I did not win the genetic lottery when it comes to dental health. Even though I obsessively brush and floss, I have more crowns than any royal family. I do realize, however, that without my consistent dentist visits and detailed dental care, my teeth would be much, much worse. So I’m all about the month…
It seems like a lot of friends on social media are complaining of insomnia lately. I’ve had some issues with it myself. And honestly, it isn’t surprising with all that’s going on in the world right now. If I get into bed and begin thinking about weighty topics then sleep is a lost cause. This…
How many of you are feeling cool as cucumbers in the midst of lockdowns, closings, and canceled events? Sort of difficult to pull off isn’t it. Dang that virus! Like the rest of you, I’m trying to do all the right things to curb the spread of COVID-19. Spreading kindness during this difficult time is…
For those of you who are in school districts that are still open, you probably have students who are uneasy and have lots of questions. (Most adults are uneasy and have lots of questions as well!) But your job is to be a logical and calming influence–so I decided to write my blog on ways…
I read an article recently that said 30% of people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. Yeah, it makes me shudder too. And even more people wash their hands by twiddling their fingers through the water sans soap. So I thought it would be timely, what with the current pandemic talk, to…
Today is Global Hand Washing Day! Have you ever been in a public restroom and noticed that not all people wash their hands? This has happened to me on occasion, and I have all I can do to stop myself from yelling, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??” Because we, as teachers, know that hand washing is…
Who would like a song or two or three to sing with students this September? I’m hoping you! Welcome September, jazz up calendar time, and prolong hand washing with this trio of top-notch tunes. Happy September to all! Diane Hooray for September! (sing along to the tune of “Jingle Bells”) September, September, September’s here, hooray!…
It’s the season for colds and the flu, my teacher friends! I find myself giving every door knob the hairy eyeball and washing my hands whenever possible. To clarify, I’m not a germaphobe at all–but there’s some pretty icky stuff going around right now. So this is the perfect time to refresh personal hygiene skills…
Humor is an important coping mechanism. Laughter not only makes us feel better–it also has honest health benefits. It can… Decrease stress hormones Increase blood flow, which improves heart function Burn calories (I’m not saying you should quit the gym–but it does burn calories!) Decrease anxiety Lower your blood pressure Teaching is stressful–so in my…
Recently, I saw this article discussing teachers who take away students’ snacks and lunches if they don’t meet certain health standards. The school in question is in Canada. Out of curiosity, I googled “Teacher taking student’s lunch away” and came up with oodles of articles, many of them discussing schools in…