HEALTH AND LEARNING: STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

HED 42575/52575-004 (13152/20934) T-TH 12:15 – 1:30(102 White Hall)

 

Laurie M. Wagner, M.Ed., CHES                       Office Hours:        T/TH   9:30 - 10:30 PM,

316 White Hall                                                                           T/TH   1:30 - 3:00PM,     

Kent State University                                                                           or by appointment

(330) 672-7977 (School), (330) 677-5410 (Home)                                          

lyoo@kent.edu

www.personal.kent.edu/~lyoo

 

Text: Ö        Readings housed on “Electronic Reserve”

Ö                    Crutcher, Chris.  Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books, 1993. (See your local public library).

Ö                    Readings from selected websites (will be identified in class)

 

Brief Course Description:

Professional literature in various disciplines confirms the value of coordinated school and community strategies to promote health as a means to improving academic outcomes for students.  The focus of this course is directed toward analyzing critical health issues confronting learners, evaluating the impact of health risk behaviors on academic achievement, and reviewing school and community policy and practice to respond to such threats to health status and educational achievement.

 

Course Objectives:  By the end of the semester, students will have:

1.       analyzed critical health issues confronting school-age children and youth.

2.       evaluated the impact of health risk behaviors on academic outcomes.

3.       review school and community policy and practice recommendations to improve student health and achievement outcomes.

4.       completed training in Standard First Aid and CPR.

5.       practiced crisis management and student advocacy protocol.

 

 

NOTE #1:          IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIVERSITY POLICY, IF YOU HAVE A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY AND REQUIRE ACCOMMODATIONS TO OBTAIN EQUAL ACCESS IN THIS COURSE, PLEASE CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER OR WHEN GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT FOR WHICH AN ACCOMMODATION IS REQUIRED.  STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MUST VERIFY THEIR ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES (SDS) IN THE MICHAEL SCHWARTZ STUDENT SERVICES CENTER (672-2972).

 

NOTE #2:          IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE PROPER ENROLLMENT IN CLASSES.  YOU ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW YOUR OFFICIAL CLASS SCHEDULE DURING THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER TO ENSURE PROPER ENROLLMENT.  SHOULD YOU IDENTIFY AN ERROR IN YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE, YOU HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 18, 2001 TO CORRECT IT WITH YOUR ADVISING OFFICE.  IF REGISTRATION ERRORS ARE NOT CORRECTED BY THAT DATE AND YOU CONTINUE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES FOR WHICH YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ENROLLED, YOU ARE ADVISED NOW THAT YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A GRADE AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER.

 

NOTE #3:          WEBSITE READING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ASSIGNED FOR DISCUSSION AS THE COURSE PROGRESSES. 


 

 

Tentative Class Meeting Outline

Week of:                                                              Topic:

 

January 14, 2002                                          Course Overview, Rationale for this course as a requirement, Definitions of Health

 

January 21, 2002                                          Leading Causes of Morbidity and Mortality of

Americans, The Nation’s Health Objective Agenda

(McGinnis, Foege. JAMA, 1993.)

 

January 28, 2002                                 A Focus on Health Issues of School-age Children and Youth, Roles of School Professionals in Medical Care, Disease Prevention (Universal Precaution Protocol), and Health Promotion

(Lewis. Phi Delta Kappan, 1997.)

(World Health Organization. Journal of School Health, 2000.)

 

 

February 4, 2002                                 The 6 CDC Problem Priority Areas, National Health Education Standards, YRBS findings

(Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey - Summary, 1999.)

(Kann, Kinchen, et al. Journal of School Health, 1999.)

Valois, Thatcher, et al. Journal of School Health, 1997.)

(Grunbaum, Kann, et al.  Journal of School Health, 2000.)

 

February 11, 2002                               Health Risk Behaviors: A Threat to School Success and                                      Academic Achievement

(Symons, Cinelli et al. Journal of School Health, 1997.)

(Classroom Breakfast. Helping Maryland Students Make the Grade. Maryland Department of Education. 2000.)

 

February 19, 2002                            Health Risks: Threats to Achievement, cont.

Review Session - Exam #1

 

February 21, 2002                                               Exam #1

 

 

February 25, 2002                                         Child Abuse - Mandated Reporter Issues

(Summit County Children Services.  Recognition and Reporting of Child abuse and Neglect)

(Crutcher, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes - See note above)

 

 

 


March 4, 2002                                               Education Professionals as Advocates, Practicing                   Advocacy and Referral Skills

 

March 11, 2002                                             Inclusion of the Learner with Special Needs     

 

March 18, 2002                                   What do we do about such issues of importance? Roles of Teachers in Health Promotion - Citizens of the School Community

(Meek. Educational Leadership. 1998.)

 

March 25 – 31 2002                                             SPRING BREAK!!!!  HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

April 1, 2002                                       The Coordinated School Health Program - An efficient and effective model

(Tyson. Phi Delta Kappan (Special Report). 1999.)

(Lawton. Middle Ground. 1999.)

 

April 4, 2002                                              CSHP cont. Review Session - Exam #2

 

April 9, 2002                                                        Exam #2

 

April 11, 2002                                     Sexual Risk-reduction and Health Promotion Recommendations, Student Depression as a threat to school success

 

April 15, 2002                                     Suicide Issues in Context of the CSHP (Micro/Macro Management Recommendations)

(Jones, American School Boards Journal. 2001)

 

April 22, 2002                                     Violence risk-reductions in the School Community,

                                                                   Conflict Resolution Strategies      

(US Secret Service. 2000)         

 

April 29, 2002                                     Parent Involvement/Parent Engagement in Academic Achievement and Health Promotion

(Finn, Educational Leadership. 1998)

(Resnick, Bearman et al. JAMA. 1997)

 

May 2, 2002                                                Review Session - Exam #3    

Due Date: Completion/Confirmation

1st Aid/CPR Certification

By the end of class please!

 

May 3, 2002                                                Due Date: Individual Investigation (See Syllabus)

Due by NOON (in my mailbox please!!!)

 

May 8, 2002                                                Exam #3

(12:45 - 3:00 pm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Course Evaluation:  A point system will be utilized for evaluating all class assignments.  The following will establish a non-competitive means of keeping track of your progress in the course:

 

1.       Participation                     30 pts. (each class worth 1 pt.)      

2.       Exam 1                                     50 pts.                  

3.       Exam 2                                     50 pts.                             SCALE:

1.                 Exam 3                                     50 pts.                            252 - 280 = A                 

4.       Current First Aid Certification       25 pts.                             224 - 251 = B

5.       CPR Certification                        25 pts.                             196 - 223 = C

6.       Individual Investigation               50 pts.                             Below 196 (Come on!!??)

280 pts.

Assignment Guidelines:

1.       Exams:       These tests will include both objective and subjective items, and will contain material from readings on electronic reserve, the text, lectures, handouts, guests, etc.

 

2.       First Aid and CPR Certifications: By the end of the semester, all students must confirm that           they hold current certifications in Standard First Aid (American Red Cross) and Community CPR (NOTE: must include child and adult skills @ minimum) (American Red Cross or American Heart Association).  These courses are available through local community agencies (www.portageredcross.org), fire companies, ambulance services, and through selected campus sources.  Students must provide the instructor with a card confirming current certification in both emergency care protocol. For full credit, certifications must be current through at least the end of the semester (by the conclusion of the May 2, 2002 class meeting).

 

3.       Individual Investigation (DUE DATE – May 3, 2002):  Throughout this course, you will engage in a series of conversations that focus on the interests and concerns of stakeholders in the educational process.  This investigation assignment is worth 50 points (see above), and will require you to talk with 5 particular people: an administrator, a teacher, a parent, a student, and a member of the support staff (counselor, nurse, secretary, custodian, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc,).  While these conversations need not take place in any particular order, the people with whom you speak must have current involvement with students (no retirees please).  In addition, for full credit, a minimum of 3 of these people must represent the same school district.  In each case, please identify only the specific role/title of the person with whom you speak.  PLEASE DO NOT IDENTIFY THE NAME OF YOUR CONTACT PERSONS.  Please gather the following information:

 

FROM ADMINISTRATORS:

1.                 Exact title, sex, years of professional service, professional background, academic background, and salary.

2.                 The extent to which they feel supported by their board of education.

3.                 Discuss 2 school policies that are in place within their building/district intended to enhance the health of the student population.

4.                 Identify and discuss the most common and most dangerous health issues with which their students are dealing, and

5.                 Identify and discuss specific ways in which the academic progress of their students is affected by identified health issues.

 

 

FROM THE TEACHER AND THE SUPPORT STAFF INDIVIDUALS:


1.                 Exact title, sex, years of professional service, professional background, academic background, and salary.

2.                 Their perceptions concerning the extent to which they feel supported by the administration, colleagues, and parents with whom they work.

3.                 The extent to which they feel that their work is affected by the availability of resources (financial, equipment, time, etc.).

4.                 Identify and discuss the most common and most dangerous health issues with which their students are dealing, and

5.                 Identify and discuss specific ways in which the academic progress of their students is affected by identified health issues.

 

FROM PARENTS:

1.                 Number of children for whom they are parents/guardians (sex, ages, and grade levels of each child under their care).

2.                 Description of their beliefs concerning their responsibility in supporting/participating in the academic outcomes of their children.

3.                 Specify the activities in which they participate with their children and the activities in which they participate with their local schools to support the academic outcomes of their children.

4.                 The extent to which they feel comfortable/welcomed in the schools attended by their children.  In specific, please discuss the kind of relationship that they feel they have with the schools and the professionals employed there.

5.                 Identify and discuss the most common and most dangerous health issues with which their children (or their children’s friends)  are confronted.

6.                 The specific ways in which they think that the health issues or health decisions that confront their child can compromise the academic progress of their children (or their children’s friends).

7.                 Their perceptions concerning the role of schools in promotion of child and adolescent health.

 

FROM STUDENTS:

1.                 A brief description of their family unit and their school (family: # of adults and kids in their household, and their place in the birth order; school: size, location, public/private).

2.                 Description of their beliefs concerning the most common and most dangerous health issues with which they and their friends are confronted.

3.                 Describe the extent to which they see evidence that health risks compromise the academic outcomes of students in their school.

4.                 The extent to which they feel a sense of “connectedness” with their family, school, and community.

5.                 Their perceptions concerning the most important roles for families and schools in promotion of health and academic outcomes for children and youth.

 

IN ORDER TO COMPILE YOUR FINDINGS INTO WRITTEN FORM, I OFFER THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES:

1.                 Your paper must be typed and must be no longer than (15) double-spaced pages, 12 pt. font., with 1 inch margins.

2.                 You must summarize the responses of each conversation - I encourage some kind of table form.

 


3.                 After the responses of each conversation are summarized, you MUST summarize similarities, differences, and unique or surprising responses or trends from the conversations. 

4.                 You must then conclude your work with an interpretation section.  This section should be no less than 3 - 5 pages in length.  It should highlight your reactions to the responses of the individuals with whom you had contact.  In specific, what did you learn -  the impact of your findings on reinforcing, adding to, changing your views about school-age students and the challenges that confront them, and your views about developing relationships with stakeholders and your role as a teacher in cultivating such relationships.

5.                 Finally, your interpretation section should include a discussion of the responses of individuals  whose beliefs and experiences are most similar and different from yours.  What can we learn from such differences and similarities?

 

GRADING RUBRIC:

1.       Summary of each of the 5 conversations (15 pts.)

          2.       You must summarize similarities, differences, and unique or surprising responses of the stakeholders (10 pts.)

          3.       You must then conclude your work with an interpretation section (20 pts.)

·        This section should be between 3 - 5 pages in length.

·        It should highlight your reactions to the responses of the stakeholders

·        What did you learn?

·        What is the impact of your findings on reinforcing, adding to, changing your views about school-age students and the challenges that confront them, and your views about developing relationships with stakeholders and your role as a teacher in cultivating such relationships.

·        Finally, your interpretation section should include a discussion of the responses of individuals  whose beliefs and experiences are most similar and different from yours.  What can we learn from such differences and similarities?

          4.       Grammar, spelling, sentence structure, typing errors, etc. (5 pts.) HINT: Please use that spell-checker and proofread your paper before handing it in!