health

[tmstranger]

Hi again. I'm sorry to be asking so many questions!!

Health is a required subject in my state. Do you have any recommendations? or is health integrated at all in HOD? We currently use Abeka for health, but my 5th grader is not a fan. I like it, though. It's quick and easy for me!

Thanks.
Michelle

[StephanieU]

I know CtC has anatomy and medicine in it, enough that I think you could count that as health. Rod and Staff also has a health curriculum through Level 5.

Are you required to do health every year? What has to be included in health?

[tmstranger]

yes, it is required every year. The regulation does not specify *what* needs to be covered...only "regular and thorough instruction."

It is vague. My reviewer said that they like to see one sample per week for each subject (but others in my state disagree!). I'm debating using an umbrella next year, which may change my feelings on how much is actually required. I think an umbrella may accept things like anatomy, etc. Not sure!

[LynnH]

I am in Ohio and technically health is required here also. It really doesn't specify every year and once they get in high school I just make sure it is listed sometime in those 4 years for half a credit because I know that is what the ps requires. In the younger years if the guide included something that could count as health I listed that, such as the book on Louis Pasteur in Preparing, the anatomy and physiology and medicine book in CTC and the boy to man study in RTR etc. If it didn't then I would just get a few library books on some health topics and have him read those and call it good. Health covers so many things so I would pick books on things like germs and illness(went well with the Pasteur book), nutrition, exercise, drug and alcohol awareness when he was older and first aid.
The World History guide for high school does include 1/2 a credit of health.

[Mumkins]

All I can tell you is, don't buy horizons. Bor ing and totally geared to a class.

[tmstranger]

All I can tell you is, don't buy horizons. Bor ing and totally geared to a class.

So is Abeka! Definitely boring, but I was surprised at the "class" references in the teacher guide! Thanks for the warning...that was another one I was considering.

[sahervey]

Health is in the World History Guide (normally 10th grade year).

[my3sons]

Health is quite vague, which actually is quite nice as it makes it more flexible! What HOD guide(s) are you using right now? There is generally something "health" oriented anyway. I always think it's nice to just do what you are doing and 'count' that, as this should be the beauty of homeschooling for us busy moms!

In Christ,
Julie

[Nealewill]

I agree with Julie. I have found health topics that could count in every guide I have done.

In OH, I also have to have "fire safety" and "First Aid". But my evaluator is great. I only have to go over fire safety rules, do a fire drill every year, and discuss what to do in a fire. We usually visit a fire museum and watch a random fire safety video or get 1 book from the library per year. Same with first aid. I get one book a year from the library. That is all. I don't do a "curriculum" because that is boring. Plus, HOD already includes enough in their manual that you could definitely count toward health credits.

[tmstranger]

Health is quite vague, which actually is quite nice as it makes it more flexible! What HOD guide(s) are you using right now? There is generally something "health" oriented anyway. I always think it's nice to just do what you are doing and 'count' that, as this should be the beauty of homeschooling for us busy moms!

In Christ,
Julie

I plan to start HOD in the fall with Bigger and R2R (assuming that is where the boys will place at that time).

I think I had a very strict reviewer. She wanted to see evidence of 1 thing per week for each subject. The law in my state says, "regular and thorough" instruction, but that is her idea of "regular." She even commented on the fact that I did not plan to cover sex-ed with my 10yo. "You won't believe how young kids need to know things nowadays." ugh...I didn't like her!

But, either way, I need to have a plan. Someone on Facebook recommended a health website, so I may look into that. We'll see. I just wanted to know how much, if at all, health was addressed in the guides, so I could plan my budget.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

[Nealewill]

If it were me, I would search around for a different reviewer There are several different ones in my area but I am guessing you aren't close LOL. Each reviewer is different. Some have their ideas on what it means to "cover" or teach something. Mine is wonderful! She is so flexible and embraces all styles of education. As long as we read and talked about it, then she doesn't care if "write" something down about. And all the topics that intermingled in HOD have been more than enough to satisfy my requirement other than first aid and fire safety.

[Jennymommy]

Lord God, may the reviewers see your light and find peace in you. May you bless each family that must submit to review and give them peace and guidance. Amen.

[annaz]

My reviewer said that they like to see one sample per week for each subject (but others in my state disagree!).

Each week for each subject? I'd check the legality of that.

[my3sons]

Hi Michelle! Would you mind sharing what state you live in? As far as RTR, I think that should be an easy one for health as the Boy Option and Girl Option are health-related topics...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/rtr_hearts ... hp#boyhood

For BHFHG,Godly Character Traits are studied in Bible Study, Storytime, and Drawn into the Heart of Reading (DITHOR). Calisthenic type moves are part of Scripture memory work too in BHFHG. RTR uses DITHOR as well. I know when I taught ps that Character Training was a part of Health. Personally, if you can work with your advisor some, I'd try to use HOD to cover Health, as adding something else that you don't like very well just for the sake of adding health will only make your day longer, which is never a fun option for us busy moms and for our equally busy kiddos.

I found a few past threads on this topic and have pasted a few thoughts from them here that may be helpful...
From Carrie...
For your state it appears you will need to add something in the area of health, whether you want to use real books or an actual health text or just have a weekly health goal that you talk about and cover. For P.E. we do cover some calisthenics in our Bible verse practice time, but you will probably need to log additional time. This can usually easily be accomplished by having your child doing a certain number of various calisthenics in the morning (push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, running in place, etc.) You also can opt for using an exercise video 2 times a week or so which covers various conditioning, agility, strength-training exercises.

From tmcg...
I got R&S 2nd grade health (they only have 2nd & 4th grade) and it was like $6 for both the teacher's manual and the student workbook. I don't make her write all the answers as she is only 6 and in 1st grade and would take too long, but we talk about answers etc. You could make a list of topics you want to cover for health and get library books on the topics and have them do some unit studies. For example talk about the scripture about parts of the body while you are studying the human body and which organs do what. When you are talking about how things grow (plants etc) then go over the food groups. Discuss hygiene and caring for the temple (our bodies). Discuss safety (October is fire prevention month) so you could go to the fire dept. for a field trip. Discuss scriptures on following the Lord's plan ("A man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps") - doing what we know God wants us to do or what parents direct.....or wisdom ("Their is wisdom in the counsel of many") We learn from those who are older and wiser and should ask for help in tough situations. NY State standards require discussion of AIDs which of course how do you tailor it for elementary school....I would start with discussion of germs (handwashing, not touching other people's body fluid....dirty kleenex or used bandaids etc.) You can even discuss different cultural practices for health....for example the hebrews were the only ones who quarantined their sick and that was why they didn't spread disease as much as the other cultures and their religious practices kept them safe where the pagans did not do such practices and had epidemics of disease etc. Eating kosher food kept them safe from foods that might cause them to get sick. So you can combine culture/history and health. Just grab a few library books each week, print off coloring pages for younger kids (or have older kids write a short essay about it...make collages etc). Substance abuse is also a requirement....smoking is and easy one to cover...it is everywhere so it isn't like you have to explain about something that is unheard of.

In Christ,
Julie

[tmstranger]

[quote="my3sons"]Hi Michelle! Would you mind sharing what state you live in? As far as RTR, I think that should be an easy one for health as the Boy Option and Girl Option are health-related topics...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/rtr_hearts ... hp#boyhood

Thank you, Julie. That was helpful.

I'm in MD.