gym. He understood the role athletics could play with his goal of becoming a psychologist. It was refreshing when many kids didn’t know what they wanted to do in life. He joined Capitol Hill Challengea national competition for the stock market game, accompanied the state Capitol to meet state representatives and senators. I remember him asking early in his grade, “Can I be at the 10th grade math level by the end of the year?” This young man had a strong foundation for physical, career, intellectual and financial health, but his health needs could be further raised to ensure his lifespan and happiness in all categories. It has sex. This was especially true for his social and emotional needs. In my opinion, all middle school students need constant care in their field. To ensure he continues his upward trajectory, it is not necessary to continue to contribute to his overall health and not to assume that those needs are already met.
On the other hand, NAS was not very relevant in the educational environment. The NAS was more involved in the disciplinary process. He often told me he knew he could do better, but he didn’t feel the challenge. He felt completely unsupported. He was a child who worked well on the tests, but struggled with tasks and full assignments. I saw in him a bit in myself. I am a student who saw as talent, but never developed that gift. Outside of school I knew he needed emotional support. To help, I host small groups for boys like NAS to express themselves. I don’t think his academic or intellectual needs were met either. Instead of making sure he was growing his glow, we spent time requesting him to follow any rules like dress codes. He played sports, but there was no tendency to his physical health, especially with a stable diet of noodles and takis.
These are the stories of two young men I had in my first grade, but I can think of countless other stories that show just how diverse the needs of students are. These stories justify the need to provide comprehensive wellness education. All students benefit from learning in a combination of wellness dimensions, and educators must begin to find ways and resources to support students while enrolled through school.
Health at our school
Our kids are showing Increased anxiety, depression and behavioral problems. I see these directly increasing and think they are worse than we’re aware. It is also why our kids need to know how to work emotionally and socially, especially in the digital age. Imagine the environment in a school where every student is a plant and operates like a greenhouse, not a manufacturing facility where each plant is given exactly what it takes to grow.
The data shows that It can strengthen academic achievements There are many ways to incorporate wellness on school day by incorporating different approaches to wellness. At the very least, educators should not be ashamed of their commitment to interventions that help all students be social, emotional and intellectual. That’s a requirement Supported multi-tier systems And schools should treat it as more than just a checklist.
Other opportunities exist beyond these three wellness dimensions. Imagine whether children can learn about savings, investments, credits and budgets through their primary and secondary school experiences. They will go well financially and set them up for the life they deserve. Additionally, integrating nutrition and healthy lifestyles into physical education can improve your physical health.
Students should also recognize that the environment is more than forests and oceans. They should learn to be carers of every space they exist. They need to understand that caring for those spaces contributes greatly to the health of our environment. The everyday opportunities to explore their creativity, explore career possibilities, and strengthen their connection with their spiritual selves through mindfulness are ways to engage in overall health.
As part of my fellowship project, I was tasked with finding ways to support my students’ happiness after social and emotional well-being. I came up with the idea of turning a typical school day into a full day wellness workshop with middle schoolers. For example, instead of mathematics, they were able to sign up for healthy eating workshops, taekwondo training, art therapy, emotional regulatory classes, and even appreciation workshops. There were over 20 courses offered for over 200 middle school students who appeared to choose from. It’s becoming a regular experience for middle schoolers, so it’s important to stay in touch with what they want. When asked, they said:
“The other things available on Wellness Day are more martial arts classes like karate, taekwondo, boxing, and MMA.”
“How to have excellent mental health, economic health and environment.”
“More interactive workshops.”
The feedback I have received from students demonstrates my desire to learn more about other things beyond our core subject. There is a need and desire there, and my program is just one example of how to create a holistic wellness program.
To make our children feel better
Children often exist in an environment where they feel welcome, supported and empowered to achieve. Student experiences in-house Health dimensions Provides a context for doing so. Building these dimensions on a regular school day is important to promote the overall development of students. Schools need to be more deeply integrated into the school experience and focus on ensuring that the community is actively involved in the process. In doing so, we can create a bridge that accesses opportunities for children. This comprehensive approach helps students thrive academically and personally, setting them for success in all aspects of life.
When you ask yourself, “What are the kids?” you can answer, “The kids are fine.”
