Sex education in schools

Since the start of the "Me Too" movement, more teachers are looking for ways to incorporate consent into sex education. This training will help participants recognize language changes and immediate shifts they can make in existing content and identify various tools, resources, materials, and activities that could be used in classroom related to consent. The training will also review best practices and key messages for teaching consent; particularly being intentional about students at different developmental levels. 

We never know what traumas someone has experienced or what could trigger a trauma response for someone. As more and more research has come to show that many young people are experiencing high levels of trauma, it's essential that we work to create safer spaces for young people in schools. This includes ensuring that sex education will not become a re-traumatizing experience for survivors.This training will cover the basics of trauma, small “t” vs. big “T” trauma, and how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can play a part in sex education.

In this interactive training, participants will gain a better understanding of the intersection of sexual violence and incidence and prevalence of STIs/HIV while identifying (and challenging) their own values and beliefs around rape culture. The training will include lecture, facilitated discussion, and engaging hands-on activities for various professionals that work with youth. 

In this training, participants will:

Although expectant and parenting youth (EPY) express a need for sex education (contraception, healthy relationships, etc.), many programs are not adequately inclusive of EPY.

Sexually Explicit Media (SEM) is one way through which youth are learning about sexuality. Using the lens of media literacy education, this interactive, one-day training will provide educators, youth workers, and professionals with an opportunity to explore how pornography can play a role in young people's sexual development and sexuality, their awareness of gender and gender stereotypes, consent, sexual behavior, bodies and body image, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and sexual identity.

Puberty - a time of great, and sometimes daunting, change for both young people and the adults in their lives. This interactive, full-day training will provide educators, school nurses, youth-serving professionals, and other caring adults with skills and strategies for teaching pubescent youth about their changing bodies, emotional growth, and navigating the path to adulthood in a way that is inclusive of students of all genders and sexual identities.

The Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminar (SECS) is our most popular training opportunity for foundational information about sexuality education. SECS is designed for educators, youth-serving professionals, and individuals interested in entering sexuality education and are seeking a basic foundation of knowledge in sexuality and sexual health information that they can share with their populations.

Providing quality sex ed is more than just anatomy and pregnancy. But how do you focus on all the stuff that matters to help students making informed and healthy choices?

The Teacher’s Guide has 8 units (listed below) to cover the basics of what you need to know. Go through all 8, or pick and choose what works best for you. Review the units in any order, at your own pace.

Lesson 1: Puberty & the Reproductive System

This unit covers learning pointers about teaching about puberty and reproduction.

Our Spark*ED online sex educator courses focus on the information, skills, and theory required to deliver impactful and inclusive sex education. Our philosophy towards sex education is at the heart of the Spark*ED curriculum and all course materials have been created with a social justice and racial equity lens and incorporate the latest information and research in the fields of of sexual health, gender, adolescent development, learning styles and behavioral change.

Our Spark*ED online sex educator courses focus on the information, skills, and theory required to deliver impactful and inclusive sex education. Our philosophy towards sex education is at the heart of the Spark*ED curriculum and all course materials have been created with a social justice and racial equity lens and incorporate the latest information and research in the fields of of sexual health, gender, adolescent development, learning styles and behavioral change.