When it comes to effective bullying prevention programs, the verdict is still out. However, creating a positive school culture and increasing social-emotional intelligence through preventative education can hold promise. So while skills like mindfulness, self-management, social-awareness and emotional literacy are the foundation for building positive school climate and reducing bullying behaviors, students can also begin to advocate for themselves by developing an awareness of what makes a behavior bullying.
What will students do during this lesson?
Students will learn the definition of bullying which is:
Intentional, aggressive behavior that causes someone harm.
A pattern of behavior or repeated act that happens over time.
Involves an imbalance of power in a relationship.
We will then discuss some scenarios to better understand the difference between bullying and conflict.
Students will then be read the book The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy.
Students will be encouraged to really think about the promise that the students in the story take in their class. Here are the highlights of that promise.
I WILL speak up instead of acting as a bystander.
I CHOOSE to participate in activities that don’t involve teasing.
I FORGIVE others if they make poor choices.
I MODEL good behavior.
I ACCEPT others for their differences.
I INCLUDE others in group situations.
I WILL talk to an adult when there is a problem I cannot manage on my own.
I AM powerful in making a difference in my school.