Book promotes children's health
Valerie A. Ubbes
6/12/08
Valerie A. Ubbes, a faculty member in the department of kinesiology and health, has written a book aimed at helping educators become master teachers of health education for pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade children.
Educating for Health, published by Human Kinetics in April 2008, is an inquiry-based approach to pedagogy that gives teachers the practical information they need to foster the growth and development of students by translating health and education theories into practice.
The book “takes the reader on a journey of identity formation through personal, cultural, and professional stories about human health and well being,” says Ubbes. "I encourage educators to weave their philosophy and pedagogy together in integrative ways."
The focus is on the acquisition of sensory-motor, cognitive-behavioral health habits in students, and helps educators and health professionals to design lessons based on individual learning styles. Nine evidence-based instructional strategies frame the pedagogical design.
The book also emphasizes health communication skills that foster a relational pedagogy, supported by books and web links promoting the well-being of children and youth.
T