QuaverHealth Teaches Lessons That Last a Lifetime
By Kristin Clark Taylor
A Breath of Fresh Air
When educator Robin Wacha realized she was ready for a change, she took matters into her own hands and decided to shake things up a bit.
She switched gears by switching careers …. kind of.
After spending twenty-seven years as a classroom teacher, Wacha yearned to combine her teaching credentials with her passion for health and wellness.
So she did just that.
Last year, Wacha became an elementary health educator — and she couldn’t be happier.
“This is my first year as a health educator, and it also happens to be my first year using QuaverHealth, and I’m in love with both,” she says with excitement and pride.
As a traveling health educator in Fargo, North Dakota, Wacha covers three different elementary schools in her district, and she says the journey thus far has been joyous.
“It all feels like a breath of fresh air,” she says with a smile in her voice.
“Teaching health is new to me, but it’s also new for our schools,” she explains. “Our district just started offering a health curriculum this past September.”
As she travels from school to school, Wacha says she is grateful to have QuaverHealth by her side as her constant companion and primary resource. Where she goes, it goes.
“QuaverHealth is our go-to resource,” she says, “and all of us realize how fortunate we are to not only have a resource that travels with us but provides across-the-board satisfaction.”
A Health Curriculum that Embraces All Students
Wacha describes the students she teaches as a highly diverse group with highly diverse needs.
Some of her students are in special ed classrooms, she explains.
“I work with different classes of kids who are on the autism spectrum, some of whom are non-verbal.”
Wacha says she is easily able to customize QuaverHealth’s curriculum to meet the special needs of these students and maximize their learning experience in a way that’s engaging, exciting, and fun.
“My non-verbal students love the animated songs and lessons,” she says.
“The bright colors and the lovable characters bring the lessons to life in a way that these kiddos understand and can incorporate into their own lives.”
One of their favorite songs focuses on tooth-brushing, for example, while another favorite is a lively song about vitamins and minerals.
“There’s just something about the tooth-brushing song that seems to have a different vibe and a unique beat that really creates a meaningful connection with these students,” she says.
And the movement videos?
“Ah, they love the movement videos!” she exclaims. “The second they hear that first note being played, they’re up and ready to dance!”
Says Wacha: “Quaver helps teach my students that movement is fun — and it’s a healthy habit to get them into as early as possible!”
She’s equally grateful for songs about safety, proper nutrition, and responsible decision-making because her students can view these lessons through the lens of their own human experience.
“I just finished a lesson on helmet and seatbelt safety with my kindergarteners, and lots of them shared their own stories, which helped bring the lesson to life,” Wacha explains.
“I followed the discussion up with a supplemental worksheet to reinforce what we’d learned, and you could just see the wheels turning!”
This kind of thoughtful curriculum development, combined with Wacha’s ability to customize the content so that it resonates with her students, ensures the highest levels of engagement.
“Every young person should have the opportunity to learn how to develop skills that will enrich — and maybe even save — their lives,” she says with conviction.
This is precisely why Wacha feels fortunate to have a resource like QuaverHealth — it teaches essential skills that promote lifelong healthy habits at a relatable level that students can readily absorb and understand.
“My First and Only Choice”
Wacha is wonderful at highlighting what she loves about the curriculum from her personal perspective as a health educator.
These additional details will help paint a clearer picture of why this awesome classroom resource belongs in your classroom, too,
- QuaverHealth is built for all teachers, from veteran educators to those who are new to the field.
- The curriculum is standards-aligned, carefully designed to meet all mandatory state and SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Education) requirements.
- QuaverHealth is expert-reviewed, meticulously crafted, and fully approved by a group of top medical and health professionals.
- With more than 3,600 instructional resources available, QuaverHealth gives educators the freedom to customize and create their own lessons. Districts and schools also have full autonomy to opt in or out of specific content based on their specific needs.
When it comes to selecting an elementary health curriculum that’s second to none, Wacha’s words are refreshingly succinct and straightforward:
“QuaverHealth is my first and only choice.”
Why not make it yours, too?
To bring QuaverHealth into your classroom, gym, or workspace, visit QuaverEd.com/Health.
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and an editor.
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