Level Up Health Education

What does empathy look like in a skills-based health education curriculum? In today's episode, I share two activities (visible thinking routines) that ask students to consider perspectives different than their own and then demonstrate skills that put that understanding into action. Resources Mentioned (in order): Adolescent Empathy Influences Bystander Defending in School Bullying: A Three-Le...

In today's episode, I open up my (virtual) Question Box to answer two questions submitted by health education teachers. I give my take on teaching about financial literacy in health class and share resources for teaching students with cognitive disabilities. Resources From This Episode: A Practical Guide for Teaching Health Education to Students with Intellectual Disabilities (Haley Kavanagh...

In this episode, I talk through the changes I'm going to try out in my classroom this year. And, because I missed this opportunity while recording, imagine this as the introduction to this episode: "Health teachers talk about changes a lot, but this isn't a puberty episode..." (or something like that). Submit your questions for me to answer here! Question Form Don't forget...

A conversation with a confused student, combined with a lesson created by two student teachers, led me to rethink the skill of advocacy. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Circles of Action Visible Thinking Routine Submit your questions for Jeff to answer here! Question Form Don't forget to sign up for my free email newsletter: Newsletter Sign Up AI Disclaimer: I outline or script my podcas...

In today's episode, I explain what teaching the same skill across multiple grade levels could look like. I share how we teach advocacy in grades 6, 7, and 8 at our middle school. Other NHES skills, such as interpersonal communication and analyzing influences, are also taught at multiple grade levels and are mentioned here. Submit your questions for Jeff to answer here! Question Form Don'...

I start every class with a review of what we went over in the previous class, and if we completed any skill practice, I make sure to include examples in my review. Today's episode covers the "This or That?" activity I use to review at the start of health class. Resources Mentioned in This Episode "This or That?" Examples Submit your questions for Jeff to answer here! Quest...

In this "Summer Session," I share a set of skill cues for teaching the skill of advocacy in a skills-based health education classroom. Resources From This Episode: SHAPE America National Health Education Standards RMC Health: Advocacy  Submit your questions for Jeff to answer here! Question Form Don't forget to sign up for my free email newsletter: Newsletter Sign Up AI Disclaimer:...

In this "Summer Session" episode, I talk about the "Jotter Box Handout," which replaced mini white boards in my classroom. It's an absurdly simple, basic, low-tech document that I call a "Swiss Army Knife" and use for a variety of purposes in my classroom. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Click here for a Jotter Box Handout Template (it's literally just...

After a two-month break, I'm back! As part of my "Summer Sessions" series, I'm revisiting email newsletters I sent out before I started my podcast and recording them as podcasts, with updates as needed. Today's episode is a brief look at skill transfer and how you can keep your end destination the same while having multiple paths to get there. Submit your questions for me...

A few years ago, I was looking to revamp my summative assessment for a sixth-grade unit. This unit focuses on the skill of interpersonal communication and uses the content area of anti-bullying/seeking support from adults. This unit was initially challenging to create a summative assessment for because there were so many sub-skills within the skill of communication that I wanted students to demons...

You can improve your skills-based health education teaching and curriculum without a major overhaul. In today's episode, I go over 7 strategies you can use in order to "level up" your SBHE teaching and/or curriculum. These strategies work for both new and veteran teachers alike. Resources Mentioned In This Episode RMC Health: Skill Cues The Essentials of Teaching Skills-Based Health...

I recorded this in a different location than usual, so the audio quality might not be what it usually is. When the SHAPE America National Health Education Standards were revised in 2024, I mourned the loss of an oft-used performance indicator from Standard 1. In today's brief episode, I celebrate its replacement and share details about how my units have changed as a result of this new perform...

I want to encourage you to think about a mindset shift. A mindset shift relating to your curriculum. A shift relating to your students. Ultimately, a shift in how you decide to teach health education. This shift is based on changes made to the SHAPE National Health Education Standards in 2024, specifically the addition of "...the health and well-being of self and others" at the end of ev...

In this "sprint" episode, Jeff tackles a topic in under five minutes. Today, Jeff reviews a concept known as FIRME Action, developed by Research for Better Teaching. This checklist can be used during instruction or between classes, whenever you're reviewing formative assessment data. Send Jeff a message!

Want a simpler, stronger way to build real health literacy? In today's episode, I make the case for teaching one National Health Education Standard skill per unit, pairing it with relevant content and using the skill-development model to deliver focused practice and actionable feedback. The twist: while classrooms thrive on focus, life blends skills, so we can also map the natural connections...

What's the point of health content if students don't know what to do with it? Where does functional content knowledge fit into skills like decision making, analyzing influences, and advocacy? In today's episode, Jeff talks about where functional content knowledge fits into skill demonstration in a skills-based health education classroom. Links Episode 1: Choosing Functional Health C...

My daughter's enthusiasm for Legos has me feeling nostalgic for the sets I built as a kid. It's also made me think a lot about scaffolding, both as a dad guiding her through Lego builds and as a teacher in the classroom. In this episode, I share some brief examples of what scaffolding can look like in the health education classroom. Resources Scaffolding in Education (Explained in 4 Minu...

Connecting with our students is an important part of our job as health teachers. This episode shares ideas for embedding how you connect with students into your instructional practice and a Mid-Year 5 Day Challenge to help you be intentional about how you connect with students. Join the Free Mid-Year 5 Day Challenge here! Submit your questions for Jeff to answer here! Question Form Don't forg...

If you ask five different educators what makes a lesson or activity engaging, you'll probably get five different answers. In today's episode, I talk about what engagement is, and what it isn't, in a health education classroom. Universal Design for Learning: Engagement The Skillful Teacher: What Accounts for Student Engagement Engagement Is Not A Gimic (Brooke Mckinney) Submit your q...

In this episode, I reflect on teaching with a lens of gratitude and joy. Happy Holidays, everyone! Submit your questions here! Question Form Don't forget to sign up for my free email newsletter: Newsletter Sign Up Send Jeff a message!

Teaching students how to access valid and reliable information has never been more challenging...or more important. In this episode, I answer a health teacher's question about teaching the skill of accessing valid information. I review practical instructional strategies and ways students can access information, products, and services to improve their health and well-being. Links Mentioned In...

In this episode, Jeff answers a question about visible thinking routines. He reviews what they are, why they're effective, and how to use them in your health education classroom. Future episodes will follow a two-week-on, one-week-off format for now. The "off" week might include a shorter episode or a throwback reading of an older newsletter. Still, my focus on the "off" w...

In this episode, Jeff answers a question about teaching and assessing the skill of analyzing influences, or National Health Education Standard 2. Links Mentioned: Influence, Content, Explanation Google Doc RMC Health NHES Teacher Toolkit 7th Grade Information Doc Do you have a question you'd like Jeff to answer? Fill out this Google Form! Sign up for the Level Up Health Education Newsletter!...

In this episode, Jeff explains five things he does every day to build connections with his students. Check out the First Five emails here . Do you have a question you'd like Jeff to answer? Fill out this Google Form! Sign up for the Level Up Health Education Newsletter! Send Jeff a message!

In this episode, Jeff talks about a unit hook he uses to introduce a unit on analyzing influences using milk, food coloring, and dish soap. Milk Food Coloring And Dish Soap Experiment ~ Incredible Science Do you have a question you'd like Jeff to answer? Fill out this Google Form! Sign up for the Level Up Health Education Newsletter! Send Jeff a message!