Teacher Tips—What Works!

Teacher tips are tried and true teaching strategies developed by health education teachers around the country. Take a look at some classroom activities that really work, then share some of your own!

Submitted by Courtney Wolf
Armstrong Middle School
Flint, MI

Show the right way to use body language (eye contact, speaking clearly, addressing the person by name) and the wrong way (slouched shoulders, looking at the ground, wishy-washy answers, etc.) to say no to someone who is pressuring you. After I demonstrate I give the students five steps to saying no:

1. Say the person's name.
2. Look them in the eye.
3. Say "no."
4. Say "I do not want to do that."
5. Walk away.

Submitted by Patricia A. London, D.Ed.
Bermudian Springs Middle School
York Springs, PA

My eighth grade students develop a booklet that includes health skills for new fifth graders to help them be successful and to provide them with a buddy they can turn to during the year. After the project is graded, 5th graders in Language Arts classes read and write responses to ideas, tips, and hints. Besides the cross-curricular benefits, the 8th graders also feel responsible for the younger students and enjoy contributing to their middle school success.