By: Amy Hornung
Creating a safe space
Creating a classroom where many different cultures and identities are represented is a way bullying can be prevented. If students have the chance to be exposed to different things they will be less likely to bully people that are different. I want to have a classroom where everyone feels comfortable sharing who they are.
Parents
Parents are a huge part of the students lives and often are not aware if their child is being bullied or is a bully. Involving the parents is an important step in prevention and intervention.
Cyberbullying is the act of bullying someone online. Teachers today are the first ones to deal with it.
How Teachers Address Bullying
About Bullying
The Ontario school board has bullying prevention and intervention implementation strategies
monitoring and review
school boards must monitor, review and evaluate the effectiveness of board policies and guidelines
communications and outreach strategies
must actively communicate their policies on bullying prevention and intervention
professional development strategies
must provide annual professional development programs to educate staff on bullying
suspensions and expulsions for bullying
ontario regulation 440/20
reporting to the principal
serious incidents must be reported to the principal so that appropriate actions can be taken
programs, interventions and other supports
programs and interventions must be made available for students who have been bullied, witnessed incidents of bullying or engaged in bullying
prevention and awareness raising
policies must include a comprehensive prevention and awareness raising strategy
notifying parents
the principal must notify parents of involved students except in certain circumstances
engaging parents and families
clear instructions on how parents can report bullying
parents play a critical role in the lives of students
Verbal, Physical, Cyberbullying
Bullying is a conscious, willful and deliberate hostile activity intended to harm
may be a symptom of racism, classism, homophobia, sexism, religious discrimination, ethnic discrimination or other forms of bias and discrimination.
Definition: Bullying is behaviour that can be repeated or occur one time and can be carried out by an individual or group of individuals. (From ontario)
Personal Reflection
Often times the victim is forced to adapt in order to avoid the bully, I think it should be the bully that has to change
In grade 8 I was being bullied because I had special permission to eat in a different classroom with my friends, the teacher made me move back to my own class, I don't think this is the way it should have been done
Creating a safe and inclusive environment is one of the best ways to prevent bullying
In my grade 6 class we had many potlucks that allowed students to bring in cultural foods and their favorite foods-> you can learn more about each other
I'm going to try my best to support and talk about many cultures and identities in my future class
Teachers need to have more education on bullying and especially cyberbullying
it's something that won't go away
Strategies for Adressing Bullying
Address the behaviour
students should understand why it was wrong
Collaboration
talk to all students involved
with parents
between teachers
Intervention
follow up with the victim, and even the bully
document what happened
get information from everyone involved
immediate response
Prevention
talk about bullying, what to do, why it happens
group work and class bonding activities
culture of respect, empathy and inclusivity in the classroom
Professional Development
Support Network
join online forums
Connect with colleagues and learn from each other
Resources
books, video games, activities, lessons
can teach students and teachers about empathy, respect, conflict resolution, and positive peer relationships
Cyberbullying
meet regularly to talk about trends and apps where cyberbullying, dangerous behaviour could be taking place
teachers, no matter their age, should be informed about social media
very relevent to todays generation
Annual discussions on how to prevent and deal with bullying
psychologists
bullying specialists
with the school board
Teacher training
Everyone always has something to learn, even teachers and principals
workshops done as a school
classes in university on bullying
focusing on cyberbullying
Teacher's Role
Creating a Safe Environment
Build a trusting relationship with your students
celebrate achievements
representing different cultures
Support Systems
it is also important for them to find out why the bully might be bullyng and support them
insecurity
problems at home
teachers have the role of supporting the victim
Identifying
Preventing
Addressing
7 Steps to Stop Bullying
Engage in more constructive, entertaining, energizing activities
teach ways to "will good"
classroom meetings
role-playing activities
stories with positive messages
monitor tv, video games and online activities
talk to parents
teach friendship skills
nurture empathy
create opportunities to do good
classroom jobs
encouraging acts of kindness
allowing students to help others with work
discipline
reconciliation
resolution
restitution
