1. You Want Me To Say WHAT? Teaching Middle Schoolers about Sexuality Elizabeth Schroeder, EdD, MSW National Middle Schools Forum October 2008

2. Circles of Sexuality Sensuality Sensuality Intimacy Intimacy Sexual Identity Sexual Identity Sexual Health & Reproduction Sexual Health & Reproduction Sexualization Sexualization

3. Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US (SIECUS) Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education K – 12 http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf

4. What’s going on for middle schoolers sexually? Emerging sense of self as a young adult Emerging sense of self as a young adult Feel conscious of their sexuality Feel conscious of their sexuality Understand jokes with sexual content Understand jokes with sexual content Am I normal? Am I normal? Puberty: when will what happen? Puberty: when will what happen? Feel shy about asking questions of caregivers; may act like they already know all the answers Feel shy about asking questions of caregivers; may act like they already know all the answers Value privacy highly Value privacy highly

5. Types of Sexuality-Related Questions Information-seeking “Am I Normal?” Permission-seeking/advice Shock questions Personal beliefs/experiences

6. Tips for Responding Stall Clarify Turn it back Refer Say “I don’t know” Explore REMAIN CALM

7. Practice: Responding to Questions Small groups Decide what type(s) of question it is Formulate a response together Try it out with follow-up