News Release: Announcing the 2021 Edition!

Leading sex ed program revamped to address needs of today’s students, parents

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – One of the leading sex education curricula in the nation has been revised to help schools deliver successful sex education programs at a time when they have caused much hand-wringing in schools nationwide.

Changes to the Puberty: The Wonder Years curriculum are designed to provide the broader perspectives today’s students need, the well-grounded presentation their parents seek, and the supports teachers want, said Wendy L. Sellers, a registered nurse and Certified Sexuality Educator. Sellers created the curriculum, which has been taught in hundreds of schools across 40 states, including Michigan, and in eight other countries.

“Students today recognize diversity among their peers and are looking to adults – teachers and parents – for information,” Sellers said. “Meanwhile, adults are scrambling to provide that information about gender, sexual orientation and race. The revised curriculum meets the growing needs of both students and their parents, while also supplying more support for teachers.”

Key revisions to the program for all grades include:

Modifications based on feedback from educators, including updated inclusive language; digital curriculum, student resources, and family resources to help with virtual classes; and lessons on consent, HIV prevention, abuse prevention, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Updated lessons closely aligned with the latest National Sex Education Standards, including a stronger emphasis on teaching consent, so that all students know how to ask for and give or deny consent. There is also more focus on prevention of interpersonal and sexual violence, and on sexual health rather than disease and pregnancy prevention.
Additional teacher supports such as streaming videos, and slides and background information to guide teachers through lesson activities.
Homework activities and background information that allow parents to engage with their children in discussions about puberty, growing up, relationships, and family values.

Quotes

“The 2021 Puberty: The Wonder Years revisions give educators the flexibility to implement lessons in-person or virtually, thanks to the integration of Online Teacher Resources and digital lessons,”
Angela Blood Starr, Regional School Health Coordinator serving Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties.

“The revisions make thoughtful updates to the Teacher Tips, which have always been a great resource. Supports that include explanations as to why certain activities are paired with specific lessons, and suggestions for additional activities such as book selections are invaluable to teachers in implementing the curriculum.”
Christina Holmes, School Health Coordinator for the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency

“If you want the edgiest curriculum, this isn’t it. If you want to step up your puberty education to be relevant to students, the revised Puberty: The Wonder Years curriculum does that. It’s a turnkey curriculum – comprehensive and ready to go.”
Wendy L. Sellers, author