Reminders When Answering Questions

•  Set ground rules ahead of time
• Set up an anonymous question box, but give yourself time to prepare answers for the next lesson
• Use reliable phrases
• End with a safety message or direction of a reliable resource for more information
• Tell students you may rephrase questions to protect confidentiality and safety of all students (no names, no questions that expose anyone)

Useful Phrases

• Some people may…
• Although not everyone will…
• It is important to understand the safety of…
• Experts believe…
• Doctors suggest…
• The safest way…(always end with safety as the message)
• Ask your family what their rules are or values are about…
• That’s an interesting question: I bet they might have an answer on one of our trusted websites: let’s find out…
• Sometimes people think of questions that will shock or gross us out but it doesn’t mean they are safe, true, likely or even possible…
• Not everything you see or hear about it is true (media literacy)…
• In this question I wonder if there is consent of each person and if anyone would be in harm (redirect difficult questions to safety)…