The Anti Bullying Class

This is a topic so relevant in today's world. Last year, one of my students was bullied outside the classroom and it was quite difficult to detect it until she came to me and talked about her problem. Detecting bullies is not that easy because most of them don't act uopn their victims in front of adults.

Children and teenagers tend to become cruel sometimes and it is part of their growing. However, when teasing becomes repetitive and it is made on purpose to hurt a child that is called bullying. 

It is essential to take this issue seriously and do something about it. Not only teachers and the school community should be involved but also parents and the government too. Developing kindness and empathy in our children is essential if we want to make a substantial change to stop bullying in class.

Some Ideas to prevent bullying

• With teenagers you can explain what bullying is and prepare some questions for discussion to raise awareness of such an important issue.

How can bullying harm the school community, even for students who are not directly mistreated? What beliefs or assumptions will students have if they see that neither adults nor peers do anything to prevent or stop bullying?What are some reasons why students might not want to report bullying? Do students in this school generally support fellow students who are bullied? If not, what could we be doing better as a community to increase our support? What are some things we can do to safely support a peer who is being bullied? What do you think a mistreated student would want his/her classmates to do? 

Source: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/student_engagers/bullying_student_engager.shtml

• Help children to solve problems through dialogue instead of fighting. Role playing can be a good starting point. Below you will find some scenarios to role play ....

Source: http://www.eycb.coe.int/compasito/chapter_4/pdf/4_8.pdf

• Encourage students to tell an adult when they see someone who is being bullied. It is vital to get support. Explain the difference between "telling" and "tattling".                       Telling is necessary so as to protect someone from being hurt and tattling is wanting to get someone in trouble but nobody is hurt or in danger.

Telling or Tattling?

1. In the back row of class, Billy makes a face at the teacher when her back is turned to the board.
On the playground, Roger is pulling other kids' hats off and throwing them over the fence.
2. In the cafeteria, Sarah does not drink all of her milk and throws it away.
3. After school, Sam tells a younger student that he is going to beat him up if he does not give him a candy bar.
4. On the bus, Torre is kicking the back of the bus seat that Susie is sitting in and it is annoying.
5. At home, Mark lets the dog outside without a leash on.
6. After school Mary decides to make macaroni and cheese on the stove even though Mom has told her not to use the stove when she is gone.
7. In the neighborhood, Cal decides he can ride his bike in the street when his parents are not home.
8. At the restaurant, Billy blows air through the straw into his cup and it foams over.
9. On Facebook, Kayla is getting hurtful postings calling her names.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Source:  http://www.togetheragainstbullying.org/the-difference-between-telling-and-tattling    

• Prepare with your class a contract in which it is clearly stated that bullies are not allowed in the classroom.

• Engage your students in activities to develop empathy, compassion  and kindness. Children need to know that their feelings are important but so are the needs and feelings of others. 
• Tell them stories that have positive values behind and talk about them.

Recommended reading to teach kids about empathy

• It's OK to be different by Todd Parr
• My brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete
• Don't call me special by Pat Thomas
• The thankful Book by Todd Parr
• Star of the week by Barney Saltzberg
• Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• Making friends is an art by Julia Cook
• Wonder by R. J. Palacio (Ages 8-12)

More classroom ideas

http://www.thebullyprojectmural.com/index.html#p/how-to-add-to-mural

If you have any other idea please comment below so we get nurtured and enrich each other. Have a beautiful day!
Paula.