What Trauma-Informed Puberty Education Actually Looks Like in the Classroom
Learn what trauma-informed puberty education looks like in grades 4-6, from content warnings to safe classroom climates, and why it matters for every student.
Category Everyone
What to Say When Students Repeat TikTok Myths About Puberty and Bodies
A fifth-grade student raises their hand during a lesson and, with total confidence, asks if it’s true that drinking a special tea can stop your period from coming. You see a few other students nod along. In that moment, it’s…
Beyond YouTube: Age-Appropriate Ways to Teach 5th Graders About Online Dangers
In my work with schools, I hear a common concern from 5th-grade teachers. One recently shared that her students are ‘sneakier than we think’ and just laugh when she presents serious online safety scenarios. It’s a moment that can leave…
A 5th Grade Teacher’s Guide to Discussing Online Body Image Safely
That feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know a tough topic is next in your lesson plan? As an educator who has been in the trenches for over 35 years, I know that feeling well. It’s completely…
My Media Literacy Unit Bombed: 7 Fixes for When 5th Graders Aren’t Listening
You’ve been there. You spent hours prepping a media literacy lesson you were sure would land. You had the articles, the worksheets, the ‘real vs. fake’ examples. And then… crickets. Blank stares. Or worse, chaos. If you’ve ever felt like…
How to Weave Digital Safety Lessons into Your Existing ELA Curriculum
In my work with schools, I hear the same question from teachers again and again: ‘How am I supposed to fit one more thing in?’ It feels like every year, another ‘essential’ topic is added to an already-packed teaching schedule.…
How Health Ed Boosts ELA Skills: Making the Case to Your Administration
Last week, I was on a call with a 5th-grade teacher who was preparing to teach puberty education. “I’m already so far behind on our ELA pacing guide,” she sighed. “How am I supposed to justify spending two weeks on…
How to Teach Health and Meet Core ELA Standards Simultaneously
I understand the challenge of trying to squeeze one more thing—like essential health education—into an already packed ELA block. If you’re a 5th-grade teacher, I suspect you’re nodding your head right now. In my work with schools, I hear this…
3 Critical Onboarding Mistakes That Derail a New Curriculum Rollout
In my 35+ years working with school districts on curriculum implementation, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern. The success of a new curriculum often has less to do with the quality of the materials and more to do with the quality…
Justify Health Ed: A Guide to Integrating Puberty Topics with ELA Standards
From my experience working with countless teachers, I know that feeling of being pulled in a million directions is real. If every minute of your instructional day feels like a battle between competing priorities, you’re not alone. The pressure to…
A District’s Guide to Overcoming Teacher Resistance to New Curriculum
In my work with districts rolling out a new curriculum, I’ve seen a familiar pattern. Dedicated leaders spend months on the plan. They buy the materials. Then, implementation hits a wall that feels a lot like teacher resistance. Here’s what…
A 5-Step Framework for a Scalable Teacher Onboarding & Training Plan
Getting new teacher onboarding right is one of the most persistent challenges schools face. So often, the focus lands on welcome kits and HR paperwork. While important, that’s not what truly makes a difference. The real goal is to prevent…