BULLYING By Helga E. Brannick What we need to know as teachers and how to prevent this behavior in the classroom

Did You Know? Bullying: Is inappropriate and unacceptable in the classroom There is no prototype – anyone can bully Should not be tolerated at any time Happens daily Boys and girls bully Can traumatically affect children, even for life

How does bullying make children feel? Depressed Low self-esteem Is painful Uncomfortable Vulnerable Confused Angry Weak Suicidal

Ways to bully

Are our kids safe?

Why do children bully? Home issues Bullied themselves To feel empowered Dominate Innocently Anonymity Victims themselves Are insecure For attention For revenge Out of anger Replicating behavior

ANYONE CAN BE A TARGET OF A BULLY Targets of bullies Children with disabilities Athletes Peers Shy/popular children Small/large children Foreigners People with different religious preferences ANYONE CAN BE A TARGET OF A BULLY

Categories of bullies Aggressive – most common Passive Bully victim

Preventive Measures Zero tolerance Anti-bullying campaign Teach minilessons Parental involvement Establish rules and procedures Report bullying incidents Be observant Create safe environments Change laws Be diligent Speak up “ZERO” tolerance policy

Disciplinary policies and rules for the classroom – procedures and routines Teachers must be diligent Establish policies rules before school year begins in a letter to parents and children Get parents involved Model (always) Create ways for deep understanding (6 facets of understanding) Focus Provide direction

Disciplinary policies and rules for the classroom – procedures and routines Implement student participation Model Observe/Monitor Create a classroom community Develop a disciplinary plan of action Create and implement rules Create and implement routines Procedures are a must

Interventions to direct behavior from negative to positive Be consistent Encourage Look for good behavior over bad behavior Create Awareness Create trust between teacher and student/student and students Listen Respond appropriately – not to punish Provide qualitative and quantitative lessons – do not just fill in time and space with nonsense

Interventions to direct behavior from negative to positive Stay motivated Create excitement Personalize the room Show empathy Connect with students and connect them with each other Know all students Confer as a group and individually Bond Self assess yourself and have students self assess themselves Seek parental support

Stop negative behaviors before they start

Questions

References Discipline by Design . . . The Honor Level System. (2009). Retrieved May 1, 2012 from http://www.honorlevel.com/x47.xml. Glor, J. (2010). “Cyberbullying Continued after Teen’s Death, Parents Downplay Role Online Taunts Had Leading to Daughter’s Suicide, but Barbs Didn’t Stop Even after She Died.” The Early Show. Retrieved April 23, 2012 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/29/earlyshow/main6343077.shtml. Haysman, C. Retrieved April 28, 2012 from http://people.umass.edu/~afeldman/beingnewteacher/sampleplan.html Jenkins, M. (2012). Why Does an Elementary School Child Bully Others? e how Family. Retrieved May 1, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/about_6611051_elementary-school-child-bully- others html. Kowalski, R., Limber, S. & Agatston, P. (2008) Cyber Bullying. Malden: Blackwell. Perez-Pena, R. (January 6, 2011). “Christie Signs Tougher Law on Bullying in Schools,” Retrieved April 24, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/nyregion/07bully.html?ref=bullies Pickhardt, C. (2010). Why Good Kids Act Cruel. Naperville: Sourcebooks, Inc. Smolowe, J. (October 18, 2010). “Bullying – A Special Report.” People. Canada: Time, Inc. Smolowe, J. & Bailey, M. (October 18, 2010). “Bullying – A Special Report: Confessions of a Bully.” People. Canada: Time, Inc., Setooden, R. (October 18, 2010). “Bullying – A Special Report: Phoebe Prince’s Legacy: A Town Tries to Heal.” People. Canada: Time, Inc. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=pfwe&cp=14&gs_id=17&xhr=t&q=bullies+are+not+cool&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=580&wrapid=tljp1336258528345022&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=6a-lT-vLAdHXiQKEiPnnAg

Mahalo Thank you for watching. I hope this presentation will help teachers in the classroom environment against bullying and its negative behavior. Children are in the classroom for a good part of their day, and as educational professionals it is our responsibility to provide an encouraging, safe, productive and motivated place for them to learn and grow.