Sex/Growth Ed for Middle School

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Hi All! I am looking for some advice/guidance about pioneering a sex ed program for middle school.

A little background: my school is private and not affiliated with a district or other schools, so it is a bit of uncharted territory. We have a feeder elementary school that provides some basic A&P and puberty info in 5th grade, and our high school has a mandatory Health class (MS and HS are under one roof).

There *was* a middle school sex ed program in the past, taught by a Catholic women's group, but the administration and parents didn't like the content (abstinence-based, and we are not a Catholic/religious school). But, in general, the staff and parents are in favor of providing sex ed to the middle schoolers - they just prefer something more medically oriented (good for them!). I was hired specifically because I was interested in developing a sex ed program, and leading/teaching the classes.

This year, as a pioneer program, I will have only ONE class period per grade, per gender (70 minutes for 6th grade girls, 70 minutes for 6th grade boys, and same for 7th and 8th). This may expand next year, depending on how it goes. I have decided to use the CDC's critical sex ed topics as a framework. Link here:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/profiles/pdf/16_criteria.pdf

From your experience, what are some topics that go over well for these age groups, questions I should be prepared for, any good teaching strategies or any other advice and reflections you have to offer. I will post my proposed outline below...

Specializes in OB.

I'm not a school nurse, but I've heard excellent things about the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program. It was created by the Unitarian Universalist church, but there's no real religious content. It focuses on self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and inclusivity. There are different programs for each age group from kindergarten to adults.

Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education | UUA.org

It's refreshing to hear that the parents as a whole are interested in comprehensive sex ed for their kids that is not abstinence-only.

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I anticipate some of that. Many of these kids are pretty sheltered. I assume letting them ask and simply saying "BJ is a slang term for oral sex" is the best way to handle that...?

Yes, but they may ask DETAILED details. I remember at the middle school level they gave our parents a quick call for stuff like that.

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I remember back when I had this "talk" in the sixth grade. We went over reproduction a little in the 7th, but it wasn't ample, in my opinion. They just showed a movie of two shadowy figures passing over each other and that was "sexual reproduction!" Yeah.

I just want to add that showing how to use products would be much appreciated (tampons, pads, contraceptives, deodorant, etc.)

I like the idea of the anonymous questions on index cards. I just want to add, so the kids do not get embarrassed, you might want to find a way where they can submit it without having you go around and collecting cards around the classroom. Perhaps a bucket, folder, or something else somewhere in the classroom or office? Some kids might not want to be seen handing over a question and because of that, they won't ask what they really want to know. Just a thought.

Great job in getting something like this started. This is needed everywhere!

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Yes, but they may ask DETAILED details. I remember at the middle school level they gave our parents a quick call for stuff like that.

oh dear haha! Well luckily I am not embarrassed talking about sexual health and I would rather them hear a clear explanation from me, rather than getting weird info from their friends or the internet. I hope I can keep a straight face and not seem too shocked if they do bring up something I'm not expecting.

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I'm not a school nurse, but I've heard excellent things about the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program. It was created by the Unitarian Universalist church, but there's no real religious content. It focuses on self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and inclusivity. There are different programs for each age group from kindergarten to adults.

Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education | UUA.org

It's refreshing to hear that the parents as a whole are interested in comprehensive sex ed for their kids that is not abstinence-only.

I am also a fan of OWL. They have curriculums for all ages starting elementary and going up until adults. They are in the process of updating everything as well.

I am actually teaching both an OWL class at my church for 10-12 and using the curriculum for my sophomore senimar group (in conjunction with others).

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Specializes in School nursing.

OP, I have been teaching MS sex ed for 5 years. I love it! I teach comprehensive sex ed, using the Get Real: Sex Education that works curriculum. PM me if you want. I like to think I have a bunch of insight.

Also, the internet. More MS students than you would like to believe have seen Media. And they have questions about it. And as I say every year, "Media is entertainment that is legal for those over the age of 18. It is not realistic and often portrays unhealthy relationships." Also my class is not a "how to" class.

I also teach sex ed to 10th graders. Totally different experience, yet not at the same time...

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oh dear haha! Well luckily I am not embarrassed talking about sexual health and I would rather them hear a clear explanation from me, rather than getting weird info from their friends or the internet. I hope I can keep a straight face and not seem too shocked if they do bring up something I'm not expecting.

"What is motorboating?"

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I would definitely add internet and social media safety- sexting is HUGE these days. Read some crazy statistic recently about the high percentage of kids as young as 11 saying they have sent via text or email naked selfies to known and unknown people. Terrifying.

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Specializes in School nursing.
I would definitely add internet and social media safety- sexting is HUGE these days. Read some crazy statistic recently about the high percentage of kids as young as 11 saying they have sent via text or email naked selfies to known and unknown people. Terrifying.

THIS. I have a great lesson I use with my 10th graders on social media and sex. And it has led to get conversation - kids get it a bit more than, but the issue is getting them to see BEFORE the consequences. And that conversation can be more challenging in MS, when students can't see a future beyond a couple of days sometimes.

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I do the puberty talk with 5th grade girls and oh my goodness the questions...My only advice is not to let the "what if" get out of control. Every year there's one with this doomsday scenario "What if I'm at my friend's house and I start my period and her dad is the only person home and I can't call my mom because my cell phone is broken and I bleed through my pants, but my friend don't own any pants and we're at the beach and sharks start swimming near me"...

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I do the puberty talk with 5th grade girls and oh my goodness the questions...My only advice is not to let the "what if" get out of control. Every year there's one with this doomsday scenario "What if I'm at my friend's house and I start my period and her dad is the only person home and I can't call my mom because my cell phone is broken and I bleed through my pants, but my friend don't own any pants and we're at the beach and sharks start swimming near me"...

ahahaaaaa!

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Specializes in School nursing.
I do the puberty talk with 5th grade girls and oh my goodness the questions...My only advice is not to let the "what if" get out of control. Every year there's one with this doomsday scenario "What if I'm at my friend's house and I start my period and her dad is the only person home and I can't call my mom because my cell phone is broken and I bleed through my pants, but my friend don't own any pants and we're at the beach and sharks start swimming near me"...

Haha! I always tell my middle schoolers I'm not taking a swim down the "What If" river. Also Dads know about periods, too. They can be awesome about it.

And really, why are you swimming water with sharks anyway? ;)

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