Coaching Students Who Are Bullied And Students Who Bully
Unfortunately, bullying has increased to a more sophisticated level over the years. We use the Second Step curriculum in the schools in my area to combat it. This post is taken from the organization: Committee for Children. For the original post, click here.
Coaching Students Who Are Bullied And Students Who Bully
Today’s blog is written by Dr. Kim Gulbrandson of Milwaukee Public Schools.
Since it is National Bullying Prevention Month, I’d like to check in and find out what strategies you use with students involved in bullying incidents. Separately coaching the student who bullied and the student who was bullied is only one of three components to an effective bully prevention program (the other two components are an effective bullying prevention curriculum and training of all school staff).
But coaching is important because it shows students that as adults, we are responding consistently to bullying situations and that we will help if students report. What are some of the things you do to support the coaching process? What follows are things that some Milwaukee Public Schools have considered or used.
Avoid Retaliation
Avoid telling the student who bullied any information about how you found out about the incident. It may increase the likelihood of retaliation.
Consider Timing
Be conscientious about how to pull the students from their classrooms for coaching. For example, if students are in the same class, pull them out at different times so it is not obvious what is happening. If students don’t feel their privacy is being protected, they might be afraid to report.
Work with Students on Solutions and Consequences
Have students help generate a list of possible solutions or consequences that could be used for those involved in bullying. Here’s a list of ideas.
For the student who bullied…
- Completing a written contract that includes a plan for what to do differently
- Talking with another class about the negative effects of bullying
- Writing a research paper about empathy
- Helping with weekly anti-bullying announcements
- Creating an anti-bullying slogan or anti-bullying posters for the school
- Doing something else when they feel like bullying, such as drawing or writing about it, telling a friend or adult how you feel, or running around the playground
For the student who was bullied…
- Practicing asking the person bullying to stop (if you feel safe doing so)
- Naming three people you can tell if it happens again
- Practicing skill steps for making friends and asking to join a group
- Identifying people to sit/stand/walk next to when the bullying is likely to occur
What other ideas do you have for good solutions or consequences for bullying? Posted by Committee for Children on Oct 13, 2011 4:32 PM PDT
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