TISSAM OVERVIEW
Booster Lessons
Introduction
TISSAM (Take it Seriously: Sex, Abstinence & Media) is designed to be presented by high school age students to a middle school audience. The booster lessons on the other hand are designed for high school age youth.
Whenever a new group of high school age presenters have been introduced to TISSAM, youth consistently point out that many of their high school peers very much need to hear this same information. The presenters pointed out that a lot of their peers have major interest in learning as much as they can, given that the information has immediate relevancy to them. In fact, they felt it should be repeated on a regular basis in the high school years.
Yet, in our work with high school age students, it became clear there was less and less class time available to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues in high schools. In too many cases, students who were about to graduate high school could either no longer remember ever having received sexual and reproductive health education or it was a very distant memory.
These booster lessons are designed to focus on high school age youth. Using the same process that was employed in developing TISSAM, groups of high school age students were convened across the state to examine the types of material that they felt they and their peers most needed. Given limited time for classroom presentation, each booster lesson is designed to cover an important subject in just one class period.
A brief description of each of the lessons follows:
Booster Lesson: Sexting
When teen groups across Washington were asked to discuss the topic of sexting, they were extremely eager to offer their opinions. The term “sexting” was not always one with which they were familiar, however there was little doubt that most of teens were quite familiar with the concept to which this term referred.
This lesson reveals some surprising facts about which many teens seem unaware such as the relation of sexting to child pornography. Sending one’s own or another underage person’s nude or semi-nude photo is considered distributing child pornography. Receiving such photos can also make one guilty of possession of child porn. (This is a shocker to many!) The lesson encourages students to examine the legal ramifications of sexting for those that "get caught." It must be noted, nevertheless, that despite the legal ramifications, most teens seem convinced that people will rarely experience any consequences.
This lesson however reaches beyond legal ramifications of sexting. Very importantly it encourages students to examine potential personal consequences that can have considerable implications for one’s life and which have already in several cases proven quite devastating.
Booster Lesson: Preventing Pregnancy: Myth and Reality
Whenever teen groups are asked to work with us to develop lessons focused on birth control, the subject of myths about birth control methods always seems to fascinate them. Raising the subject of myths has led us to become involved in examining ideas that some teens are convinced is “the truth” yet are reluctant to discuss with an adult. It might be little wonder, since some of these ideas sound a bit strange to our adult ears! Usually the teens have gathered these interesting “pieces of information” from their peers and/or from the media. This lesson focuses on debunking some popular myths while presenting the facts about teen pregnancy.
Booster Lesson: Planning Life as a Teen Parent
The Baby Budget Game has been a very popular and well-received activity in the TISSAM program. In fact, some presenters have decided to offer the game as a stand-alone activity. Based on their experiences, we have designed this booster lesson to focus solely on the Budget game and added some features suggested by students participating in Seattle School District’s Latino TISSAM Project, Adelante! This project has been conducted since 2006 under the direction of teacher Christine Mattfeld and Pamela Hillard, Seattle’s Health Education Supervisor for 22 years.
As your students become involved in the Baby Budget Game, they may raise questions about having to use the money they have been allocated since they would be expecting to receive support from public assistance programs. They may report knowing people who receive public assistance and “don’t have to worry about their housing, food, etc. To clarify what it actually means to be on public assistance, Stacey Bushaw representing Washington’s DSHS, has provided us with some important supplementary resource material that teachers should find very useful when they are presenting this lesson.
Booster Lesson: STD/HIV Review
This lesson is offered as a review of the material found in TISSAM. The TISSAM core lesson focusing on STDs has been considered very important by teachers and adult leaders of community groups that have implemented the entire TISSAM program with their teens. The STD lesson in TISSAM provided impetus to create this booster lesson. The TISSAM core lesson had already been shared by some of the high school presenters with their own classes since these presenters felt so passionately about the fact that their peers really needed to hear this information.
Booster Lesson: Testing for STD?HIVs
Whenever we discuss the subject of STDs with teens, the mention of testing seems to trigger some interesting reactions most of which indicate mild to extreme discomfort with this topic. While we often tell teens about STDs, it has been our experience that the groups we have talked with have not had any opportunity to explore the next step. That is, what would happen if you, in fact, felt the need to seek testing? What would you do? Where would you go? What would happen when you went there? These are but a few of the unanswered questions that this lesson seeks to address. The lesson also allows us to follow separately via video both a male and female during their actual clinic visits.
Booster Lesson: Let’s Talk about Latex
Most of the students will be familiar with the word “condom” yet there may be some lingering misconceptions about how to use a condom. This lesson allows students to revisit correct condom use, an issue that was covered in TISSAM, while also extending the conversation to address protection during oral and anal sex, topics that youth tell us are rarely addressed. The dental dam, for example, is among the topics of discussion.
It is critical to address protection during oral and anal sex. As youth have told us, “Not everyone is going to decide to have vaginal sex, and when they make other choices, they need to know how to protect themselves.”
Note: Although TISSAM booster lessons, like TISSAM itself, have been designed for presentation by teens to teens, in most school districts lessons concerning safer sex must be presented by an adult. While teen presenters are encouraged to be present, offer comments and ask questions, the adult will take the lead role in presenting the information.
Booster Lesson: Creating Condom PSAs
This lesson is designed to encourage critical thinking about public service announcements (PSAs). Students deconstruct and evaluate sample public service announcements that encourage condom use, examining the ways in which each conveys its message. Once they have deconstructed these sample PSAs, students are asked to create what they would consider a convincing PSA that would encourage condom use.
Booster Lesson: Optional Birth Control Choices Part A: Hormonal Methods
The high school students that were convened to examine how to put this particular booster lesson together were generally familiar with “the Pill” as a common birth control method. However, there was a considerable variability in the knowledge they possessed about other birth control methods available to them. Many reported that they really didn’t know a great deal about other methods.
This lesson is based on material provided in the DOH Publication 930-101 August 2008.
http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/birth-control-choosing-the-method-thats-right-for-you
Booster Lesson: Optional Birth Control Choices Part B: Barrier Methods
The most common barrier methods that the teens in our focus groups seemed to have familiarity with were the male condom and spermicides. Both, of course, can be purchased over the counter, which is a big factor in their accessibility for a teen. Several seemed quite surprised that spermicides used as the only method of protection did not rate quite as highly in effectiveness as they had assumed. The teens were very interested in the information about other barrier methods. In some cases, they had heard the name of the method mentioned, but were curious to learn more.
This lesson is based on material provided in the DOH Publication 930-101 August 2008.
http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/birth-control-choosing-the-method-thats-right-for-you
Booster Lesson: Birth Control: Searching for Answers
Teen Futures has had several discussions with teen groups about birth control options. The high school age students in these groups always seem fascinated to learn about the many options that are available.
Given the fact that there is usually limited time in the classroom to discuss all the available options and all the many questions students have about each option (some of which they are reluctant to ask in class), students may find themselves in situations where they need to conduct their own searches for information. Given the wide range of sources on the internet, from blogs, to websites with somewhat questionable information regarding medical and scientific accuracy, it is critical to discuss the process of seeking valid and reliable information about birth control for oneself. This activity engages students in the search process and can serve as a catalyst for guiding them to important resources when they are later, on their own, seeking the information they want and need.
Booster Lesson: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
There was strong consensus among the teen groups designing these lessons that discussion of what constitutes a healthy versus unhealthy relationship is a critical issue. Teens in the groups were extremely vocal about the tremendous need to address this topic.
This lesson focuses on helping teens recognize some of the warning signs that signal a relationship may be in trouble. This was considered critical by many of the teens since they felt that too often their peers are unaware or unwilling to acknowledge these warning signs and don’t try to take action when action is warranted. It also encourages all the teens in the group to analyze and evaluate some of their own relationships as they consider characteristics of both healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part I
A major subject of concern that has emerged from our work with teen groups across Washington State has been the topic of dating violence. This lesson attempts to raise awareness about dating violence as a serious problem among teens and stresses warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. It also focuses on some of the facts regarding dating abuse. A video from CDC’s Choose Respect initiative is featured in this lesson.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part II
It was clear in conversations with the teens in our groups that people were quite familiar with the topic of staying in an abusive relationship. This was a subject that several of our group participants were quite passionate abut discussing. The teens wanted to include another of the Choose Respect videos in this lesson since they generally concluded it could be of value in helping serve as a catalyst for continuing the discussion about dating violence, a discussion that had been initiated in Dating Violence, Part 1. The lesson also integrates important information about dating violence and offers tips for the teen presenters.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part II
It was clear in conversations with the teens in our groups that people were quite familiar with the topic of staying in an abusive relationship. This was a subject that several of our group participants were quite passionate abut discussing. The teens wanted to include another of the Choose Respect videos in this lesson since they generally concluded it could be of value in helping serve as a catalyst for continuing the discussion about dating violence, a discussion that had been initiated in Dating Violence, Part 1. The lesson also integrates important information about dating violence and offers tips for the teen presenters.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence: Creating a Media Campaign
Studies have shown that teens don’t seem to view dating violence as a problem. From the data available, it might be implied that with this general attitude, teens are actually indirectly condoning dating violence among their friends. Teens in our groups felt that the materials presented in the Dating Violence Parts I and II lessons should be shared among their peers since there could be a great deal of potential benefit in raising awareness. The teens also recognized that many of their peers would never have the opportunity to discuss this important topic, even in a one or two session set of booster lessons.
Since Teen Futures Media Network promotes media literacy education, we suggest that a media campaign focused on preventing dating violence could be developed by a group of interested students. This lesson provides an introduction to putting together a media campaign.
TISSAM (Take it Seriously: Sex, Abstinence & Media) is designed to be presented by high school age students to a middle school audience. The booster lessons on the other hand are designed for high school age youth.
Whenever a new group of high school age presenters have been introduced to TISSAM, youth consistently point out that many of their high school peers very much need to hear this same information. The presenters pointed out that a lot of their peers have major interest in learning as much as they can, given that the information has immediate relevancy to them. In fact, they felt it should be repeated on a regular basis in the high school years.
Yet, in our work with high school age students, it became clear there was less and less class time available to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues in high schools. In too many cases, students who were about to graduate high school could either no longer remember ever having received sexual and reproductive health education or it was a very distant memory.
These booster lessons are designed to focus on high school age youth. Using the same process that was employed in developing TISSAM, groups of high school age students were convened across the state to examine the types of material that they felt they and their peers most needed. Given limited time for classroom presentation, each booster lesson is designed to cover an important subject in just one class period.
A brief description of each of the lessons follows:
Booster Lesson: Sexting
When teen groups across Washington were asked to discuss the topic of sexting, they were extremely eager to offer their opinions. The term “sexting” was not always one with which they were familiar, however there was little doubt that most of teens were quite familiar with the concept to which this term referred.
This lesson reveals some surprising facts about which many teens seem unaware such as the relation of sexting to child pornography. Sending one’s own or another underage person’s nude or semi-nude photo is considered distributing child pornography. Receiving such photos can also make one guilty of possession of child porn. (This is a shocker to many!) The lesson encourages students to examine the legal ramifications of sexting for those that "get caught." It must be noted, nevertheless, that despite the legal ramifications, most teens seem convinced that people will rarely experience any consequences.
This lesson however reaches beyond legal ramifications of sexting. Very importantly it encourages students to examine potential personal consequences that can have considerable implications for one’s life and which have already in several cases proven quite devastating.
Booster Lesson: Preventing Pregnancy: Myth and Reality
Whenever teen groups are asked to work with us to develop lessons focused on birth control, the subject of myths about birth control methods always seems to fascinate them. Raising the subject of myths has led us to become involved in examining ideas that some teens are convinced is “the truth” yet are reluctant to discuss with an adult. It might be little wonder, since some of these ideas sound a bit strange to our adult ears! Usually the teens have gathered these interesting “pieces of information” from their peers and/or from the media. This lesson focuses on debunking some popular myths while presenting the facts about teen pregnancy.
Booster Lesson: Planning Life as a Teen Parent
The Baby Budget Game has been a very popular and well-received activity in the TISSAM program. In fact, some presenters have decided to offer the game as a stand-alone activity. Based on their experiences, we have designed this booster lesson to focus solely on the Budget game and added some features suggested by students participating in Seattle School District’s Latino TISSAM Project, Adelante! This project has been conducted since 2006 under the direction of teacher Christine Mattfeld and Pamela Hillard, Seattle’s Health Education Supervisor for 22 years.
As your students become involved in the Baby Budget Game, they may raise questions about having to use the money they have been allocated since they would be expecting to receive support from public assistance programs. They may report knowing people who receive public assistance and “don’t have to worry about their housing, food, etc. To clarify what it actually means to be on public assistance, Stacey Bushaw representing Washington’s DSHS, has provided us with some important supplementary resource material that teachers should find very useful when they are presenting this lesson.
Booster Lesson: STD/HIV Review
This lesson is offered as a review of the material found in TISSAM. The TISSAM core lesson focusing on STDs has been considered very important by teachers and adult leaders of community groups that have implemented the entire TISSAM program with their teens. The STD lesson in TISSAM provided impetus to create this booster lesson. The TISSAM core lesson had already been shared by some of the high school presenters with their own classes since these presenters felt so passionately about the fact that their peers really needed to hear this information.
Booster Lesson: Testing for STD?HIVs
Whenever we discuss the subject of STDs with teens, the mention of testing seems to trigger some interesting reactions most of which indicate mild to extreme discomfort with this topic. While we often tell teens about STDs, it has been our experience that the groups we have talked with have not had any opportunity to explore the next step. That is, what would happen if you, in fact, felt the need to seek testing? What would you do? Where would you go? What would happen when you went there? These are but a few of the unanswered questions that this lesson seeks to address. The lesson also allows us to follow separately via video both a male and female during their actual clinic visits.
Booster Lesson: Let’s Talk about Latex
Most of the students will be familiar with the word “condom” yet there may be some lingering misconceptions about how to use a condom. This lesson allows students to revisit correct condom use, an issue that was covered in TISSAM, while also extending the conversation to address protection during oral and anal sex, topics that youth tell us are rarely addressed. The dental dam, for example, is among the topics of discussion.
It is critical to address protection during oral and anal sex. As youth have told us, “Not everyone is going to decide to have vaginal sex, and when they make other choices, they need to know how to protect themselves.”
Note: Although TISSAM booster lessons, like TISSAM itself, have been designed for presentation by teens to teens, in most school districts lessons concerning safer sex must be presented by an adult. While teen presenters are encouraged to be present, offer comments and ask questions, the adult will take the lead role in presenting the information.
Booster Lesson: Creating Condom PSAs
This lesson is designed to encourage critical thinking about public service announcements (PSAs). Students deconstruct and evaluate sample public service announcements that encourage condom use, examining the ways in which each conveys its message. Once they have deconstructed these sample PSAs, students are asked to create what they would consider a convincing PSA that would encourage condom use.
Booster Lesson: Optional Birth Control Choices Part A: Hormonal Methods
The high school students that were convened to examine how to put this particular booster lesson together were generally familiar with “the Pill” as a common birth control method. However, there was a considerable variability in the knowledge they possessed about other birth control methods available to them. Many reported that they really didn’t know a great deal about other methods.
This lesson is based on material provided in the DOH Publication 930-101 August 2008.
http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/birth-control-choosing-the-method-thats-right-for-you
Booster Lesson: Optional Birth Control Choices Part B: Barrier Methods
The most common barrier methods that the teens in our focus groups seemed to have familiarity with were the male condom and spermicides. Both, of course, can be purchased over the counter, which is a big factor in their accessibility for a teen. Several seemed quite surprised that spermicides used as the only method of protection did not rate quite as highly in effectiveness as they had assumed. The teens were very interested in the information about other barrier methods. In some cases, they had heard the name of the method mentioned, but were curious to learn more.
This lesson is based on material provided in the DOH Publication 930-101 August 2008.
http://here.doh.wa.gov/materials/birth-control-choosing-the-method-thats-right-for-you
Booster Lesson: Birth Control: Searching for Answers
Teen Futures has had several discussions with teen groups about birth control options. The high school age students in these groups always seem fascinated to learn about the many options that are available.
Given the fact that there is usually limited time in the classroom to discuss all the available options and all the many questions students have about each option (some of which they are reluctant to ask in class), students may find themselves in situations where they need to conduct their own searches for information. Given the wide range of sources on the internet, from blogs, to websites with somewhat questionable information regarding medical and scientific accuracy, it is critical to discuss the process of seeking valid and reliable information about birth control for oneself. This activity engages students in the search process and can serve as a catalyst for guiding them to important resources when they are later, on their own, seeking the information they want and need.
Booster Lesson: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
There was strong consensus among the teen groups designing these lessons that discussion of what constitutes a healthy versus unhealthy relationship is a critical issue. Teens in the groups were extremely vocal about the tremendous need to address this topic.
This lesson focuses on helping teens recognize some of the warning signs that signal a relationship may be in trouble. This was considered critical by many of the teens since they felt that too often their peers are unaware or unwilling to acknowledge these warning signs and don’t try to take action when action is warranted. It also encourages all the teens in the group to analyze and evaluate some of their own relationships as they consider characteristics of both healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part I
A major subject of concern that has emerged from our work with teen groups across Washington State has been the topic of dating violence. This lesson attempts to raise awareness about dating violence as a serious problem among teens and stresses warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. It also focuses on some of the facts regarding dating abuse. A video from CDC’s Choose Respect initiative is featured in this lesson.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part II
It was clear in conversations with the teens in our groups that people were quite familiar with the topic of staying in an abusive relationship. This was a subject that several of our group participants were quite passionate abut discussing. The teens wanted to include another of the Choose Respect videos in this lesson since they generally concluded it could be of value in helping serve as a catalyst for continuing the discussion about dating violence, a discussion that had been initiated in Dating Violence, Part 1. The lesson also integrates important information about dating violence and offers tips for the teen presenters.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence Part II
It was clear in conversations with the teens in our groups that people were quite familiar with the topic of staying in an abusive relationship. This was a subject that several of our group participants were quite passionate abut discussing. The teens wanted to include another of the Choose Respect videos in this lesson since they generally concluded it could be of value in helping serve as a catalyst for continuing the discussion about dating violence, a discussion that had been initiated in Dating Violence, Part 1. The lesson also integrates important information about dating violence and offers tips for the teen presenters.
Booster Lesson: Dating Violence: Creating a Media Campaign
Studies have shown that teens don’t seem to view dating violence as a problem. From the data available, it might be implied that with this general attitude, teens are actually indirectly condoning dating violence among their friends. Teens in our groups felt that the materials presented in the Dating Violence Parts I and II lessons should be shared among their peers since there could be a great deal of potential benefit in raising awareness. The teens also recognized that many of their peers would never have the opportunity to discuss this important topic, even in a one or two session set of booster lessons.
Since Teen Futures Media Network promotes media literacy education, we suggest that a media campaign focused on preventing dating violence could be developed by a group of interested students. This lesson provides an introduction to putting together a media campaign.