The G-W Blog is proud to welcome Diane Farthing, the 2019 California Health Teacher of the Year, the 2020 SHAPE America Western District Teacher of the Year, and author of G-W's Health Skills for High School, as she shares her insights on the new SHAPE America Health standards.
The new 2024 National Health Education Standards by SHAPE America were released earlier this year. Wondering what’s changed, and how to make sure they're reflected in your classes? Looking for a friendly introduction to the new health standards? Diane Farthing took a deep dive into the standards. Take a look at the recap below, do a full walkthrough of the standards with Diane in this video, or do both!
What's New in the Standards
Incorporate the new language from the standards into your course. The phrase “health and well-being” is now used, to reflect the idea that health doesn’t refer to physical health alone. To encourage students to see themselves as part of the community and the larger world, each of the standards now includes “support, affect, or promote health and well-being of self and others.”
Concepts that are new or have an increased focus include identifying strengths and assets, health literacy, how to support people dealing with chronic conditions, misinformation and disinformation, and equity and access.
Standard 4 now incorporates material on communicating with others with different perspectives and values, communicating with compassion and empathy, communicating boundaries, expressing and removing consent.
Diane will walk you through each standard in the video, starting with Standard 1 here.
Assessing Your Current Curriculum
Diane also includes guidance on self-reflection and a chart she uses to evaluate how she’s working with the standards in her classes.
Ideas for Implementation
Wondering how to squeeze more skill practice into your already packed classes? Check out Diane’s ideas for “theme days,” and infusing questions that reinforce skills into your classes.
Overcoming Barriers
Lastly, Diane offers strategies for overcoming barriers to implementation of the new standards, including start small and have students help.
Check out the full video from Diane! We hope this review of the new standards and suggestions about how to work with them are helpful to you.
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Take a look at G-W's correlations to the SHAPE America standards.
Middle School:
Essential Health Skills for Middle School: Correlation to the National Health Education Standards
Comprehensive Health Skills for Middle School: Correlation to the National Health Education Standards
High School:
Essential Health Skills for High School: Correlation to the National Health Education Standards
Comprehensive Health Skills for High School: Correlation to the National Health Education Standards
Teaching Physical Education? Bill Bode, 30-year teacher, SHAPE America Southern District Teacher of the Year, and author of Fitness and Wellness Skills, walks you through “Fitting the New Standards into High School Phys Ed” in this video.
Want to go straight to the source? Visit SHAPE America:
New National Health Education Standards (shapeamerica.org)
New National Physical Education Standards (shapeamerica.org)
Looking for resources that are aligned to the 2024 Health standards? Feel free to request a digital preview of G-W's up-to-date Health program or reach out to your local G-W Educational Consultant to learn more.