Tag: wellness

Activity for Identifying Emotional Health vs. Mental Health

~ School-Health-Educators

In this episode, Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ podcast, shares a simple matching activity she created to help students distinguish the difference between emotional health and mental health. This activity was developed because these aspects/dimensions of wellness are connected yet represent different concepts.

Click here for the Emotional Health vs Mental Health Matching Sheet

Please remember that you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

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The Vagus Nerve Explained with Dr. Paula Youmell, RN

~ School-Health-Educators

The Vagus Nerve has gotten more attention over the past years, including how to tone it to improve one’s overall health and wellness. As explained by Dr. Paula Youmell, this episode’s guest, this parasympathetic nerve supports us to relax, recover, and self-heal. We need to, and can,  teach young people habits to help this nerve be healthy.

Email Dr. Paula Youmell at pyoumell@gmail.com and check out her website at:  https://www.paulayoumellrn.com/

The document she shared at the NYS AHPERD 2025 Conference is found here: 5 Spinal Movements for Vagus Nerve Health

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

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Wellness Planning Worksheet to Start 2026!

~ School-Health-Educators

In this last episode for 2026, Lori shares her favorite worksheet for beginning the new year. The Wellness Planning Worksheet aligns with SMEEPS OF, her acronym for referring to the aspects/dimensions of wellness. Consider using it for your own wellness or in the classroom setting. Happy New Year!

Click here for a copy of the Wellness Planning Worksheet. The Who is Healthiest Worksheet and SMEEPS OF Assessment worksheets are linked on this episode of the School Health Educators podcast (from January 21, 2025).

Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel here.

To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

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Grateful To My HE Colleagues As Well As 3 Health Apps

~ School-Health-Educators

Happy Thanksgiving! In this week’s School Health Educators podcast episode, Lori conveys her appreciation to all Health Education Professionals involved with PreK-12 students. She also highlights three health apps she values highly: the Healthy Minds Innovations app, the Yoga-Go app, and the 10K Runner- Couch to 10K Run app.

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Deep thoughts… about simple HE activities and norms/expectations

~ School-Health-Educators

It’s the beginning of a new school year for many school health educators. To support your success, Lori shares her “deep thoughts” on two introductory health education activities as well as examples of some of her classroom norms/expectations.

Remember, you can contact Lori by emailing her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

You can also watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

 

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Getting Mentally Prepared for the New School Year with Meghan Vlad

~ School-Health-Educators

Are you feeling a bit melancholy about the new school year approaching? Then listen to this episode to consider how you can plan to best support yourself, as well as your students, this upcoming year. Guest Meghan Vlad shares some of her recommendations, which include planning simple, joyful acts for a day off, finding ways to focus (e.g., listening to audiobooks), planning purposefully, setting boundaries, and taking your lunch. Also, consider taking opportunities that occur during the school year, like attending state or national conferences or checking out reliable online resources.

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here.

If you want to learn about more ideas, contact Meghan Vlad at: meghanvlad94@gmail.com

To contact Lori Reichel, the host of the School Health Educators Podcast, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or visit her websites at www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

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How Teaching Health Education Supports Our Own Wellness

~ School-Health-Educators

Being an effective health educator includes modeling what we teach. This episode invites the wonderful Kathleen Vogt, a 20-year 8th grade health teacher, to share how teaching our subject area supports her own wellness habits. From practicing self-management skills of sleep and technology habits, to being aware of influences, Kathleen notes how she has become healthier. And, upon sharing our own habits in the classroom setting, we support our students’ habits!

Kathleen Vogt is a Health Educator at Union Vale Middle School in the Arlington Central School District located in the Hudson Valley of New York. She is the current Chair of the SHAPE America Health Education Council and co-writer of the Inclusive Practices in Health Education Guidance Document. She has taught 8th grade health education for the last 20 years and is a dedicated member of NYSAHPERD. You can connect with Kathleen on Twitter at MrsV_UVMS or through email at kvogt@acsdny.org. She is also a member of the Health and Physical Education Collective.

Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

To contact Lori Reichel, the host of the School Health Educators Podcast, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or visit her websites at www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

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How Lori Introduces the Different Aspects of Wellness

~ School-Health-Educators

Whether you are starting a new Health Education course or beginning your planning and goal-setting unit this month, this episode includes activities you may choose to use. Activities align with the SMEEPS acronym the host, Lori Reichel, uses to refer to different aspects of wellness; activities include the “Who is healthiest” worksheet and the SMEEPS Assessment pdf.

To watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel, click here.

To listen to past episodes, refer to the 2024 episode list here.

To contact Lori, email her at schoolhealtheducators@gmail.com or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

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