Why Knowledge Alone Doesn’t Change Behavior in Puberty Education
Information-only puberty education rarely changes student behavior. Here is how the adapted Health Belief Model targets the four factors that actually do.
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How Family Engagement Reduces Opt-Outs and Builds Community Support for Puberty Education
A practical guide for school leaders on how family engagement reduces opt-outs, prevents complaints, and builds long-term support for puberty education.
How to Prevent Parent Complaints About Puberty Education Before They Start
Learn 5 proactive strategies to prevent parent complaints about puberty education. Build trust through transparency, communication, and family partnership tools.
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.
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…