PBH 586 - Journal #4

Henry Reyes Professor Dipzinski PBH 586 11/13/2023

Journal #4

The past few weeks of my placement have been very insightful and eye-opening. After being in a health education classroom for a few weeks, I believe some of the things I need to add to my teaching in health education are resources. I am noticing that I have limited knowledge of health-related resources for teenagers in NYC. I am familiar with a few resources for teenagers, however, I have noticed that I need more local resources for the students who live in NYC. One thing that I would modify in teaching health education is the information that is shared with students. I’ve noticed that most health teachers do not inform the students of the “why” for any given lesson. I believe that this is important for students to become interested in a topic/lesson. When students feel connected to a topic they tend to work better and have a bit more buy-in. One thing that I would keep is the role-playing experiences as part of assessing. I have enjoyed watching the students put into action the skills/strategies that have been taught to them. Role-playing has proven to be an activity where students feel safe and can gain the confidence to be safe in real-life situations that they might come across.

I believe that to learn about more local resources what I would need is more time and experience in the field. I believe that the more time I have in the field the more I will learn as time goes on. Something that I can do today is simply to do my research to locate local resources that may be beneficial for teens. This is something that I plan on doing so that I can feel like I am serving my students to the best of my ability. A Professional development that I could attend to assist me with this plan is the NYS AHPERD (New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) Annual Conference.

The NYS AHPERD Annual Conference is the premier event for professionals in the field of physical activity, physical education, school-based health, and wellness in New York State. Each year they host nearly 1,500 professionals and future professionals from around the state. They offer close to 200 unique programs that cover a wide variety of topics and incorporate the most recent findings on how students engage in physical education, health education, and activity programs. The annual conference gives attendees a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful and constructive conversations with individuals who are operating programs similar to theirs, from all over the state. This conference can be beneficial for teachers in the health field because it provides educators with the chance to share ideas and offer feedback. This can be a valuable asset for approaching new and innovative ways of adjusting and enhancing my health curriculum, instruction, and assessment strategies.

During the last few weeks, my sbte has worked on multiple topics and has partnered up with one of the school's SAPIS counselors to support the students and some of the many needs that they have. Currently, my sbte is now wrapping up her emotional health unit. I am not sure which unit will follow but I am excited to see what other topics she has in mind. Reflecting on the year so far I feel like I have grown in different ways during my time visiting my sbte’s classroom. I feel more comfortable in the classroom and with teaching health classes. I feel like I have gotten better at creating notifications for students who might need them. One big success I would say I continue to have is that I am building positive relationships with the students. The students know my schedule for when I come to visit them and they have mentioned to my sbte and me how they look forward to the days when they know they will have both of us in the room with them. This is nice to hear and has shown me that I have done a good job helping to create a safe space for these students. Reflecting on some challenges I would say that I still struggle with some student engagement. I have two students in the classroom who are having a difficult time in class getting or staying on task. They are not distracting to the class or disrespectful in any way, they simply are just too emotionally distracted by themselves and their thoughts that they cannot focus on the task in front of them. Over the past weeks, my sbte and I have done numerous outreachs to figure out how we can best support these students.

Some strategies that we have learned about to help us overcome these challenges are to allow those students to take a "break" when they are starting to feel overwhelmed. This simple intervention has shown promise in helping the students regain focus and composure during challenging moments. Additionally, my SBTE and I have taken a collaborative approach by involving the school's social worker, guidance counselor, administration, and the student's teachers in a comprehensive dialogue. This coordinated effort has enabled us to gain valuable insights into what works effectively for these students and what doesn't. By tapping into the expertise of the adults who interact with these students daily, we are optimistic that we will finally make a breakthrough in supporting them within the classroom, providing a more conducive environment for their learning and personal growth.

Concluding my reflection, these past weeks in the health education classroom have been incredibly enlightening. I've come to realize the need for better knowledge of local resources for NYC teenagers and the importance of explaining the "why" behind lessons to boost student engagement. Role-playing activities remain a valuable asset in building students' confidence. As I move forward, gaining further knowledge about local resources will take time and field experience. I'm committed to conducting my research to provide the best support for my students. Looking back, I've grown more comfortable in the classroom, developed positive relationships with students, and created a safe space for them. Despite challenges in student engagement, I've learned valuable strategies, including allowing students to take breaks and collaborating with school professionals for support. In summary, this journey has been one of growth, and I look forward to continuing to improve my teaching and positively impact my students' lives.

References

Annual Conference. NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. (2023, November 3). https://nysahperd.org/annual-conference/