Food Journal/ Healthy Lifestyle

Keeping a food journal is an eye opening experience to say the least. I think many times I don’t even realize what I am even putting in my body. As I began to write down everything I was eating right away I began to monitor what I was allowing myself to eat. The reason was because I didn't want anyone to know how I ate because it is embarrassing. That is when I discovered I am a closet eater. I would prefer to eat by myself because I don’t want anyone to make a judgment on what I am eating. I also began to notice I live a very sedentary life. I come to school and sit all day then I go home and sit all night. Seeing how I was living in just a week made me feel like a failure. I was uncomfortable with who I was and I knew that I had to change because my students are not going to listen to what I have to say if I am not living in a way that is worth emulating.

Over the weekend I set a goal: I was going to be more active and make better food choices. This task turned out to be a little harder than expected. I started with going to the gym every other day and them walking on the days I was not at the gym. I also decided to bring my lunch and if I had to eat out I was being conscious of what I was ordering. The results were great I did make it to the gym, but missed a day because we were in Seattle. Even though we missed a day at the gym I still got walking in. I have to say that I quite enjoy walking and it wasn't like I was doing anything else interesting at home besides sitting at my computer. As a teacher in training I am really worried because I see how easy it is to choose to stay home and watch TV or play on the computer and how the health implications or so negative. I want to encourage students to be active and limit their screen time. I also really want to influence students to make better food choices. We are living in a world of processed convenience food that has all its nutrition striped. I hope to show my students that you can still have the food you love, but choose moderation or healthier versions. For example Mac & Cheese if you make it home made then you are not using powdered cheese products and actually get the calcium and nutrients of the dairy.

If I were to ask my students to keep a journal I would start with asking them to write down what they ate and how they felt. Then we could do a reflective writing lesson. We could do a research project and read about nutrition and so on. I stop there because health and fitness deserves to be incorporated into every aspect of teaching. If we as teachers or better yet American’s want to influence a generation we will work to influence living a healthy lifestyle which is all encompassing.    

Group Work yay!!!

Today Wednesday was all business we watched some very interesting microteaching lessons. I loved Ann’s book and how it related to the medicine cabinet activity we did in class. I really liked the way we discussed The Sprite Catches You and Then You Fall Down. Working in groups to think about the themes of the book was very helpful especially with writing our reflection in the future. I have to say I have had a lot of group work in my college career, but the group work we used in this class was actually helpful. I am just nerves now to write the paper because there were so many good ideas.  

Organs, Organs, Everywhere

Oh my goodness this was probably my favorite day because I love human organs and to have the opportunity to massage a brain have been a dream of mine for a long time. This activity was so much fun that I thought that’s it I need to be a health teacher now. Seeing these activities in person really make me want to implement health in the classroom with every lesson plan. I think it is possible to implement healthy lifestyle, bodies, mind, ect. Into every day classroom community. Let’s just sat I can’t wait to obtain my own set of classroom organs. 

Fun Even When It Rain's

Friday’s activities were so engaging and active I had so much fun. It makes me want to provide a more active classroom to my students. Health and fitness is very important and getting exercise while learning is memorable. Also the children will be getting some of their energy out while using their heads to complete a fun academic game. I would have to say the most important thing I learned to day is that it is important to build community with you class and implementing games and playing with the kids is a helpful way to get to know each other. As a teacher do we have to get it approved to take our children outside?    

Micro teaching take 1

Today was fantastic. I was so engaged and I learned a lot from watching the two groups go. Watching everyone up in front of the class hit home; today was the first day I realized that teaching was truly around the corner. I also found the resources very interesting and I can’t wait to use them in my classroom.  I was shocked to do the yuk box medicine cabinet I am still having a hard time understanding why we make medicine look like candy. Growing up my sister was always the poison control kid. When she was three she drank flea shampoo and when she was five she thought Nair was lotion. It goes to show how easy it is for kids to make mistakes and some can be fatal.  

Issues of abuse

What can I say about today’s topic? This subject area is so heavy and we all wish we never have to deal with a situation that resembles the scenarios. The reality is we will encounter abuse no matter what school we teach in no place is unaffected. I think what I took away from today is the responsibility of reporting any suspicious situations related to the endangerment of a child. I think it is important to discuss with the children what okay behavior is and what abuse is because I am sure not every child knows the difference.  

On another note I am reading about when the parents of Lia decided she no longer needed a very important medication. It is extremely hard to read as a native westerner, but at the same time no one is explaining what the drug is doing to help their child. Also it is unacceptable expectation on the hospitals part to believe the parents know what they are supposed to do.

Lesson Plans

Today was my first experience with lesson plans and I am amaze at how difficult it was to be extremely detailed. I found my frustration was with a disjointed conception of the plan presented. I think it will go better when I can write a lesson plan in the correct order. It makes me a little scared that I didn't get this one right off the bat. I want to add that when we did the relay race I saw how that is an added component to teaching other subjects. It is important to really squeeze healthy living in to our day to day lives.