The Essentials of Teaching Health Education

This book provides a comprehensive guide for teaching K-12 health education, focusing on a skills-based approach to enhance student learning and health literacy.

In The Essentials of Teaching Health Education, Second Edition, educators are introduced to a skills-based approach specifically designed for K-12 health education. This text emphasizes practical strategies for curriculum design and program development, ensuring that students are prepared for success in the 21st century. Written by experienced authors with backgrounds in both university and K-12 settings, the book provides comprehensive resources for building, teaching, and assessing health education programs that foster health literacy and self-efficacy among students.

What distinguishes The Essentials of Teaching Health Education is its focus on meeting the unique needs of schools, teachers, and students. The text emphasizes an individualized approach to enhancing student learning, grounded in current research and national health education standards. The new edition includes two additional chapters addressing the role of health education in the modern era and the importance of equity and social justice in health education. It also features an updated definition of skills-based health education and a revised skill-development model that connects learning theory with practical applications.

Organized into four parts, the book covers essential topics from the skills-based approach to health education, teaching strategies aligned with national standards, curriculum planning, and creating supportive learning environments. With evidence-informed strategies and a framework for successful skill acquisition, The Essentials of Teaching Health Education equips educators with the tools necessary for fostering student success both in school and beyond.