UPDATE: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Released Today — Whole Child Education

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Released Today — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Released Today

March 8, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

In an effort to increase physical activity levels of all American youth, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today released the report, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among Youth (PDF), as a five-year follow-up to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

The report identifies interventions that can help increase physical activity in youth in a variety of settings. It outlines evidence-based recommendations for focusing more efforts on five key settings: schools, preschools and childcare centers, community, family and home, and primary care locations.

The trend continues toward decreased physical activity among youth, which increases the risk of several chronic diseases in children 6–17 years of age. The 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that youth are still not getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Research also shows that 

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Caring Is Essential: School Librarians’ Roles in the Whole Child

March 1, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Post submitted on behalf of whole child partner American Association of School Librarians by Jami L. Jones, associate professor, Department of Library Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.

The quintessential role of educators is to provide safe environments for children to flourish emotionally, academically, and physically. As we discuss safety, it is important to consider care—a magic bullet in this conversation.

In its May/June 2012 issue of Knowledge Quest, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association, weighed in about care, which is so vital to ASCD's Whole Child Initiative. In this issue, aptly titled "Caring Is Essential," Nel Noddings and Sonia Nieto join school librarians to consider the importance of the school librarian's role in creating safe havens. Noddings is well known for her commitment to keeping alive John Dewey's focus on the centrality of care to learning. Nieto writes about the power of care and respect to transform the lives of students and teachers.

In her article "The Transformative Power of Care," Olga M. Nesi, a library coordinator for New York City schools, presents nonnegotiable requirements of the school librarian to show care, respect, and genuine 

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Released Today

ASCD Whole Child Bloggers at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

The report outlines evidence-based recommendations for focusing more efforts on five key settings: schools, preschools and childcare centers, community, family and home, and primary care locations.

Throughout March: Reducing Barriers and Expanding Opportunities

Klea Scharberg at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

Join us this month as we take a look at schools that have taken a challenge and turned it into a win.

Relationships Key to School Safety

Melissa Mellor at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

Fostering trusting relationships between adults and students is the most effective way to improve school safety, a panel of experts told members of Congress during a recent House Education Committee hearing.

Three Strategies for Encouraging and Developing Student Voice

Dawn Imada Chan at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

School leaders can take several important steps to incorporate student voice into their classrooms and schools.

No Kid Hungry Starts with Breakfast

Kumar Chandran at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

More than 16 million children in the United States struggle with hunger, or one out of five kids. The solution is breakfast.

National School Breakfast Week 2013

Kristen Pekarek at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 14 minutes ago

The benefits of a healthy, balanced breakfast at school show positive, large-scale outcomes in education, economics, and health. Learn more and celebrate this week.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report Released Today

ASCD Whole Child Bloggers at The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education - 1 hour ago

The report outlines evidence-based recommendations for focusing more efforts on five key settings: schools, preschools and childcare centers, community, family and home, and primary care locations.