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In this episode, Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ podcast, shares a simple matching activity she created to help students distinguish the difference between emotional health and mental health. This activity was developed because these aspects/dimensions of wellness are connected yet represent different concepts. Click here for the Emotional Health vs Mental Health Matching Sheet Please remember that you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here. To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

The Vagus Nerve has gotten more attention over the past years, including how to tone it to improve one’s overall health and wellness. As explained by Dr. Paula Youmell, this episode’s guest, this parasympathetic nerve supports us to relax, recover, and self-heal. We need to, and can,  teach young people habits to help this nerve be healthy. Email Dr. Paula Youmell at [email protected] and check out her website at:  https://www.paulayoumellrn.com/ The document she shared at the NYS AHPERD 2025 Conference is found here: 5 Spinal Movements for Vagus Nerve Health Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here. To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

In this last episode for 2026, Lori shares her favorite worksheet for beginning the new year. The Wellness Planning Worksheet aligns with SMEEPS OF, her acronym for referring to the aspects/dimensions of wellness. Consider using it for your own wellness or in the classroom setting. Happy New Year! Click here for a copy of the Wellness Planning Worksheet. The Who is Healthiest Worksheet and SMEEPS OF Assessment worksheets are linked on this episode of the School Health Educators podcast (from January 21, 2025). Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel here. To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Feeling like you need some ideas for feeling positive and/or motivated this December? Consider checking out the four (4) SEL “tools” shared in this episode, in which Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ Podcast, describes: Tactile Tools for Social Emotional Learning: Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate with SEL, PreK-5 (2025) by L. Reichel. (Routledge Publishing). CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) PBS Social Emotional Learning Tools (Public Broadcasting System) How We Feel App To be a guest on the School Health Educators’ Podcast or to contact Lori about other things, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com. Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

Happy Thanksgiving! In this week’s School Health Educators podcast episode, Lori conveys her appreciation to all Health Education Professionals involved with PreK-12 students. She also highlights three health apps she values highly: the Healthy Minds Innovations app, the Yoga-Go app, and the 10K Runner- Couch to 10K Run app.

Many Health Education conferences exist, yet how can you attend when funding is limited? This episode provides basic tips for future and current health education professionals on attending a conference. Lori, the host of the School Health Educators podcast, also shares the “secret tip” for attending conferences. Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel here. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

This episode is a discussion of the National Health Education Standards: Model Guidance for Curriculum and Instruction, 3rd Edition (NHES-3) from the National Consensus for School Health Education (NCSHE) (2022). Key points include the background for the 3rd edition of the NHES, what standards emphasize, and the many free materials available on the SchoolHealthEducation.org site. Click here for specific links referred to in the episode. Elisa “Beth” McNeill, Ph.D., and Marlene Tappe, Ph.D., are the current co-chairs of the Development Group of the NCSHE. Together they are engaged in activities related to the dissemination of the National Health Education Standards: Model Guidance for Curriculum Instruction (3rd Edition) (NCSHE, 2022) and Teaching Standards-Based Health Education (NCSHE, 2024). Dr. McNeill is an Instructional Professor in the College of Public Health at Texas A& M University. Beth started her career as a teacher of Health and Science and then became a professor with a focus on curriculum and instruction in health education. She is an original co-chair of the Development Group and coordinated the activities of its four subgroups. Dr. Tappe is a Professor Emerita of Health Science at the Minnesota State University, Mankato. Marlene started her career as a Health and Physical Education teacher and then became a professor with a focus on health education teacher education. Marlene was member of both Joint Committees on National Health Education Standards (1995, 2007) and was a co-chair of the Standards Writing Group for  National Health Education Standards: Model Guidance for Curriculum Instruction (3rd Edition). Remember, you can listen/watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

October marks Health Literacy Month. In the newest episode of the School Health Educators podcast, Lori offers a definition of health literacy and provides three real-world examples. These include understanding health information for a powder product, utilizing an overdose reversal kit, and employing a tool for self-regulation. Remember, you can listen/watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.  

In this episode, members of SHAPE America’s National Health Education Council (HEC) share their mission, projects, ways you can get involved, and the importance of advocating for health education. Also covered is the importance of Health Literacy Month and how you can bring it to life in your school or community! Contact info for this episode’s guests includes: Adam Mullis: [email protected] x: mullis_PE Lennie Parham: [email protected] Melissa Quigley: [email protected] Remember, you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel here. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Many educators are starting to get ready for the Back-to-School Event, where students’ family members will be present. In this segment, Lori discusses her top four “do’s and don’ts” along with the four questions that are most frequently asked during these gatherings. Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

Welcome back to the new school year! The following folks chose to share a message with you for the new school year: Joe Deutch, Heidi Hancher-Rauch, Jodi Aman, Judy LoBianco, Erica Scott, Julie Knutson, Deb Tackmann, and Stephen Sroka. Enjoy and be reminded of how wonderful our profession is! Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel. Information to connect with these folks: Dr. Joe Deutch, SHAPE America Board of Directors President: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-joe-deutsch-18211329/ Dr. Heidi Hancher-Rauch, SOPHE Nat’l Board of Trustees President: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-hancher-rauch-phd-mches-08a03822/ Dr. Jodi Aman, DSW, LCSW: https://jodiaman.com/ Judy LoBianco, Former President of SHAPE America: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-lobianco-a888539/ Erica Scott, Found of Creating Consent Culture: https://www.creatingconsentculture.com/our-values Dr. Julie Knutson, Professor at Minnesota State Moorhead: https://www.mnstate.edu/academics/colleges-schools/hhp/faculty-staff Deb Tackmann, Health Education Professional & Speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-tackmann-b9001019/ Dr. Stephen Sroka, HE Teacher in the Nat’l Teachers Hall of Fame/Speaker: http://www.drstephensroka.com/ To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

It’s the beginning of a new school year for many school health educators. To support your success, Lori shares her “deep thoughts” on two introductory health education activities as well as examples of some of her classroom norms/expectations. Remember, you can contact Lori by emailing her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com. You can also watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.  

Are you feeling a bit melancholy about the new school year approaching? Then listen to this episode to consider how you can plan to best support yourself, as well as your students, this upcoming year. Guest Meghan Vlad shares some of her recommendations, which include planning simple, joyful acts for a day off, finding ways to focus (e.g., listening to audiobooks), planning purposefully, setting boundaries, and taking your lunch. Also, consider taking opportunities that occur during the school year, like attending state or national conferences or checking out reliable online resources. Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube channel here. If you want to learn about more ideas, contact Meghan Vlad at: [email protected] To contact Lori Reichel, the host of the School Health Educators Podcast, email her at [email protected] or visit her websites at www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com.

In this mini-episode, Lori, the host of the School Health Educators’ podcast, challenges you to answer the question, “Are you truly days off?” She then reminds you to consider slowing down, including checking out the Calm app (or Calm.com website) for tools to slow down. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com. Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.

Want some inspiration for planning your future teaching? Listen to this mini-episode which provides a quick overview of the past four episodes of the School Health Educators’ podcast. Episodes focused on the “habits of mind,” using analogies in health lessons, ideas and reminders about teaching puberty/growing up topics, as well as the reminder of how we what we teach supports our own wellness. To contact Lori, email her at [email protected] or check out her websites at: www.schoolhealtheducators.org and www.lorireichel.com. Remember you can watch this episode on the School Health Educators YouTube Channel.