Advocating for Health Equity
For health and physical educators, it comes as no surprise that childhood obesity is now recognized as one of the greatest social injustices of our time. As educational systems call for all students to have equitable access to quality educational experiences, it is critical that leaders are reminded that health equity needs to be part of the conversation. Healthy students make better learners.
In San Diego County:
- More than one-third of San Diego County students are categorized as overweight or obese.
- Childhood obesity rates are twice as high for Hispanic students compared to non-Hispanic students.
- Obesity rates for economically disadvantaged students are twice as high compared to students who are not economically disadvantaged.
- An estimated 80 percent of children ages 10 to 15 who are overweight will become obese by age 25, with increased risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes
- Many overweight students experience bullying, isolation, and discrimination
To change these outcomes, we need to begin to change systems. Consider some of the following:
- Focus programming and instruction on developing students’ health and physical literacy
- Review class time use to ensure students are getting as much time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as they can
- Make classes meaningful and fun
- Find opportunities for students to be physically active throughout the day
- Advocate for policies, programs, and activities that promote health equity
- Use creative ways to engage stakeholders in healthy activities, such as nutrition or activity challenges, or sharing motivational newsletter articles, healthy community activities, and resources
It is critical that as the educational community focuses on equity, it is with the lens of the “whole child” so that students leave our programs empowered with the skills, understanding, competence, confidence, and motivation to live a healthy lifestyle.
Paige Metz
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
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Calling All Health and Physical Education Leaders!
Don’t miss the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Advisory meeting on April 30. Make sure your district or site is represented as health and physical education leaders from throughout San Diego County come together to discuss trends, legislation, litigation, best practices, and opportunities in health and physical education. Together we will tackle big issues, leverage assets, develop strategies, and start planning for 2019-20. The
Health and Physical Education Advisory meeting will take place at the SDCOE main campus from 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. April 30. There is no fee to attend, but
registration is required.
Summer Professional Learning Opportunities
Need continuing education units, looking to improve your practice, or interested in learning more about health and physical education? Below is a list of professional learning opportunities that are scheduled to take place in California this summer:
- July 23-24 and Nov. 9-10 (CSU Channel Islands)
- July 23-27 and Oct. 26-27 (CSU Long Beach)
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2019-20 Calendar of Events for SDCOE Health and Physical Education
It’s never too early to start planning your professional learning for the next year. Below are tentative events and dates. If you have suggestions for trainings, please email them to
[email protected]. SDCOE wants to offer what you need!
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Physical Education Advisory Meetings
Three-Day Physical Literacy Institutes
Physical Education Leadership Academy
Health/Physical Education Inquiry, Innovation, and Implementation (I3)
Health Education Materials Fair
Exemplary Elementary Physical Education Site Visits
Exemplary Secondary Physical Education Site Visits
Event flyers and links to register will be out shortly -- keep an eye out for details and information in upcoming
Monthly Updates! On-site professional learning, consultation, walk-throughs, and coaching are encouraged and available. Contact
Paige Metz for more information.
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Poway Teacher Shares Tech Integration Expertise
Bailee Sandsmark, a physical education teacher from Bernardo Heights Middle School in Poway Unified School District, has been busy sharing her tech expertise with colleagues throughout San Diego County and the state. Presenting at both the SDCOE Learning and Innovation Summit and the CAHPERD Tech Stronger 19 event at the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) State Conference, she is actively working to help others strategically use technology in physical education. That is why she is this month's most valuable person (MVP). Sandsmark is currently a member of the 2018-19 cohort of the San Diego County Physical Education Leadership Academy and coaches softball at Mt. Carmel High School. Thank you for all you do, Bailee. You are definitely an MVP!
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DMD Clone
The
DMD Clone app is an automated cloning camera app that clones you in different poses with a fixed background to create one image. It is a great way to show all the steps of a skill at the same time so that students are able to isolate each technique step. The app could be used by teachers to help students learn a skill, or by students to demonstrate skill mastery. It was presented by the CAHPERD Tech Stronger 19 Team at the CAHPERD Conference. The app costs $1.99.
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Challenge Students to Choose ‘This’ Instead of ‘That’
When it comes to health and fitness, little things in life can add up to make a big difference in overall health and physical literacy. Challenge students to substitute a current behavior with one that is more likely to help them reach their health and fitness goals. Have them each identify one change in behavior and ask them to be consistent with that change for a specified amount of time. At the end of the time, have students measure their health and fitness. Determine which “this” instead of “that” combination showed the biggest results. Publish them in your local school paper or on social media to promote these positive shifts in behavior to others. For the latest FITNESSGRAM protocols and information, check out the
reference guide and
training videos
on the California Department of Education (CDE) website.
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My Favorite Mistake Today
Some students are afraid to make mistakes, but mistakes are critical to learning. They help us process, frame, and rethink our understanding or skill execution. Instead of trying to hide mistakes, encourage students to use them as learning opportunities by asking them to share their favorite mistake with a partner. A favorite mistake is one that, while they aren’t happy they made it, helped them learn more about the content or skill. Identifying the error, combined with describing how it helped them learn, engages students more meaningfully and thoughtfully with the content. So go ahead and ask, “What was your favorite mistake today and why?”
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Roll the Dice
After students have participated in an activity long enough for them to build some ability to play or participate, and you are ready to mix things up, have them “Roll the Dice.” Give each group, court, or field one die and a card that describes what they do if they roll a one, two, three, four, five, or six. Each number corresponds with a modification to the game they will play. Here are some examples:
- Play a game of two-on-two to 11 points. You can only pass using your left foot.
- Play a game of three-on-one keep-away.
- Steal a player from another team to play for five points.
- Play a game of two-on-two, but each team has to pass at least four times before shooting.
- Jog to another court and cheer them on with real school spirit!
- You have one minute to change one rule of the game to make it more fun. Try it out!
Once they have completed the first rolled die task, they roll again. Be creative and have fun with it. You can even have students choose what they have to do for each face of the die. This idea was presented by Joey Feith at the CAHPERD Conference.
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Documents Help Define Quality Physical Education
SDCOE, in collaboration with San Diego Unified School District, has created two tools to help teachers and administrators define quality physical education. The Foundations for Quality Physical Education: Observation Guide can be used by teachers as a self-evaluation tool or can help guide administrators’ understanding of what quality physical education looks like in action. The Physical Education Best Practice Brochure describes shifts in practice that will improve students’ physical literacy.
Professional Articles, Videos, Websites Worth Your Attention
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Nominations Now Accepted for Teacher, Program of the Year Awards
The San Diego CAHPERD Unit is accepting nominations for 2018-19 award recipients. The deadline to submit initial nominations is April 15. Final applications for teacher and program of the year nominations are due May 1. Please use
this link to submit nominations for:
- Teacher of the Year (elementary and secondary)
- Program of the Year (elementary and secondary)
- Outstanding New Health/Physical Education Professional (first two years teaching)
- Administrator Recognition
- Community Partner Recognition
- Retirement Recognition
- Exceptional Contributor Recognition
- Other People or Programs Positively Impacting Health and/or Physical Education
Don’t miss the opportunity to give a well-deserved shout-out to someone who deserves it! For more information, contact
Jason Reisenfeld or
Paige Metz.
San Diego CAHPERD End-of-Year Social and Awards May 14
San Diego County health, physical education, recreation, and dance professionals are invited to celebrate the amazing work that is taking place in San Diego County. Look for details in upcoming
Monthly Updates!
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Part of Federal Program Monitoring Reviews
The CDE will be
monitoring implementation of comprehensive sexual health education programs. The monitoring will assure compliance with the California Healthy Youth Act and will be part of the CDE’s Federal Program Monitoring. As the monitoring tool and details are released, they will be communicated in future
Monthly Updates.
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at
SDCOE
and in our districts across the county.
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