This month's themes:

One piece of advice that appears consistently throughout these lessons applies to any online activity: If you come across something questionable, talk to a trusted adult about it. Students should glean this from any one of the lessons, but for quick reference, below is a list of situations in which the “when in doubt, talk it out” principle might be most useful to your students.

Students should “talk it out” with a trusted adult whenever they feel the need. Some common situations include but are not limited to:

• They suspect that their account may have been compromised.

• They need help from a trusted adult remembering a password.

• They are unsure whether something is a scam, or suspect they might have fallen for one.

• Someone tries to discuss something online with them that makes them uncomfortable.

• They receive suspicious contact from a stranger.

• They want to discuss online acts of kindness and unkindness.

• They are concerned that they may have shared something online that they should not have.

Foster open communication in your classroom and remind students that you’re always there for backup. Having a student panel or work group, especially with slightly older students, is one effective way to build student agency around this topic.