Preparing to teach about healthy living begins with knowing the curriculum expectations associated with it. Find ways to help students focus on the key learnings from the overall expectations. Based on the needs of your students, adapt and use the 2015 H&PE Curriculum’s optional examples, teacher prompts, and student responses as guides for your classroom discussions.
Theory into Practice – Consider working with your department or grade team to develop a list of board and community resources to support and enhance student learning. Update this list on an annual basis.
It is important for educators to recognize when they require additional support. Some school board staff and/or community partners are available to assist in knowledge mobilization and implementation of the curriculum. Advice can be sought from educational colleagues such as fellow educators, school board staff, guidance counsellors, child and youth workers, school social workers, child psychologists, educational assistants, or child welfare practitioners. Professionals may be contacted at the local health unit or through related websites. Equally valuable may be the experience and knowledge shared by relevant community members such as spiritual leaders, school chaplains, elders, settlement workers, and people working at culturally significant agencies that work to meet the needs of diverse groups in the community. When educators use information from knowledgeable professionals and access valuable resources, they inform their teaching in important ways. Students naturally benefit from such thorough preparation and networking.
Educators who require additional support in order to teach healthy living have many valuable resources available including Ministry of Education curriculum support materials and additional support materials from EduGains.
