Smart Solutions|School Health (Jan 2014) cont.
Technology
Tykes Take on Mobile
Common Sense Media has an updated report on the use of media by kids ages 0 to 8. These kids really are growing up mobile—3 in 4 have access to mobile devices, and average daily use has tripled since 2011.
Using Learning Analytics to Understand Student Technology Learning
How do students learn and problem-solve while working on technology projects such as creating computer games? ETR researcher Jill Denner, PhD, contributed to a paper that describes processes for analyzing the logging data of middle school students engaged in technology production. These efforts enrich conversations about how to increase students’ computational thinking, and can help educators plan and deliver more effective technology education. If you’re into learning analytics, check out this report!
Read the abstract and download a full text PDF here. >>
Nutrition & Physical Activity
Does a Healthy Diet Cost More?
We know that obesity and its consequences are associated with lower socioeconomic status. Is the cost of a healthy diet a factor? A comprehensive study in BMJ suggests that it is. Healthier choices—lean meats, fresh fruit, whole-grain versus white bread—cost about $1.50 more per person, per day, or about $550 a year. That’s a significant barrier for some families.
Read a summary of the report here. >>
Read the full article here. >>
Healthy Choices at School Improve Student Nutrition
In a recent study, students who were offered healthier snacks and foods in vending machines or lunch services improved their overall diets. They increased consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Guidelines in the study were based on the new snack standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which schools will be asked to implement by July 1, 2014.
Read an article about the study here. >>
Regular Activity May Boost Academic Performance
In an English study of nearly 5,000 students, a link was found between moderate to vigorous exercise duration and academic performance in national exams. The physical activity benefit was especially helpful for girls in science performance. Let’s lace up those trainers and go running!
Read the full text of the article here. >>
Read an article about the study here. >>
Violence & Injury Prevention
Using Writing to Address Bullying and Cliques
David Rockower, a school librarian and teacher, wrote a heartfelt letter to his middle school students about the bullying and exclusion he saw in their class. And then he asked them to write back. Take a look at his letter and some of the powerful and surprising responses from his students.
Concussions in Young Athletes Often Unreported
Concussions are dangerous. They can have short- and long-term consequences on brain function, and multiple concussions can result in more severe effects. We know this, but a recent report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council outlines what we don’t yet know, as well as actions that can be taken to prevent, identify and treat concussions in young athletes. This includes a need to change the culture of sports, which continues to discourage self-report of symptoms.
Find links to read the full report or order a printed copy here. >>
Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drugs
Alcohol + Acetaminophen? Could Be Deadly!
ProPublica has produced an impressive, indepth article that looks at reports of acetaminophen use and overdose. The drug is considered safe at recommended doses, but the margin to overdose is small. In combination with alcohol, the drug can damage or even destroy the liver. More than 1,500 people in the U.S., including children and teens, have died in the past 10 years from accidental overdose.
Tobacco Products and Youth
The CDC’s MMWR has released current figures on tobacco use among middle and high school students. Because young tobacco users are more likely to use products other than cigarettes, monitoring also includes non-conventional products. Use of bidis, kreteks and dissolvable tobacco is down. However, significant increases have occurred in use of e-cigarettes, hookahs and cigars (including small flavored cigars).
Nearly 1 in 12 high school seniors has tried small, flavored cigars. The products use flavorings banned in cigarettes, and many taste like candy or fruit.
Obesity & Chronic Disease
Is Healthy Obesity Real?
Except for their weight, some overweight and obese individuals have normal metabolic status—cholesterol, glucose levels, blood pressure. Do they represent a subset of people with “healthy obesity”? A report in the Annals of Internal Medicine says no, obesity is never benign. In their meta-analysis, obese individuals were at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke and death by any cause.
Here’s a summary of the report. > >
Mental Health & Wellness
Poor Sleep? More School Problems and Emotional Distress
A recent report based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health examined sleep patterns of 2,700 adolescents. One in four goes to bed after 11:30 on school nights, and these same students tend to have poorer academic performance and greater emotional distress than earlier-to-bed peers. Many students—between 45 and 85 %—get less than the recommended 9 hours of sleep, and almost half report difficulty staying awake in school.
Here’s an article about the report. > >
Music Lessons Rock!
Music training may have a powerful effect on the brain. Some studies show it enhances language development, creativity, the ability to manage multimodal information (e.g., auditory and tactile sources), and more. A recent report in The Journal of Neuroscience demonstrates that the benefits can last a long time, even when children give up their lessons. Researchers found that older adults with a moderate amount of music training early in life (4 to 14 years) showed faster brain responses to speech than those with no training. These additional abilities may help older individuals prevent or slow age-related declines in speech processing.
Thanks to our newsletter team!
Thanks to Janice Yoshihara, Suzanne Schrag, Laura Perkins, Scott Martin and Matt McDowell. We couldn’t do it without you!
