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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do more than one nutrition program for my grade level during the year?
How many teachers at my school have to sign up to have you come?
What are the teachers’ responsibilities for participation?
Will this create a lot of extra work for me?
Why do you need me to log my hours for you?
How will I provide two hours of extra nutrition education for each hour the WSU Educator is in the classroom?
How does the sharing or “cost sharing” of my hours fund your program?
Do you have ideas of how I can use these programs to teach math, writing, reading, and science?
In logging my hours, does preparation and review time count?
What is the cost to my school?
I am interested, but my principal is hesitating. Do you have selling points that I can show to him/her?
How can you do these programs at no cost to my school?
Do I have to be present when you come in and teach?
I have looked at the different offerings for nutrition education- I am interested in Square Foot Nutrition- what if my school doesn't have a garden?
Can I do more than one nutrition program for my grade level during the year?
Based on our funding requirements, we can provide one series of lessons for your classroom per year.
How many teachers at my school have to sign up to have you come?
A minimum of three teachers at each school will need to sign up on the same day: however, the more classrooms the better. Nutrition education is more effective and contagious when multiple classrooms at each school participate.
What are the teachers’ responsibilities for participation?
- Agree to extend the nutrition education two hours for every direct hour delivered by WSU
- Assist WSU Educator with hands-on lessons
- Maintain classroom management when the Educator is with your students
Will this create a lot of extra work for me? I Initially, it will take time to plan how you will integrate nutrition into your required subject areas. WSU Nutrition Education provides a contextual approach for teachers to meet their obligations in learning benchmarks. Each interactive nutrition lesson that WSU delivers comes equipped with extended lesson activities for teachers to reinforce learning. Teachers have the entire school year to complete their required hours.
Why do you need me to log my hours for you?
In order to be federally reimbursed, WSU must verify the nutrition education that occurs in the schools. This is done with time sheets signed by each teacher and the principal. This is referred to as “cost share”, which is a partnership between the school district and WSU Extension that brings nutrition education to many schools. Schools receive the benefits of gardens, materials, training, and enhancements to science and nutrition education. The districts do not pay for these programs: instead, WSU claims the district costs associated with their involvement in the form of salaries and goods and services. This increases the federal allocation for WSU to sustain and enhance the educational services the district receives.
How will I provide two hours of extra nutrition education for each hour the WSU Educator is in the classroom?
It’s easy!
- Record administrative time to plan and prepare students for nutrition education
- Attend a project orientation
- Prepare student workbooks/journals and other necessary photocopies
- Prepare students for a guest speaker and debrief and review after the guest speaker leaves
- Keep time records
- Work with other teachers at the school to collaborate on a nutrition project
- Send home parent newsletters and parent newsletter evaluations
- Fill out project surveys providing WSU Extension with feedback
How does the sharing or “cost sharing” of my hours fund your program?
WSU is federally reimbursed for the hours that staff from public agencies agree to work on nutrition education. Teachers keep time records verified with their signatures, which are used as an invoice for federal reimbursement.
Do you have ideas of how I can use these programs to teach math, writing, reading, and science?
Each teacher who signs up receives a packet or a manual that contains:
- Lesson plans
- Ideas for additional nutrition education
- Reproducible worksheets
- Writing prompts
- Web site resources
- Book list
- Resource bins that contain team and group activities for teachers to use during the school year
In logging my hours, does preparation and review time count?
Yes, as well as any administrative time you spent to schedule or implement the education.
What is the cost to my school?
These programs are free!
I am interested, but my principal is hesitating. Do you have selling points that I can show to him/her?
Yes, we have a packet of material specifically for principals complete with success stories and studies that show the effectiveness of experiential education to meet benchmarks for health and science. We also provide support for schools with the following items:
- Secondary life skills curriculum brought to the elementary level
- Interactive newsletters that encourage parent involvement
- Exposing students to the natural sciences in an urban setting
- Increased patterns of healthy eating for students
- Documentation of how lesson activities align with EALRS is provided with the teacher packet
How can you do these programs at no cost to my school?
WSU is federally reimbursed from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for nutrition education delivered to food stamp eligible children and families. WSU works with school teachers to deliver the education. The federal government reimburses WSU based on school faculty and staff salaries.
Do I have to be present when you come in and teach?
Yes, teachers assist the WSU Educator with the lesson, including classroom management. WSU Educators depend on classroom teachers to use their established learning cues and systems to keep students on task.
I have looked at the different offerings for nutrition education- I am interested in Square Foot Nutrition- what if my school doesn't have a garden?
If you are interested in installing garden beds at your school, Square Foot Nutrition Project personnel can provide tips and help find local resources in order to build your school garden. However, we cannot use our funding to purchase gardening materials. Please contact us directly to discuss.
Contact
Jodie
DuBois, 253.798.7193
for more information.
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