[ad_1]
Alex Burkett, a teacher at Mason High School, came across a podcast featuring Yale University professor Laurie Santos in 2019. Professor Santos teaches Yale University’s most popular class, The Science of Happiness. People who take this course are 17% happier, she says.
Burkett was hooked. He said he had always been interested in psychology and self-improvement, so when COVID-19 hit and Santos made the course available online for anyone to take, he signed up.
“It was really exciting and inspiring,” he said. Now, Burkett wants to give his students a taste of the class as well.
So he’ll be teaching it next fall.
The class focuses on mindfulness and is one of the new offerings at Mason High School next fall. Another elective explores Cincinnati’s unique history. Districts regularly add and replace niche courses to meet the interests of teachers and students.
Almost all subjects starting next year will fall under the jurisdiction of social studies. Amy Brennan, Mason’s assistant superintendent, said that’s because the district rotates faculty every few years as part of its curriculum review process. Next, Mason plans to delve into the math curriculum.
Brennan said the district continues to involve parents and community members in developing new courses. Launching a new class is a process of at least 16 months that “starts with understanding the students and their needs.”
Learn to “Live Your Best, Most Mentally Healthy Life”
Burkett and Beth Celenza oversee the Hope Squad at Mason High School. Local nonprofit Grant Us Hope implements peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in more than 240 schools in Ohio. Hope Squads are located in 30 states across the country, with Ohio having the most squads of any state other than Utah.
Hope Squad children often talk about mental health and learn through the program what resources are available to them when they need help. We’ll also have special guests discussing mindfulness practices and other powerful tools for living life to the fullest.
This got Beurket thinking: “Can we do something like this as a class, not just for Hope Squad, but for everyone as a class?”
With Santos’ free high school curriculum guide, you can do just that.
Mr. Burkett and Mr. Celenza will teach some of the semester-long classes next school year, depending on enrollment. Any student from 9th grade through her 12th grade can register.
Celenza said this class was especially exciting for her because she went back to school when she was a teacher to earn a degree in psychology. She plans to collaborate frequently with Mr. Burkett, who is a certified yoga instructor.
The Santos curriculum is very clearly laid out with courses. But both Burkett and Celenza understand that things don’t always go as planned when it comes to mental health. They anticipate that classes will be heavily influenced by student interests, a little unpredictable, and the first semester will involve a lot of trial and error.
“We can change direction as needed based on the needs of our children, because that’s what this course is about,” Celenza said, adding, “We can help each individual achieve the best and most mentally healthy possible outcome.” It’s about learning how to use your brain and better tools to live a fulfilling life.” ”
Ignite a passion for local history
In Rachel Pansing’s American History class, she sometimes asks students if they have seen examples of particular buildings or other landmarks downtown.
“A lot of kids don’t raise their hands,” she says.
Knowing the history of our homeland is central to Pansing’s identity. She grew up in Virginia, and her passion for history grew from her real-life experiences visiting places like Colonial Williamsburg. During her childhood, she often visited historical sites on her school field trips.
Mr. Pansing wanted to instill the same passion in his Mason students, and the Queen City Studies course was born.
“We have an incredible museum downtown that a lot of kids have never been to,” Pansing said. Some students have visited the city center for sporting events and other entertainment, but not often to learn about Cincinnati’s history, she said.
In addition to field trips to downtown, she plans to bring in guest speakers. Pansing said the itinerary of the trip is determined by her students and their interests. The children in the class will also dive into Mason’s unique history.
Pansing’s classes are aimed at juniors and seniors who are already taking American History.
Other new classes coming to Mason High School
The Mason School Board also approved the following new classes to begin next school year, provided admission requirements are met:
- Perspectives on Sports and American Culture is an elective for high school students that will address the importance of sports in students’ personal lives and society at large, according to the course proposal. Students will discuss the impact of recreational, organized, and commercial sports on the community.
- Leadership, Public Policy, and You are electives for high school seniors. Students taking this class will discuss today’s political climate and what makes an effective leader. Students will also look within to discover their own leadership potential and the skills needed to be “best equipped to become future leaders,” the course proposal says. I am.
- Metal Madness is a science elective for high school students. In this course, you will learn about the properties and applications of materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and biomaterials. According to the course proposal, the class combines elements of physics, chemistry, and engineering and opens students’ eyes to career opportunities in aerospace, electronics, sporting goods, medicine, and other STEM fields. It is said that they will be able to do so.
[ad_2]
Source link
