Getting Your Foot in the Door

1. Getting Your Foot in the Door What the SAFE Educator Needs and Wants to Know About the Health Curriculum Framework Michael R. Cassidy, Holliston Fire Department S.A.F.E. In-Service Training DFS – Stow Campus March 1, 2000

2. What is the Framework ?Why must S.A.F.E. Educators have a thorough understanding of it? • The purpose of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework is to provide guidance for Massachusetts school districts in the acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and habits needed by students. • The Framework synthesizes current research and sets learning standards for students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. • The Framework presents a broad outline upon which Massachusetts school health curricula, instruction, and locally designed and administered assessments can be made. • The approach of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework is to encourage each district to work with family and community members in the development and implementation of the health education curriculum in the schools of that district. (emphasis added) Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework, Introduction

3. Learn to Speak a New LanguageSpeak the Language of Education • Long gone are the days when bringing the fire truck to the school and letting the kids try on the gear constitutes a firefighter communicating Fire Safety. • Unless we have a working knowledge of the DOE’s Learning Standard Components, then we will have a hard time getting into the classroom. With the pressure associated with standardized testing (MCAS) teachers are very jealous of their classroom time. • Ignorance of the Framework could result in the classroom door being slammed in your face!

4. What are Learning Standard Components?They are the JPRs of the Education World • If you are involved in fire service training, you know Job Performance Requirements are “the combination of the tools, equipment, materials and/or conditions of performance...” NFPA’s Professional Qualifications Operations Manual • The Learning Standards reflect measurable student competencies and are grade span specific (PreK-5, 6-8, 9-12). Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework, Introduction

5. The S.A.F.E. Message Has Not ChangedThe way we market our program is all that needs to be refined • The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) program is a fire prevention education program designed to equip elementary, intermediate, and high school students with skills for recognizing the dangers of fire, specifically, the fire hazards smoking-related materials pose. • The program utilizes specially trained firefighters to teach fire and life safety education. FY ‘00 Student Awareness of Fire Education Grant Application

6. We are Fire and Life Safety EducatorsApproach the schools from the standpoint ofpartnering with them to meet their objectives,not of merely taking over their classroom. • MGL c.71 s.1 requires the teaching of fire safety, burn safety, first aid and CPR to students in the public schools. • “In order for fire educators to work with schools effectively, they need to understand what education reform is, how it impacts teachers and principals, and how to “sell” the fire educator’s ability to work with them to reach their goals and objectives.” Massachusetts Public Fire and Safety Education Curriculum Planning Guidebook, (2nd Edition) page 2.

7. Strands and Learning Standards • Physical Health Strand • Growth and Development • Physical Activity and Fitness • Nutrition • Reproduction/Sexuality • Social and Emotional Health • Mental Health • Family Life • Interpersonal Relationships

8. Strands and Learning Standards • Safety and Prevention Strand • Disease Transmission and Control • Safety and Injury Prevention • Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Substance Use/Abuse Prevention • Violence Prevention • Personal and Community Health Information Strand • Consumer Health and Resource Management • Ecological Health • Community and Public Health

9. Think Outside the BoxWhat do you mean you want me to teachPhysical Activity and Fitness? • Motor Skill Development 2.1 Apply movement concepts including direction, balance, level (high, low), pathway (straight, curve, zigzag), range (expansive, narrow), and force absorption (rigid, with bent knees) to extend versatility and improve physical performance. • Key Fire Safety Behaviors • Understanding and practicing Stop, Drop and Roll • Understanding and practicing Crawl Low Under Smoke

10. Safety and Injury PreventionAren’t We Already Equipped to Teach This ? • Self Protection 9.8 Describe actions and behaviors to protect oneself when alone at home or in the community or caring for small children (such as first aid and rescue breathing). • Key Fire Safety Behaviors Practicing safety when Home Alone Understanding and practicing Cooking Safety Understanding and practicing Escape Plans Understanding Smoke Detectors/Alarms Understanding and practicing Safety When Babysitting Practicing fire safety with Flammable Liquids Understanding Arson and False Alarms Understanding and practicing safety around Explosives and Fireworks

11. Personal and Community InformationPromote yourself and your message any way you can! • School and Community Efforts 14.1 List the jobs carried out by people at the school and in the community that support health and success in school. • Public Health 14.11 Identify the functions of the school, health department, and other community and public health and social service agencies in health promotion and disease prevention through community health initiatives and observances. • Key Fire Safety Behaviors Recognize the firefighter as a Community Helper

12. How Do You Enter Their World?Network with the Right People • Health Education Resource Teacher • Classroom Teacher • Team Leader • Health and Physical Education Coordinator K-12 • Principals • Superintendents • Parents • Students

13. HELPIs just a phone call away… • Massachusetts Public Fire & Safety Education Curriculum Planning Guidebook • Public Fire and Safety Education Task Force • Fire & Safety Public Education Conference • Public Fire and Life Safety Educator Course (40 hours) [MFA] • Public Education Presentation Course (12 hours) [MFA] • Public Fire Education Planning Course (12 hours) [National Fire Academy Course] • S.A.F.E.In-Service Training • DFS - Fire Data and Public Education Unit (978)567-3380 • Jennifer Mieth - Public Education Manager (978)567-3381 • Michael Young - Eastern MA. S.A.F.E. Coordinator (978)567-3385 • Paul Whitney - Western MA. S.A.F.E. Coordinator (978)567-3388 • http://www.state.ma.us/dfs/lifesafe/safe.htm • http://www.state,ma.us/dfs • DPH Injury Prevention and Control Program (617)624-5070

14. Department of EducationLinks and Phone Numbers For more information about the following Curriculum Frameworks: Arts English Language Arts Health Mathematics* (Public Comment version Sept. 99) Science Technology/Engineering* (Public Comment version Sept. 99) History and Social Sciences Foreign Language http://www.doe.mass.edu/doedocs/frameworks www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/health99/health1099.pdf or www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/health99/toc.html To order Curriculum Frameworks (781)338-6767 or docs@doe.mass.edu (4-6 wk. delivery) For more information about the Health Curriculum Framework, contact Nancy Coville (781) 338-6305 or ncoville@doe.mass.edu.