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Knowing how to recognize bullying behavior
Knowing how to recognize bullying behavior
Bullying VS Conflict
Bullying VS Conflict
The most important piece when creating a bully-proofing plan is to know the difference between bullying and conflict. Bullying and conflict may look alike very briefly, so it's important to know the distinguishing differences so that you know when to take action.
Bullying: the goal is to hurt, to harm, or to humiliate.
Conflict: Disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views.
Bullying: the person who is bullying has the power.
Conflict: there is equal power between two parties.
Bullying: the behavior continues even after they realize it hurts.
Conflict: hurting behavior stops when one party realizes the other is hurt.
Preventing bullying behavior
Preventing bullying behavior
Teach kindness
One area I am passionate about is ensuring that the Social and Emotional standards are integrated into my lessons and met by the students. Students learn the most about kindness and will avoid bullying behaviors when our lessons include self-awareness, self-management, interpersonal relationships, and responsible decision-making. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) allows students to better understand themselves, and ultimately, better understand those around them.
Create a community
Through SEL, my classroom will become a tight-knit community that is aligned with our mission statement.
Research shows that when targeted students feel connected to peers, they’re better able to cope with being bullied. Studies also indicate that teaching students to speak up when they witness bullying behavior, and to take a stand against it, can reduce future bullying situations by more than 50 percent. - Lesley University
Notice "gateway" behaviors
Even small behaviors can signal tendencies toward bullying behavior. When teachers are observant of these behaviors and take action quickly, there is a higher possibility that the bullying behavior to follow will be prevented. The subtle signals I will be looking for are:
Eye rolling
Prolonged staring
Back turning
Laughing cruelly/encouraging others to laugh
Name-calling
Ignoring or excluding
Causing physical harm
Spying
Stalking
Lesley University
4. Know the roles
People who bully and are bullied can occupy 4 different types of roles. Each of these roles have very different experiences for students. It is essential to know these differences so that you are better prepared with appropriate prevention approaches.
Students who bully
Students who are targeted
Students who bully and are targeted
Students who witness bullying
Students who bully and are targeted: It is very possible that while students bully, they may also be the target of bullying.
Students who witness bullying: Bystanders may be hurt by the bullying they witness and weary of speaking up due to retaliation. It is important to teach students what a bystander is and the positive impact they could have on a situation. Teach students to be an upstander.
Stopbullying.gov
My System for Bullying
My System for Bullying
To prevent bullying in my classroom, I will adopt portions of PBIS' Bully Prevention curriculum.
Bully Prevention in PBIS.pdfAdaptations to fit my classroom
Different from what the curriculum suggests, The Stop Signal will be used in my classroom. Although I plan to follow any bullying prevention strategies that the school implements, my students will also know a signal that I will use in my classroom. This signal will be a single hand firmly gestured toward the student followed by "un-cool". If students engage in unexpected behavior that aligns with the bullying "gateway" behaviors, the first step taken by me will be shutting it down in this way. Further action may need to occur post-signal.
To adapt to the maturity of my students, I will focus the majority of bullying awareness on Lesson Five, addressing the seriousness of cyberbullying. Students in 6th grade are changing classes every hour where they see new students and teachers, so it is not uncommon for the bigger part of bullying to take place online. In my classroom, we will spend more time talking about the dangers and severity of cyberbullying. Only after extensive conversations about the damage it can do, then students will get the opportunity to mock-trial the roles described in Lesson Five, Group Practice Part Two.
I trust and respect the guidance and content of this curriculum. It does a fine job of addressing the complexity of bullying and offering teachers great tips on how to have these tough conversations. In just five lessons, all under 60 minutes, students learn to recognize bullying behavior, actions to respond to bullying, how to ask for help, and how to help others.
Post- Bullying Behavior
Post- Bullying Behavior
Address bullying behavior
It is important to me that students who engage in bullying behavior are aware of the behavior as soon as possible. I will make sure that the student understands what behavior is unacceptable and that bullying will not be tolerated. It is also important to me that I work with the students to help them understand why they engaged in the bullying behavior. This will address any trauma or experiences that may need to be dealt with in a gentler way. Finally, I will require the student to learn empathy by taking an active role in making amends with the student who was bullied. These actions will instill responsibility and empathy in the student who showed bullying behavior.
Support students who were bullied
Students who are the target of bullying behavior need different supports than the student who bullied. As a teacher, I will help the student feel seen and heard by listening carefully to them and focusing on what they need to say. Further, I will assure the student that the bullying was not their fault and also guide them through steps of how they can respond if it happens again. I will also help the student by offering them to get their parents and school counselors involved in their healing.
Child Trends
3. Don't stay silent
After I am made aware of the occurance, I will take the necessary action to notify the necessary adults. I will talk to the administration, counselors, other members of the faculty. This is to ensure that the student involved in the bullying behavior (whatever role it may be) receives the proper care, attention, and action plans to heal. I will also notify caregivers directly through a phone call, unless directed otherwise by administration or counselors (this would be in a case where an administrator or counselor would prefer to make the call themselves). Regardless, I will ensure that caregivers are notified as soon as possible.
Lesley University. (2023). 6 Ways Educators Can Prevent Bullying in Schools. Lesley University. https://lesley.edu/article/6-ways-educators-can-prevent-bullying-in-schools
Child Trends. (2017). How Teachers Can Prevent and Respond to Bullying Behaviors. Office of Human Rights. https://ohr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ohr/page_content/attachments/DC-OHR%20tip%20sheet%20focus%20on%20prevention%208.23.pdf
Stopbullying.gov. (2018). Bystanders to Bullying. stopbullying.gov. https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/bystanders-to-bullying
Dr. Ross, Scott. Bully Prevention In Positive Behavior Support. Education Community and Supports.
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