Health promotion approach discussed in article 5
Schools should adopt the ethos of a healthy life through healthy habits and behaviours
3 Key Points
1. “number of students who are regular smokers has risen”
I simply found this an alarming statistic and that despite the advertisements on television and the packaging of cigarettes, teachers can play a pivotal role in the education of health issues and the dangers of smoking. I think that this highlights the need for engaging, interactive hands-on health/science lessons so that children can learn in a language applicable to them the dangers of smoking.
2. Importance of parental and community involvement
Through including parents the values and teachings implemented at school are further adhered to in the home and healthy eating is thus seen as a way of life as opposed to something that is done only at school. I think it is important to keep parents updated through communication between school and home through parent teacher nights, notices and the use of student diaries.
3. Mental Health
I found it interesting that this area of health was not mentioned in line with health promotion as I think it is of equal importance to the physical health.
Impact of health promotion on my teaching?
In my teaching I will endeavor to include healthy habits and behaviours both through specific curriculum areas and also subtly through ‘Brain Food’ time and adherence to ‘No Hat No Play’ policies but also through modeling the desired healthy habits and behaviours which health promotion is attempting to teach to students.
2. How will you build a safe and supportive classroom that is inclusive of all?
- Through fostering a sense of community within all members of class, including the teacher. To ensure that all students are aware that they are an integral part of the class and that without them the class would not be the same.
- Construction of a set of Class rules/Class contract
- Encourage all students to undertake roles and responsibilities both at the whole class level and on an individual basis
- Class meetings
- Behaviour management – restorative justice
3. The school in which you work will shape your health and that of the students…
- My practicum school has a range of policies and practices to keep staff, students, volunteers and visitors safe.
- The school is health promoting
- All buildings and play areas in the school are safety checked. There is adequate shade and covering in the event of severe heat or wet weather. There are traffic wardens to assist students and ensure safe passage both to and from school. Healthy food is available at the canteen and ‘Brain Food’ is permitted in the classroom during the morning and water bottles are allowed on desks at all times.
- Sun block is available in classrooms and the office
- There is a ‘no hat no play’ policy. Teachers support this by wearing hats during PE, physical activity, recess, lunch and before/after school duties.
4. Partnerships with the wider community
- The fences around the school do not keep the community out and do ensure the safety of the pupils
- No strong evidence of learning away from the school. Excursions are the greatest example of this and swimming lessons.
- The school board invites members of the local community to take part and to attend the AGM. Through this involvement that school is part of the community and the community is part of the school which fosters a working and learning environment in which productive change can take place.
student number 2039322
