Anti-Bullying- TEACH IT!

It is so important at this critical part of the year, the part where we establish what is allowed in our classrooms and schools, to review, role play, and train kids in Anti-Bullying practices.

If you need a resource to get you started, click HERE.
Click on "What Adults Can Do" and then "Materials for Educators" tab.
There are games, webisodes (which I use to teach), and information about the effects of bullying.

Here is a sample from the website:
If you've ever heard an adult - or anyone else - say that bullying is "just a fact of life" or "no big deal," you're not alone! Too often, people just don't take bullying seriously - or until the sad and sometimes scary stories are revealed.
*It happens a lot more than some people think - Studies show that between 15-25% of U.S. students are bullied with some frequency, while 15-20% report they bully others with some frequency (Melton et al, 1988; Nansel et al, 2001).
*It can mess up a kid's future. Young people who bully are more likely than those who don't bully to skip school and drop out of school. They are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and get into fights (Nansel et al, 2003; Olweus, 1993).
*It scares some people so much that they skip school. As many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they're afraid of being bullied (Pollack, 1998).
*It can lead to huge problems later in life. Children who bully are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. And 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24 (Olweus, 1993).

When I share these statistics with my 6th graders, they are taken back at the facts.
It really is important that this is taught and reviewed frequently all year long.

Let me know if you have any further questions about how or what I do!

Just Teach It...