Puberty: Not So Wonderful? Ask an adult what they remember about puberty, and they will probably get a funny look on their face. Next, they are likely to tell you a funny story about something embarrassing that happened to them. Worse yet, some adults might tell stories of being confused, frightened, or humiliated by their puberty experiences. So, is puberty not wonderful? Yes, growing from a child into an adult can be awkward at times. But, let’s face it……
Puberty Curriculum Free Is free really free? Sure, we all like to get a deal. Nothing makes us happier than finding something we really want or need at a lower price than we thought we’d have to pay. Sometimes, the objects we get by bargain hunting work out great; other times, we wish we had paid a bit more to get something of more value. One popular Google search related to puberty curriculum is “puberty curriculum free.” I suspect…
News & Notable Puberty: The Wonder Years Updates May 2017, May 30, 2017 #MeToo, Lester Graham, Stateside, Michigan Radio, October 10, 2017 The Birds and the Bees: LAUSD sex ed might be going through some changes, A. Martnez,Take Two, NPR 89.3KPCC, 2017-9-25 Puberty Education, Jim Roope, Westwood One News, 2017-9-7 “LAUSD Introduces New Sex-Education Classes for 4th Graders,” Anabel X. Munoz, KABC News, Los Angeles, 2017-9-8 “LAUSD to try out sex ed classes for middle school students,” Antonie Boessenkool, Los…
No one likes to be told to teach a class without being given the tools to do a good job…especially when the topic is puberty education! That explains why so many teachers search for puberty lesson activities they can use. So, what can educators do to acquire the best tools to teach puberty education? Read on to learn what teachers need in a well-equipped toolkit for puberty education. Activities versus Curriculum A curriculum is a set of sequentially ordered units…
May 28 is Menstrual Hygiene Day. You might be asking yourself, “Why does something so normal and natural—something that is routinely experienced by half of the world’s population—deserve its very own special day?” Great question! Menstruation Across the Globe Across the globe, girls and women experience challenges because of their menstruation. In many countries, menstruation is a taboo topic. Many cultures do not prepare girls for the onset of this normal event; others require girls and women to isolate themselves…
It is tempting to think fifth graders aren’t ready to learn about puberty and sexuality. After all, they’re just children, right? Yes, fifth graders are typically 10 and 11 years old. However, they have many characteristics that make it important to teach them about the changes they will experience, or are already experiencing, as they move through puberty on their way to adulthood. Here are a few things to consider about teaching puberty to 5th graders. Physical Development: Hormones released into the…
Respectful Relationships: Lessons for Life What are children learning about respectful relationships in the media lately? Think of the images and quotes that are splashed across all forms of media. Relationships formed in childhood, good or bad, are likely to be repeated as adults unless new skills are learned. How will we teach children about respectful relationships? Relationships are an important part of life. The old adage, “No man is an island,” is true for every man, woman, and…
Adolescence is a time when… …sexual norms, beliefs, and attitudes are being formed. This makes adolescents particularly susceptible to sexual messages in media, such as television, movies, social media, and music. The parts of their brains that are responsible for critical thinking skills and decision-making are not yet developed, making it difficult for them to analyze these media messages. Media literacy is vital. Studies show that adolescents rely on media as a major source of information. More than 80% report…
Student assessment is vital to… …student success. Assessing can be defined as “gathering information about someone or something for a purpose.” Collecting student work is one tool for assessing student growth, understanding, and application of learning. By collecting student work over time, students and their teachers can review what has been learned and discuss their stories of student growth. Teachers who discuss student work with each student can develop two of the most authentic skills students need in the real world:…
May is National Masturbation Month. Now, before you stop reading, please give me a moment to explain why I have decided to make Masturbation Month the topic of the May newsletter for Puberty: The Wonder Years. This might be the first time you have ever heard about this annual event. If so, you aren’t alone. Masturbation is one of those topics that very few people ever talk about. So, it makes sense that its commemorative month would also be largely…
Sexual Messages Elementary children are exposed to countless sexual messages every day, no matter how much adults try to shield them. Television, radio, billboards, internet, video games, clothing styles and slogans, overheard adult conversations: children are awash in the sea of our sexualized culture. As a result, many children are hyper-sexualized. Sexual Assault Among the messages that children receive are some that imply that sexual violence is okay, even desirable. These messages can come from many places, and from popular sources.…
Parents As Partners in Puberty Education When teachers and parents form a partnership, children are more likely to form positive attitudes and behaviors regarding puberty and sexuality. In fact, more adolescents say they would like to learn about sexuality from their parents than from any other source. Yet, the educator can do much to engage and equip parents to take on the challenge of talking with their children about sex. Let’s face it: many parents did not have positive…
“Puberty: The Wonder Years doesn’t just stick to puberty. The curriculum also includes lessons on topics that I think are necessary, such as bullying and social-emotional components. There’s also a lot of scripting for really good conversation and prompts for the teachers.”
Wendy receives her award from the American School Health Association
