Thank you for your interest in Puberty: The Wonder Years. The curriculum is based on the following research and best practice:
- Characteristics of Effective Curriculum-Based Programs, “Emerging Answers 2007,” Dr. Douglas Kirby
- Health Belief Model (adapted), based on work from the University of Michigan
- Skills-Based Instruction strategy
- Social Learning Theory
- Promotion of parent-child communication and its impact on sexual activity
In 2007, Dr. Kirby expanded his years of research on characteristics of effective curriculum-based sex education programs in Emerging Answers 2007. Puberty: The Wonder Years has many of the characteristics of effective programs he identified. Characteristics 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 are strong. Characteristics 14-17 are the purview of the implementers.
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know how you plan to implement your program. I have prepared student pre- and post-tests to evaluate program outcomes. Please contact me if you would like me to send them to you. I am very interested in the results of your student evaluations, so please share your results with me when you have them.
Thank you for providing me with feedback!