This is bully prevention month and it is being promoted in many schools. However, I think this should be a yearlong initiative. Students need to know that bully prevention is happening all year and it is part of their school culture. There are many ways to help stop bullying from curriculums to having a respectful school community.
As a counselor, I think it is important to find a tool that teaches children how to recognize what bullying is, how to try to refuse it from happening and finally reporting if nothing is changing. After teaching bully prevention for many years I have found that when kids feel confident and comfortable with how to stand up for themselves they will try different tactics to help solve the problem. If it doesn’t work then they will tell someone and ask for help. Students need to know the words to use, have at least one person to trust and know that they are going to be heard when they let someone know about it.
Bully Prevention is also about having a school community that focuses on respect and tolerance. Over the years of being a teacher and a counselor I learned what works and doesn't work from many professionals. One of the biggest things I learned is that students in the school need to respect and understand each other. This is accomplished when the entire staff of the school teaches respect and understanding. It happens when the staff is respectful to each other, the students and parents.
Finally, when deciding how to teach and bring awareness about bully prevention to your school, try to think about it as a school year long initiative. Teachers should be taught how to take reports from the students, parents need to know what the school definition of bullying is and everyone needs to be on the same page about how it is handled.
Here are some links and information I have collected. There is SOOO much more out there, but this might be something to start with! http://www.schoolcounselorideas/bullying.html
As a counselor, I think it is important to find a tool that teaches children how to recognize what bullying is, how to try to refuse it from happening and finally reporting if nothing is changing. After teaching bully prevention for many years I have found that when kids feel confident and comfortable with how to stand up for themselves they will try different tactics to help solve the problem. If it doesn’t work then they will tell someone and ask for help. Students need to know the words to use, have at least one person to trust and know that they are going to be heard when they let someone know about it.
Bully Prevention is also about having a school community that focuses on respect and tolerance. Over the years of being a teacher and a counselor I learned what works and doesn't work from many professionals. One of the biggest things I learned is that students in the school need to respect and understand each other. This is accomplished when the entire staff of the school teaches respect and understanding. It happens when the staff is respectful to each other, the students and parents.
Finally, when deciding how to teach and bring awareness about bully prevention to your school, try to think about it as a school year long initiative. Teachers should be taught how to take reports from the students, parents need to know what the school definition of bullying is and everyone needs to be on the same page about how it is handled.
Here are some links and information I have collected. There is SOOO much more out there, but this might be something to start with! http://www.schoolcounselorideas/bullying.html
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