Whole Child Approach

Whole Child Approach Refers a shift from a limited focus on academic accomplishment to a broader perspective of the skills and information that all children must acquire in order to achieve long-term success. According to http://www.wholechildeducation.org , there are " five tenets of a whole child education —healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged—to provide a framework and understanding of what a whole child approach to education means." Looking at students as a whole can really change the outcome of their education. If students are mentally and physically well, they will strive in many ways.

Healthy

 Each student should enter the school healthy and taken care of. 

 What schools can do:

 - Prioritize recess and gym to ensure students get the right amount of exercise and time outside.

 - Offer healthy snack/ lunch options for students and provide education on nutrition.

 - The school should have staff that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of student health.

 Safe 

 Every student is an environment where they are safe, emotionally and physically. 

 What schools can do: 

 - There should be rules and procedures that students and parents must follow. 

 - Teachers should reinforce rules and help children develop coping skills.

 - Schools should go over fire, tornado, weather, etc drills often. 

 Engaged: 

 Each student is engaged and interested in the learning. The student is connected to the school and community. 

 What schools can do: 

 - Monitor students success and progress. 

 - Goal setting techniques 

 - Teachers should provide fun activities that allow collaboration to develop their life skills.

 - The curriculum should not only encourage students to understand what they are learning, but to also know why they are learning it. 

 Supported: Each student is accommodated and supported by all teachers and adults. 

 What schools can do:

 - Make sure parents know they are supported and are aware of the services that are offered for them and their children. 

 - Students receive personalized learning and are given individual attention and support.

 - Give students the right resources to identify and express their emotions. 

 Challenged: Each student is challenged in order to succeed in the future. 

 What schools can do: 

 - make challenging materials for students to understand the world around them 

 - Work with families to determine what success may look like for their child and how education can help the child reach their goals. 

 Overview 

 The Whole Child Approach ensures a child's full development while also assisting each student in improving their academic achievement as they mature. The goal of the method is to give all children the support and structure they need to achieve long-term success in all aspects of their lives. 

 Resources: http://www.wholechildeducation.org/blog/understanding-the-whole-child-approach-with-tenets-indicators-and-component https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/cfe/2019/what-is-whole-child-education.pdf