Sex talk isn't just in the hot-button section because we're trying to give you a steamy read. When we say sex and gender, we're turning you on…to a complicated tangle of issues that can be super hard to tease out in the classroom. As for teasing out of the classroom, we'll leave that to you.

Let's be real: talking about sex with your students is a whole pile of awkward. If you're able to hold back the blush and the tee-hees, you're on the right track. Chances are, at least some of your students won't have such restraint. To help you keep from getting your pantaloons in a twist, first let's divide out the versions of awkward you might come across:

Awk #1: You're teaching sex ed, or reproductive bio, or a book with some steamy scenes. It comes up (the topic of sex), and you have to work on keeping the cackles down.

Awk #2: Your topic has some extra tricky aspect of the issue based on the makeup of your class. For example, you're talking 1970s protest in U.S. History and there are different opinions on the LGBT and Women's Rights Movements. You're reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and folks get an inkling what's really up with this Henry-Basil-Dorian thing. Or you're talking about chromosomes and someone asks what goes wrong or right in someone who's transgender. Plenty of dangerous territory here.

Awk #3: You're in a place where some members of your community would not be pleased to hear that you're answering questions about LGBT Movements, transgender biology, or heck, maybe biology as a whole, if you're somewhere creation-y.

Let's take this one kettle of fish at a time.

Dealing with the Giggles (the Students' or Your Own)

First, let 'em let it out. A good ol' helpless set of giggles or noisy "ew" is going to give them the satisfaction of (a) releasing their visceral reaction without being shushed, (b) getting the oh-so-precious moment of making a loud noise in class, and (c) having a cathartic moment.

In other words, they get it out, they deal, they move on.

Second, phrases like "It's all natural," however trite they may sound now that you're older than 13, are always a good go-to. Reminders that these are functions that happen to everyone (or most people, or whatever fraction is appropriate for the issue in question) can help zap out some of the embarrassment that comes along with talking about it in public for the first time.

If that sounds like it works better for your bio teacher friends and you're stuck explaining what's funky about Oedipus' relationship with Jocasta, sometimes the best response to the chorus of "ew"s is a good dose of honesty. Whether you're facing sex scenes, sexy innuendos, or flat-out incest (which, thanks to Game of Thrones, will probably now be less of a shocker), your best bet is usually to ask why it's an "ew" moment—and then explain away.

By getting them to articulate why it's uncomfy and then matter-o'-factly explaining the cold hard facts (even if they're more hot and squishy than cold and hard), you diffuse the awkwardness and set an example of how to talk about sticky subjects, without getting too sticky.

Safe Space

Whether or not you've got kids who are gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or anyone identifying with any of the myriad letters relating to sexuality, you'll want to watch out for two things: (1) material that could be offensive and (2) other students who may not be comfortable.

In lots of places, those LGBTQQIP2SAA (we're not kidding) students are going to face uncertainties and insecurities about coming out (or trying not to be outed), and possibly bullying or at least some light teasing from other students. Your job is to minimize the chances for other kids to poke fun at that kid.

In this case, it doesn't matter if your community doesn't have rainbow flags flying from every corner. When it comes to children or teenagers getting bullied, we're there to help provide conflict resolution and discipline, and to make sure everyone gets a fair chance.

Depending on where you are, maybe you'll want to provide certain extra materials or say things like "when a man loves a woman or another man." Being inclusive is generally a good bet, whether you know you have someone of a particular orientation in your class or not. Making your students feel comfortable and helping them be more accepting people is what we're here for, right?

Well, mostly right. Because sometimes you have your job to consider, and some communities have different ideas of inclusivity. Which is why, when talking about sex and gender in the classroom, we've also got to consider…

Issues in Your Community

This is a tough one, fellas and fellarinas. If you're a bra-burning dudette and you live in the Bible belt, well, chances are the locals aren't going to want you teaching their young 'uns too long. And whether it's your personal beliefs or the way you want to lead your class, make sure you're well acquainted with the general values in your community, as well as your school's rules about sex and sexual harassment, before you wade into tricky territory. In general, knowing where you're at on the school level and the community level is key to keeping your job.

Sex and gender are extra tough topics here because the idea that teachers influence their students (which they do) has historically led to some extra tricky territory. For example, the failed legal initiative by which gay teachers should all be outed and fired, because they might be pedophiles or, at the very least, try to turn little kids into feathered, fierce, and fabulous homosexuals.

For real: pedophilia is no joke, and neither is any teacher creating a harmful situation for his or her students. And sure, laws against gay teachers died in the 1970s, but the controversy lives on in much of the country.

The point? Being aware of whom you are teaching (and sometimes more importantly, whose kids you're teaching) has got to have an impact on what you teach and how you teach it. That means working extra hard not to let your own opinion peek through when you get asked about Roe v. Wade, and refraining from that left- or right-leaning T-shirt you wear on the weekends.

Let's just say a good rule of thumb is to tread carefully around certain issues and not to let your own colors show on some of those more divisive issues. Sure, some schools are different, and some kids are different. We're just saying to play it safe if it's something that you could imagine a parent getting in a huff about.

The Bottom Line (Heh, We Said Bottom)

So there you have it. There're plenty of buttons that can be pressed in relation to sex and gender, but the thing to keep in mind (and we know you always do) is to use your good ol' common sense. Try not to offend anyone—and to help out if someone does get offended—and be cautious around those extra-controversial issues.

But hey: kids are adults-to-be, and they need to know about the birds and the bees, too. It's a matter of how you talk about 'em, and how you teach your students to talk about them, to make sure you keep the buzzing and the chirping under control.