Will this generation of American children be the first ever not to live as long as their parents, or do American schools still have time to intervene before it’s too late? Under the No Child Left Behind Act, many schools have had to cut back or eliminate physical education and health programs to accommodate an increase in academic time to help prepare students for mandated standardized testing. However, research suggests that children who are physically active and well nourished actually perform better on standardized tests than their counterparts who received more academic class time. As a result of implementing physical activity and proper nutrition back into our schools, there would be no child left behind, and we’d be giving them the opportunity to get fit and able to learn for a lifetime.

  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overweight children have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese as adults and face higher risks for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Obese children are also at risk for developing social and psychological problems which may require additional counseling services. As of 2008, the medical costs for treating obesity-related diseases alone soared to a staggering $147 billion dollars which is placing more financial burdens on an already crippled economy.

   Research suggests that overeating and lack of physical activity are to blame for the spike in childhood obesity. Aside from genetic predisposition, a child’s lifestyle does play a vital role in determining their weight. An average American child spends over 24 hours a week in front of a television or computer screen and ingests far more calories than the body expends. As a result, many children are making unhealthy food choices and not getting enough physical activity. The American Heart Association and the CDC recommend that children engage in at least sixty minutes of physical activity each day. Since children spend over half of their day in school and consume a large portion of their daily food intake there, doesn’t it seem reasonable that they should receive at least 30 minutes of physical activity too?

 Unfortunately, many people feel it is the sole responsibility of the individual school districts to solve the obesity epidemic. Although schools play a vital role, how can these institutions alone intervene when many school districts are facing budgetary constraints and elimination of the very programs needed to make a difference?  They can’t do it alone, but they can begin by using a little creativity and forming partnerships with other public, private, and voluntary organizations which can ease some of the financial burden for all.  

   If your school district has cut back on physical education or other health related programs, classroom teachers may be able to bear some of the burden ( yes, again) by implementing brief stretching or conditioning exercises between classes. Several two to four minute “stretch” breaks could be woven into the school day, which could possibly add up to 20 minutes of physical activity by the end of the week. Simple tag games or relay races can also be used to incorporate physical fitness activities into any of the other curriculum areas. During recess, children could participate in simple calisthenics or take a brisk walk with their classmates. With a little ingenuity and flexibility, anything is possible!

 Other options available for individuals or school districts are community service programs such as the NFL’s Play 60 which partners with numerous businesses, health care agencies, and community service organizations to promote physical fitness for children of all ages.

  Writer and illustrator, Lizzy Rockwell, has whipped up a delicious kid’s guide to proper nutrition and healthy eating which is just plain “Good Enough to Eat.” Packed full of colorful illustrations, facts, experiments, and recipes, Rockwell does an outstanding job of linking the basic principles of proper nutrition directly to the human body. Designed to satisfy a child’s curiosity about their body and how it works, Good Enough to Eat presents basic nutrition facts in a kid friendly, easy to understand format which is perfect for reading at home or school.

  An appetizing blend of  factual information, recipes, and fun hands-on experiments,  Good Enough to Eat satisfies a child’s hunger to learn about proper nutrition with bright lively illustrations, informational speech bubbles and text, and a diverse group of  children who navigate their way through the complexity of  anatomy and physiology to learn the relevance behind the food pyramid and how it applies to their bodies.

 The inside covers of the book are adorned with meticulous illustrations of the five food groups and the proper serving sizes for each. With every turn of the page, children will learn more information about the foods they eat.

•  Ÿ  What is the digestive system and how does it work?
• Ÿ  What is the food pyramid and why is it important to follow it?
• Ÿ  What vitamins, minerals, and nutrients do certain foods contain?
• Ÿ  How are these nutrients broken down in the body?
• Ÿ  What important role do each of the food groups play?
• Ÿ  Why is drinking water so vital to maintaining a healthy body?

 Rockwell saves the best for last, delicious recipes using some of the nutritious foods showcased in the book. This educational and entertaining picture book help will help children understand the important role each of the five food groups play in achieving optimal health and well being.

If you are looking for a cross-curricular guide that links proper nutrition with its effects on the human body, Good Enough to Eat is an excellent springboard for any unit and is the perfect resource for any teacher or parent who wants to teach their child about proper health and nutrition.

“My Choices Make Me Who I Am”

Authors: Mutiya Vision and David Vision

Illustrator: Ignacio Alcantra

Publisher: Vision Works Publishing (October 2008)

“Every choice I make defines who I am. What I choose to be in life is up to me. Where I go depends on how I engage the challenges I meet, the paths I choose to take, and the trails I choose to create. The choice is in my hands.” These beautifully written words and illustrations can be discovered in a compelling and powerful new book, “My Choices Make Me Who I Am,” written by David and Mutiya Vision and illustrated by Ignacio Alcantara.

This 2009 recipient of the National Best Books Award in the Children’s Educational category is an inspirational story of how an adolescent boy confronts and adapts to life’s daily challenges and the important lessons he learns along the way. Each real life experience gives him the opportunity to make a choice which will ultimately define him as a human being. After careful examination of each situation and reviewing the potential rewards or consequences associated with it, he learns the importance of making wise choices.

Throughout the book, the young boy shares his personal experiences and offers advice on how a child might apply this knowledge to their own life. This is a great book to help children understand the importance of controlling their emotions, listening carefully, accepting valuable advice, and making well informed decisions.

The poignant and powerful text is complemented well by Alcantara’s eye catching and thought provoking illustrations. Impressionistic in style, Alcantara is able to accurately and objectively record the visual reality of each situation using the transient effects of light and color.

My Choices Make Me Who I Am is a priceless resource for any family, therapist, teacher, or other caregiver who is interested in exposing their children to character based education and providing them with the opportunity to discover who they are as a person, and how their thoughts, words, and deeds affect themselves and the world around them.

This award winning husband and wife team of David and Mutiya Vision write and publish their own line of character building children’s books for both the retail and school markets.

For additional information, please visit VisionWorksPub.com.

Add this fabulous book to your collection…”the choice is your hands!”

About the authors:

Award winning children’s book authors David and Mutiya Vision are a husband and wife team who’ve navigated the goliath responsibility of raising seven children! And yet, this task isn’t nearly as challenging and unpredictable as the world they saw their children entering into. As a result of overcoming adversity in their own childhood experiences, the Visions wished to give children the benefit of information they didn’t have access to while growing up. The Visions collaborated to produce a number of character building children’s books. From literary works their creativity blossomed into various workshops, family oriented programs, videos, and music designed to entertain, raise the human spirit and strengthen mental development in children of all ages. Their materials assist children in confronting life issues, understanding emotions, exploring options, discovering their purpose and making wise choices in any given situation. Their commitment and vision inspires children, parents, communities, and educators everywhere to utilize their own talents in making the world a better place for all. David and Mutiya Vision are the authors of 10 published children’s books. Their book My Choices Make Me Who I Am won The National Best Book 2009 Award in the children’s education category. We invite you to visit visionworkspub.com for additional information

By Lisa Garner

The morning after a catastrophic 7.3 earthquake rocked the impoverished island-nation of Haiti, children across the world were already getting down to business searching for ways to raise money to help the millions of injured and homeless children in Haiti. In the grand scheme of things, their actions may seem like a small gesture, but it was an opportunity for children to learn how they could become part of a global effort to help those less fortunate.

Often times, the best classrooms are the ones without walls, an opportunity to let the “real world” in with hopes of igniting our students’ curiosity and expanding their knowledge beyond the confines of a mandated curriculum. We often refer to them as “teachable moments.” A teachable moment is a priceless and impromptu opportunity that arises when an educator has a chance to offer insight and guidance to their students.

Teachable moments are spontaneous and can be identified by observing and listening to your students. Yes, I mean eavesdrop. Observe the children’s behavior, notice particularly compelling conversations, and learn how to follow their leads. Engage them in dialogue by asking open-ended questions, listen to what they’re saying, and encourage them to discuss the topic in more detail.

You’ll notice during teachable moments that you may actually become more enthusiastic than your students. It’s that “aha moment” where you actually do see the light bulbs going off, which is the reason why we all became teachers in the first place. Trust me, the experience is worth it.

One morning before school, a group of children gathered outside my classroom. Instead of discussing the gifted and bizarre performances from the previous night’s episode of American Idol, they gathered in small groups and were discussing the devastating earthquake which took place in Haiti. As a result, I decided to scrap my day’s intended lesson plans to use that “teachable moment” to discuss ways in which we, as a school community, could raise money for global relief efforts already taking place. The students were totally immersed in the conversation and broke out into separate focus groups and spent 20 minutes brainstorming ideas on how to raise funds for the orphaned children of Haiti.

Regrettably, that catastrophic event provided me with the opportunity to teach some valuable moral lessons which never could have been predicted in advance. If acted upon, classrooms full of children were able to learn a priceless lesson on the importance of helping people in need. Those teachers who seized that fleeting opportunity were able to give their students the chance to learn an indispensible lesson not taught in a classroom but rather learned through life experience.

The significance of teaching children how to develop and adopt sound moral and ethical behavior is learning how to identify and capture those teachable moments. If you, as an educator, can help build character and foster empathy and compassion in your students, your children can develop a deeper understanding and awareness of the global, social, and ethical challenges they may face in the future.

As an educator, don’t be afraid to go with the flow. Although your intended lesson plans may be temporarily derailed, the teachable moment may even evolve into a full-blown lesson plan or unit of instruction in its own right. It’s a time when your students are most likely to learn and be profoundly affected by something powerful. Take advantage of their receptivity and capitalize on it; the rewards will be priceless.

If you are interested in more information on the earthquake in Haiti or international relief efforts, please see the links below.

« Guidelines for teachers from the NEA HIN
Earthquake Lessons Online

« Resources for Teaching and Learning About the Earthquake in Haiti

Donations

• The  is participating in the Education International Solidarity Fund. This charity channels support directly to CNEH members in Haiti who have been affected by the earthquake. These funds are managed by Education International. For more information about Education International, please visit their website at www.ei-ie.org.

Review by Lisa Garner

And the 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award goes to….We Eat Food That’s Fresh written by Angela Russ-Ayon and illustrated by Cathy June. Congratulations ladies for serving up a delicious treat while empowering parents and children to learn more about the importance of establishing proper eating habits and having fun in the process. Join the children on an island adventure with a quirky chef who whips up their interest in trying an array of tasty new fruits and vegetables. From the garden to the kitchen, he awakens their curiosity regarding the mysterious world of flavorful and unfamiliar produce as he mixes, beats, and stirs them into delicious new combinations and recipes. Will this persuasive chef capriciously entice his visitors into trying something new? June’s scrumptious pastel illustrations are blended beautifully with Russ-Ayon’s easy rhymes and rhythmical verses. This delightful picture book comes with a CD which includes an audio book and a musical companion song that will delight children with its carefree island beat. The book’s text flows beautifully with easy rhymes and repetitive verses which will work well for individual, group, buddy, or choral reading.

Book Review by Lisa Garner

Momma Mia! Mange on Caldecott Award-winning author-illustrator Tomie dePaola’s delightful new book Strega Nona’s Harvest!

In this humorous tale, Strega Nona attempts to teach her blundering helper, Big Anthony, about gardening, order, and following directions. Based upon her meticulous records, systematic placement of previously unused seeds, perfectly straight rows, and a little magic, Strega Nona plants her garden under the light of a full moon and seals the deal with a song and a kiss. Scoffing at Bambolona’s rules and bossiness, Big Anthony thinks he can use her secrets to yield an equally bountiful harvest. However, his haphazard placement of seeds, extra kisses, and over watering turn his garden into an unruly jungle with a surplus of oversized vegetables which he surreptitiously places outside of Strega Nona’s doorstep.

After Strega Nona’s cottage is about to burst with beans, pumpkins, eggplants, and zucchinis, she decides to share her bounty with the villagers whose harvest was hampered by uncharacteristically heavy rainfall. Just as Strega Nona settles back into her roomy cottage for the evening, Big Anthony makes another unsuspected delivery.

DePaola’s format is classic Strega Nona full of witty lines, vivid comic strip style illustrations, and Italian expressions that are as warm and welcoming as the story’s quaint Italian village. It’s theme of generosity and sharing would be a great addition to any character education unit or simply as a wonderful class read aloud.

Bellissimo!

By Lisa Garner

Let’s be honest!  Didn’t all of us enter the teaching profession so we could bore the living daylights out of countless numbers of children, require them to spend four excruciating hours slumped over their kitchen table doing homework every night, and turning families’ quiet evenings at home into a WWF Smack Down?  OF COURSE NOT! We aren’t the enemy, but why do so many parents think we’re out to destroy the lives of their children by assigning homework? Let’s face it, the real question isn’t whether we assign homework, but is the homework we are assigning relevant or just busy work?

Since “No Child Left Behind,” there have been far too many teachers being thrown under the school bus. Administrators are fixated on improving test scores but quality classroom time is at a minimum. Class trips, pep rallies, magazine drives, fire drills, lock downs, birthday parties, parent conferences, book fairs, H1N1 assemblies, class photos, and three day weekends are sucking up our precious class time like a sponge. As a result, many teachers feel pressured to send home unfinished class assignments for homework in addition to practice sheets to help improve their students’ standardized test scores.

Parents, on the other hand, are being stressed to the max. They’re expected to be wage earners, coaches, chauffeurs, and care takers. Instead of gathering around the kitchen table at night to have dinner together, many families are being forced to snag a chicken leg out of the KFC bucket and dash off to read email, text, or Twitter.

If we’re feeling the stress, imagine what it’s doing to our children?  In addition to their schoolwork, many children are also trying to juggle numerous after school activities and some kids are even attempting to raise themselves. As the stressors of daily life continue to rise, too much homework may be all that it takes to turn parents and children off to learning all together.

Unlike Glenda the Good Witch who spreads sweetness and light throughout the kingdom, there is no homework fairy to ease the nightly anguish associated with homework completion. There is no place like school to get the work done. Unfortunately, some teachers feel compelled to assign homework for several reasons: to give children the opportunity to practice, reinforce, and apply the key concepts and skills which they weren’t able to complete in class, to identify areas of concern, and often times to abide by numerous mandates set forth by the various school districts.

First of all, no one doubts the important role homework plays in educating our youth, but homework assignments need to be reasonable, relevant, and used to support classroom learning not replace it. We need to develop lifelong learners not formulaic pencil pushing robots that can mass produce completed worksheets or spit out spelling words like ticker tape. Homework needs to be assigned in moderation and used to stimulate creativity and develop critical thinking skills not stifle them.

Although the so called experts and homework gods suggest 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night, if the homework is meaningless, why assign it at all? Homework should be meaningful extensions of the material being covered in class and looked upon as an opportunity to develop lifelong learners who are well organized, able to manage their time effectively, and eager to learn. Well, what’s it going to be, quality or quantity? It’s your call.

 Please send your comments and suggestions to talk@nerdel.com.

Although we mourn the end of our summer vacation, the majority of us are genuinely happy with the beginning of the new school year. Sporting tans, a little less weight, and for a few of us, some resemblance of muscle tone, we arrive refreshed, revived, and rejuvenated as we prepare our classrooms and ourselves for the “new year.”

Similar to the resolutions we attempt to make every New Year’s Eve, teachers set goals and objectives for their schoolwork but rarely for themselves. The time has come to change that! If teachers aren’t well rested, nourished, and physically fit, imagine the impact it has on our students. We need to establish the same mindset and behaviors which we were able to adopt during the summer and carry them over into the new school year.

So what type of steps can we take in order to insure that we are successful in our battle against the bulge in addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle for our students? First, we need to lead by example. Secondly, we must establish a nutrition and fitness program which spans throughout all curriculum areas and not just P.E. Finally, parents, teachers, and coaches need to work together as a team to help our children learn the importance of eating properly and exercising daily. The time has come for us to turn off our computers, lock up those remote controls, put down the chocolate and soft drinks, and get off the couch! No excuses!

Over the summer, we had the opportunity to rest, exercise, eat fresh food, become more spiritually centered, and lead a much more tranquil lifestyle. Our days were filled with fun and frivolity. When we return to campus in the fall, we are presented with our first challenge, the dreaded “welcome back” faculty meeting. As a reward for not retiring or changing professions over the summer, we receive another canvass book bag overflowing with office supplies and the illicit GOODIE BAG!” Brightly colored wrappers and the all too familiar labels like: Snickers, Reese’s, and Twix line its interior.

Like men attracted to Home Depot, we become hypnotically transfixed on its contents, but this year we are going to SNAP OUT OF IT! No more donuts, no more coffee cakes, no more half eaten picked over Toll House cookies in the faculty lounge. No more birthday parties full of enough sugar to send Cookie Monster into a diabetic seizure! Enough is enough!

To start the year off right, all it takes is a little pre-planning and support. Many of us succumb to temptation when we become stressed or crunched for time. It is much quicker to grab a well preserved food item than it is to sit down and have a piece of whole grain toast or a salad. This is probably the main reason why many of us gain approximately 10 or more pounds throughout the course of the school year. Let’s face it, if the junk food or carbs are there, we’ll eat them. The key is to pre-pack your own healthy snacks and lunches just like we ask the parents to do for their children. As for support, there is something to be said for “safety in numbers.”  The best remedy for individuals who are battling any type of behavioral or physical issue is a support network whether it’s from friends, family, co-workers, or even strangers. So get together with other teachers and administrators in your school and come up with some suggestions for implementing a nutrition and exercise program for the staff. Check out some of the suggestions and resources below.

Suggestions and Resources

Organize an independent on site support group which will meet once a week to discuss health and fitness issues.

Contact a weight loss company such as Weight Watchers and ask them to hold meetings before or after school.

Find a fitness center which will offer employee discounts for staff members at a local gym.

Get another teacher or friend to be your workout buddy.

Organize on site fitness classes such as: Yoga, Zumba, water aerobics, fitness swimming, etc…

Purchase a set of fitness videos and get a couple of people to work out in the faculty lounge, gym, or even a classroom before or after school.

Contact a nutrition expert or chef to offer monthly cooking classes on how to prepare healthy snacks and meals.

Get involved with a charity and participate in a fitness training fundraising program such as: Team In Training, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Live Strong Army, Vision Walk, Race for Autism, etc…

Surf the Internet and sign up for an online program such as the National Body Challenge.

Many of these sites offer online weight trackers, customized meal plans, delicious recipes, workout videos, expert diet and fitness advice, and lots more.

Like a brand new pair of sneakers, don’t let the first smudge mark cause you to start running through mud puddles. Whether it’s that leftover sliver of double fudge birthday cake or a bag of flash baked Cape Cod potato chips, everyone caves to temptation at some point or another. Just because the chips are “labeled” 40% reduced fat doesn’t mean you should eat a second serving! Remember, those food manufacturers are tricky little devils. They may stamp the bag “baked not fried” and 40% reduced fat, but 23 chips still contain 130 calories, 50 of which are FAT!

So stay well informed with the Nerdel Team this year and learn how to make smart “fresh” choices for yourself and your students.

Like many of us during the summer months, you want to make like a bear and hibernate. As a result, you spend the first few weeks of summer break wandering around in your pajamas, curling up with a good book, sipping on a refreshing summer beverage, and hopefully getting out of town for a few days on vacation. Then one morning, you suddenly catapult out of bed in a cold sweat screaming, “OMG, I only have 10 more days of summer vacation, and I haven’t finished writing my lesson plans for next year!”

Although the goal of summer vacation is to lose touch with reality, relax, and re-establish your sanity, you may not be quite as up to date on current events as you would be otherwise. So while you were “sleeping,” the school year has started and the swine flu, formally known as the H1N1 virus, is circulating. Now more than ever, we need to educate our parents and students on the benefits of establishing proper eating habits, exercising regularly, and good personal hygiene.

As teachers, we spend ten months out of the year operating on sleep deprivation and carbohydrates in addition to dodging more germs than bad drivers on the freeway. When we get run down or stressed out, we get sick, and so do our students. This year, flu infected summer camps have reminded health officials that when kids get in close proximity to one another and are not schooled in proper hygiene, the virus spreads.

Since there is no vaccine ready to protect against the spread of swine flu, school leaders and public health officials are urging educators to know the facts about the H1N1 virus and assist their students in establishing good personal hygiene habits and exercising a little common sense.

Here’s how to keep you and your students healthy during this school year:

Learn and apply the basics of good nutrition and exercise.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.

Cover a cough in the crux of your elbow and NOT into your hand. You might also cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Don’t shake hands.

Avoid close contact with sick people.

Know the symptoms associated with the swine flu and alert a teacher or parent if you feel sick.

Although most school health offices will be sending home information about the signs and symptoms associated with the swine flu, teachers should also urge parents to keep their child home from school if they are sick with any of the following symptoms: a fever of more than 100 degrees, lethargy, poor appetite, coughing, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The CDC recommends that people with the flu remain home for a minimum of 24 hours after they are fever-free without the help of a fever-reducing medication.

School administrators are also urging educators to be prepared for a possible school closing. In the event your school does shut down due to the virus, teachers should have a minimum of 5 days worth of emergency lessons available for their students to complete during their absence.

Please remember that awareness is the first line of defense, so prepare your students and parents well by providing them with the right information and tools necessary to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus and other diseases this school year.

Please look at the article, “Be Prepared for the Flu of 2009” by Graehm Gray in the parents section of The Nerdel News and for more information, visit the CDC.gov.

Derived from Ancient Greek, philanthropy means “to love people.” The act of donating goods, services, money, and time to support a socially beneficial cause at no material reward to the donor is the best gift one person can give to another.

Much has been written lately about the emotional, physical, and educational benefits associated with participating in global community service projects. The myriad of benefits are as vast as the aid organizations we seek to adopt. In order for children to become conscientious and productive members of society, they must be provided with engaging, meaningful, and relevant opportunities to develop a sense of civic responsibility. Not only will students benefit from increasing their knowledge base, but it will also help your students to develop respect for others, patience, tolerance, and compassion for people who may be different, leadership skills, and citizenship.

How many times have you heard your students ask, “Why do we have to learn this stuff anyway?” I must admit that these words also passed through my lips as a child, but why? If children aren’t afforded the opportunity to make real world connections to the subject matter we are asking them to learn, the material just won’t stick! In order for children to fully understand the relevance and benefits of establishing proper eating habits and adopting a lifelong fitness plan, often times they need to see the adverse effects to really  drive the point home. As teachers, we need to find a way to make the material personal and instill a sense of passion for learning within our students.

When devising a community service based project, you need to combine content material from a variety of disciplines in order to achieve success both academically and civically.

Remember, service based projects require teachers to educate and to motivate. Be a facilitator not a dictator!

4 Steps to Success-RIPA

Research and discuss the issues regarding childhood malnutrition and obesity

Identify the problems and needs within your own community

Plan an event to tackle the problems associated with childhood hunger and/or obesity

Act by implementing your plan and carrying it out to its conclusion

As educators, we frequently try to reinvent the wheel in an effort to come up with the greatest curriculum ideas of all time. However once you start surfing the internet, you will find out that great minds do think alike and somebody has already thought of your idea. As a result you have two choices. The first one is to use their curriculum exactly as they have written it, or you can infuse some of your own ideas and make it your own.  Why not save yourself some time and take a look at some of the following resources and decide what will work best for you!

Resource List

Service Learning Opportunities

Youth Service America

www.YSA.org

Learn and Serve

www.learnandserve.org

Youth Service Opportunities

www.ysop.org

Service Learning

www.servicelearning.org

Youth Venture

http://www.genv.net/about_youth_venture/

Childhood Hunger Organizations

Feeding Minds

www.feedingminds.org

Great American Bake Sale

www.greatamericanbakesale.org

The Hunger Site

www.thehungersite.com

Project Bread

www.projectbread.org

Second Harvest

www.secondharvest.org

Fundraising Ideas

http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/

http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/elementary-school-fundraisers.htm