Teaching middle school is not for the faint of heart. But if you're called to do it, you know there's nothing else quite like it. Join us in discussing what works - and what doesn't.
Bullying in the Middle School
Bullying comes in many different forms, and by middle school the damage that a bully can inflict can last for a lifetime. For some kids the bullying is an extension of that which occurred in elementary school. For others, it begins in middle school, when the differences in sizes, shapes, and personalities become more evident, gaining more attention from peers and schoolyard enemies.
For middle schoolers, the internal conflict of "Who am I? Am I the same as everyone or different from everyone?" takes on an external nature and, at times, manifests itself in bullying.
But are we doing enough to combat the different forms of bullying? Does the staff at your school know what forms bullying takes, where bullying occurs (both on and off campus), and what their role in fighting bullying is?
Are students at ease in finding an adult to confide in?
Do students really know what bullying is, or do they "suck it up" and keep quiet because it's "just the way things are?"
For that matter, do teachers feel it's just the way things are, or worse, do teachers bully as well?
What happens when the formally oppressed become the tormentors? Does that change how a school reacts to a bully?
It is our duty as teachers to look at ourselves clearly and honestly to help find answers to these questions. It is our responsibility to keep these students safe in our care as well as to help them achieve. And, let's face it, a frightened student does not an achiever make.
Join in the discussion and share your thoughts, anecdotes, and solutions.
-Heather WG
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I use the book "Letters to a
I use the book "Letters to a Bullied Girl" Olivia Gardner, Emily Buder, Sarah Buder. It is a compilation of letters sent to Olivia from the bullied, the bystanders and the bullies. I have the kids read/present various letters to the class. We discuss and work on how to create empathy in our society. It is one part of the anti-bullying program that I have out together in our school. The book is powerful!
Some thing about kids
Well said
What the reason and why do teachers and principals neglect bullying and not find a settlement to stop it. Too many kids are demise because of bullying and when you report your kid is being bullied and intimidate they don't even take any action. School officials should do something to stop this. We have to be very hawk-eyed against this type of behavior because some of them become terrify and bully you.
Things to do with Kids
Many students come to me
Many students come to me about bullying and I make sure that it is dealt with. There are a number of ways to do this. Students and parents can seek help from guidance or admin. Students can also tell a teacher that he/she knows will listen and act on the info. Parents are key to helping since a lot of the bullying that occurs is happening in cyberspace and outside of school. When what happens outside of school trickles into school and affects students at school, the adults at school must step in. As a health educator, I am trying to give the kids the necessary tools and skills to deal with the bullying. "It takes a village" and it just can't all be rectified in school.
Nice thoughts you can share
Nice thoughts you can share with us and it post is 100% true. The Bullying is somewhat that will forever happen. It is something that cannot be closed, but as we produce older bullying is not as big of a deal as it is when one is in their youth years. That is my opinion the bullying has increased, and has always been a huge problem in our social order. We may not observer someone being bullied physically, but that is because bullying is now increasing through many social networking websites. This is a suicide caused from the effects of bullying.
Things to do with Kids
Bullying is something which
Bullying is something which every individual faces at a young age. Bullying is an activity which is wrong as it mentally disturbs a person. A student getting bullied should immediately inform his teachers, so that teachers and the school can take actions. Thus, it is the responsibility of the school to keep the students in a safe place.
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Standing Up To Bullying: Refusing to Be a "Victim"
What happens when we identify kids as "victims" of bullying? Read how we can help kids avoid becoming victims in "Standing Up to Bullying: Refusing to Be a Victim."
http://inspiringstudentmotivation.blogspot.com/2012/08/standing-up-to-bu...
Refusing to be a victim resonates
Yes, I think that's key and I speak as one who has been tempted to frame bad situations up that way. It's almost like others can smell out a person who does not have a secure sense of self, a brutal pecking order thing that takes us straight back to our animal selves.
Two novels give food for thought, as well as (very different) great reads: Ben Elton's gripping "Past Mortem" police crime thriller, (http://www.amazon.com/Past-Mortem-Ben-Elton/dp/0552771236) and Robert William's luminous "Luke and Jon", a coming of age novel of family and childhood friendship (http://www.robertwilliamsauthor.co.uk/the-book/)
Dealing With Students Who Bully: The Essential First Step
Because bullying is so ugly, it's often a challenge to deal with kids who bully. Here are some thoughts on how to manage ourselves when we need to interact with students who bully: "Dealing With Students Who Bully: The Essential First Step."
http://inspiringstudentmotivation.blogspot.com/2012/08/dealing-with-stud...
Dealing With Students Who Bully: Part II
After establishing your role and goal, here are some ideas about how to deal effectively with kids who bully:
http://inspiringstudentmotivation.blogspot.com/2012/08/dealing-with-stud...
School bullying refers to all
School bullying refers to all types of bullying done on school property, whether it is peer-to-peer bullying, bullying of younger children by older children, or bullying in which a teacher is either a victim or a culprit. Keep reading for more information on school bullying.