Feb 03 2025 13 mins
Welcome to season 5 of Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.!
In this episode we discuss the importance of free play and opportunities for unstructured time for students. This is part of our continuted disucssion on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Key points include:
Thank you to Dr. Kyle Mallett - Superintendent, Angie Bogle - High School Principal, and Scarlett Williams - High School Counselor, and Jared and Allie - High School Juniors.
Join Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild as they discuss issues related to mental health in education. Their conversations are witty and relate-able, simultaneously shedding light on issues that can sometimes be hard to confront or understand. These episodes are chunked into small bites and packed with information that would be helpful to educators, parents, children.....anyone! We want to help make everyone more A.W.A.R.E.!
Project A.W.A.R.E. is a grant program funded by S.A.M.H.S.A. (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The Sandy Hook school shooting happened in December of 2012. In 2013 the White House initiative "NOW IS THE TIME" came out with 2 key goals:
1. Make schools safer and more nurturing.
2. Increase access to mental health services.
The "NOW IS THE TIME" initiative laid the foundation for federal grants like A.W.A.R.E. Arkansas applied for and received the second round of funding for A.W.A.R.E. in October of 2018. Our project is dedicated to Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education.
Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.
Transcript
Resources:
A.W.A.R.E. website
Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
DESE Podcasts
Join the conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts!
In this episode we discuss the importance of free play and opportunities for unstructured time for students. This is part of our continuted disucssion on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Key points include:
- The Valley Springs school district was a 2019-2023 pilot site for the Arkansas AWARE project and has implemented initiatives like a monthly "flex day" and outdoor spaces for students to play and engage in activities.
- These efforts aim to provide students with more opportunities for free play, risk-taking, and social interaction outside of structured classroom time.
- School administrators and students report benefits such as improved student wellbeing, reduced behavioral issues, and better ability to focus on schoolwork after breaks.
- Implementing these types of programs takes time and a multi-year effort, but can have a meaningful impact on students.
Thank you to Dr. Kyle Mallett - Superintendent, Angie Bogle - High School Principal, and Scarlett Williams - High School Counselor, and Jared and Allie - High School Juniors.
Join Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild as they discuss issues related to mental health in education. Their conversations are witty and relate-able, simultaneously shedding light on issues that can sometimes be hard to confront or understand. These episodes are chunked into small bites and packed with information that would be helpful to educators, parents, children.....anyone! We want to help make everyone more A.W.A.R.E.!
Project A.W.A.R.E. is a grant program funded by S.A.M.H.S.A. (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The Sandy Hook school shooting happened in December of 2012. In 2013 the White House initiative "NOW IS THE TIME" came out with 2 key goals:
1. Make schools safer and more nurturing.
2. Increase access to mental health services.
The "NOW IS THE TIME" initiative laid the foundation for federal grants like A.W.A.R.E. Arkansas applied for and received the second round of funding for A.W.A.R.E. in October of 2018. Our project is dedicated to Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education.
Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.
Transcript
Resources:
A.W.A.R.E. website
Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
DESE Podcasts
Join the conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts!