https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2 What do you remember about your experience learning about sexuality in school? Would you go about it differently in your own classroom? en-us 2021-04-25 19:47:24 UTC 2026-02-18 21:29:41 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1483192263 I personally went to a parochial school, so I was not taught anything that I personally think was helpful to a lot of people in the long run based on how my class was and where they are now. They mostly used religious guilt and fear to disaude students from doing anything "ungodly", which of course did not work. We were taught the basics of how bodies worked and how "babies were made" (only in marriage of course). In high school we got a more indepth teachings of what sex or sexuaility was which was helpful but a little late as I know I personally learned everything though the media or through the words of my friends, as not even my parents approached the topic with us. I know that I want to create a safe space where children are able to be open and choose who they want to be or what they want to represent and have open discussions with them if they have questions about anything. Of course framing it in an age appropriate way for them. This is another personal note but I don't think that children should learn alternative names for their private parts, I think that teaching them the biological terms for what they are is a much smarter method for many reason mainly being that if something were to happen they would be able to articulate it in a appropriate way. ]]> 2021-05-02 22:13:50 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1483192263 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1486599713 I went to a Catholic school until 7th grade and I did not learn anything about sexuality. I was supposed to learn about it in 7th grade but then I transferred to public school so I barely had any education on sexuality. I then learned about it through friends and a few health classes through middle school. Everyone at my middle school knew more than me because they had the sexuality discussion in school in 5th grade. I also never had a talk with my parents about it because they are very religious and it's just a taboo topic in our house. If I teach upper elementary I would definitely make sure to mention it and have a talk about it. I think it is even apart of the 5th grade curriculum for health. However, I want to teach lower elementary so I would just address it as it comes up in class since the children are still very young.]]> 2021-05-03 18:07:18 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1486599713 liychik8023 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1487605497 I also went to Catholic School 1-8 grade, and recvied little to no education on sexutality. We did learn about anatomy a little bit, so I knew the working parts of both sexes, but not much more than that. I definitely didn't know anything about contraceptives or differnent sexualites at all. However, I was lucky enough to have a family who was open about this stuff for the most part, and friends who had older sisters (lol). In my classroom, I plan on not brining any type of moral or religious values into this discussion. For me, that could have really skewed my view on sexuality if I didn't have other sources of information. When speaking about this with younger students, I would just treat it very causally, use correct names for body parts, and encourage them to ask more complex questions to a grown up at home. For upper elementary, I would want to provide a comprehensive education that included puberty, sexualtites, and ways to be safe. ]]> 2021-05-03 23:58:12 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1487605497 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1487759144 I didn't learn anything about sexuality in school. I went to a public school and we learned a bout puberty but nothing about sexuality, sex, protection or anything of the sorts. I will be much more open with sexuality in my classroom. I will talk about it like its a normalized topic and not something to say nothing about. I will use my resources like books in my classroom. I think that as a general teacher it is still my responsibility to address questions that the student have.]]> 2021-05-04 01:07:06 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1487759144 lindsaymiller0 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1490412382 I went to a private, Lutheran elementary school until 5th grade. We did not have any sex ed while I was at that school. I transferred to a public school from 5-8th grade and we had "human growth and development" but did not learn about different sexualities besides heterosexual. Even in high school we did not learn about different types of sexualities. I would definitely go about it in my own classroom and make sure I cover different types of sexualities, and not just heterosexual. ]]> 2021-05-04 16:11:58 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1490412382 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1490824641 Around fourth grade I had my first sex ed lessons but the guys and girls were split up into different rooms. It continued every year by having lessons and classes called "human growth and development". We did not start talking about sexuality and how to protect yourself from certain things until about 8th grade. I would probably go about if differently within my own classroom. I don't think i would split up the group between boys and girls. I think everyone should learn everything together. There are also other sexualities other than heterosexual so I think I would try to appropriately incorporate other sexualities as well. 

]]> 2021-05-04 17:26:58 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1490824641 butschermaria7 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1492107966 I did not learn about sexuality in my school, as I went to a private Catholic school for about 10 years. We never discussed anything other than moms and dads. Being a bisexual woman, I definitely want to bring different sexualities into my classroom. I will read books and allow my students to play with any toys they want. Making sure my students feel comfortable and safe in my classroom is key, and I would have discussions on how children can play with whatever they would like if it came about that a student was getting teased for playing with something of the opposite gender. I think people are becoming more accepting, but these problems would be discussed right away if/when they appear in my classroom]]> 2021-05-05 00:28:18 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1492107966 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1492211674 In school we had sex education in 7th or 8th grade. It entailed in depth learning about the sexual organs, some about pregnancy and that was about it. Other than that it was not openly or specifically talked about. In my own classroom (planning to teach 3-5 year olds) I wish to incorporate books talking about different families (mom/mom and dad/dad) to demonstrate that not everyone that loves each other/sexuality is a male and female. Also, if questions are to arise about sexuality be open to answering them and promoting an environment that is non judgmental. Included in that is having an environment that does not push societal norms that children have to play or act a certain way based off of their gender. ]]> 2021-05-05 01:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1492211674 mcmahonange https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1496183548 In my school we learned about our own bodies (they separated the girls from the boys) in 4th or 5th grade.  We learned more and about the opposite sex in 8th or 9th grade.  There was never any discussion about anything besides heterosexual relationships and genders used were always boy or girl.  I would definitely go about it differently in my own classroom.  I want all of my students to feel loved and valued for who they are and I know that not everyone is heterosexual or identifies as a boy or girl.  I think it is important for the children to see themselves represented in the classroom so I want to have books and other resources that show families with two moms or two dads, etc., and show transgender and non-binary children as well. 

]]> 2021-05-06 00:36:39 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1496183548 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1499664191 Throughout my entire school experience, we never learned about sexuality. We had sex education but was always in the terms of men and women. I do not think I was aware of sexualities until high school. I think it is important, this day in age, that we are open as possible with our student about these things. Many children may have two moms or two dads and they should know that that is okay and normal in today’s life. One way you could bring this up is talking about different kinds of families and how our families are all different.]]> 2021-05-06 18:37:58 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1499664191 https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1504604441 My school didn’t teach a lot about sexuality. There was an after school event for child in 4th or 5th grade to learn about puberty. There was another lesson one year in school where the boys and girls were separated to talk about puberty. The lessons didn’t talk about sexuality at all. Everyone took a health class in high school where sexuality was briefly talked about. In my classroom, I would like to represent different sexualities through books or other resources. I think it is important for children to be exposed to this in order to be more accepting. I would also have pictures of different families to show this. To protect children and avoid shame, I would not tell them that words for body parts are bad words and use the correct terms for body parts.]]> 2021-05-08 04:52:25 UTC https://padlet.com/rodermegan/hkmcvbtyvyty2lm2/wish/1504604441