Teachers recognize bullying by being active and aware in their classroom. I have been in many classrooms, both in my field experience and substituting, that there was bullying going on and the teacher was oblivious to it. I believe that keeping yours eyes and ears open is the biggest tool in recognizing bullying. I also think there are other ways such as talking to your students, especially those that you suspect may be struggling. Earning their trust and trying to get them to open up and confide in you as a teacher and helper. Another way is to simply make it very well known that the students are encouraged and welcomed to tell me about anything they have seen or heard and that anything reported will be handled with the utmost anonymity if that is their request. I had a teacher in high school that had a box in the back of her class and students were allowed to put in notes that they wanted to keep anonymous. This was for this exact type of thing. I think that is a good method. Many times if the bullying is going on and the teacher misses it or it is going on outside of their walls then there are probably students with concerns that would be willing to share them. I believe that teachers are absolutely responsible for addressing bullying. I believe that this is something that can have horribly detrimental effects on the victim. The two cases of children committing suicide in the national news recently really has shined a spotlight on how terrible this can be for the students that are at the butt of these attacks. I will personally take these actions very seriously in my classroom. I will handle them according to severity.
I think teachers need to be aware of behavior changes with his/her students. If s/he sees a usually upbeat student become withdrawn, anxious or insecure, that behavior change may indicate bullying going on. Teachers also need to be aware if a student is being overly aggressive or violent in any way toward another student.
A teacher should first be a positive role model of how to communicate with others. If a teacher sees a student bullying another student, s/he should step in immediately and also contact both parents. It's important to communicate to the parents of the bullying activity before it gets too out of hand or if the bullying continues outside of school grounds as well.
Teachers can recognize bullying by closely watching their students and playing a role as an active listener and facilitator of learning in the classroom. Teachers who are concerned with the emotional needs of their students as well as the educational needs will more easily identify bullying in their classroom. As the teacher, it is important that they confront the bullying that is going on. One strategy is to provide the bully with appropriate social skills training, and give them consequences for aggressive acts towards others. Also, it's important to communicate with the families that the bullying is going on, and hopefully they can address it with them and find the root of the problem.
A teacher can recognize bullying behaviors by listening to her students and watching them. Those students who are being bullied will often withdraw or begin to act out of character (they may begin to aggress on other students because they are close to reaching a breaking point). Teachers also need to listen to what students are saying about situations between themselves or about other students; so really pay attention during transition times. If a teacher suspects a student is the victim of bullying, she needs to encourage the student to talk to the school counselor. The counselor is in a unique position when it comes to stopping bullying behavior (at least as far as the adults in the building go); the counselor can usually attempt so type of intervention. Everyone in the building needs to know that bullying behavior will not be tolerated and that the first line of defense is for the students to know that reporting bullying behavior is a responsible action and is not tattling. Teachers also need to keep an ear out for cyberbullying behaviors, even though the school cannot do anything in direct relation to the cyberbullying, kids do bring their “issues” with them to school, and if it is affecting schoolwork, the school may be able to get involved at that point.
A teacher must be proactive, observant, and notice the details. Also the teacher has to ask questions if he/she suspects bullying. The teacher has to be very observant of students’ behavior in the classroom. A teacher needs to pay close attention to students that seem to not have any friends. If a teacher notices a student in his/her class who appears friendless, they should keep a close eye on him or her. They could be withdrawing due to fear, intimidation, and low self-esteem resulting from being bullied. If a students entire demeanor changes such as they become more anxious and insecure. Teachers need to pay close attention as to whether there is a lack in the student’s school work, such as not participating in class. Many times teachers think of victims of bullying as sweet, quiet children that are too shy to defend themselves and we are instinctively protective of them. Sometimes victims of bullying have rather irritating habits and it may even be hard for the teacher to like them. Even if this is the case, teachers must be vigilant and allow no child to be taken advantage of, regardless of the situation. Also recognizing the characteristics of students with the potential to bully will also help a teacher recognize when bullying is present. Keeping an eye out for students with these characteristics may help the teacher prevent bullying or allow a teacher to intervene as early as possible. I think that teachers should be trained in bullying workshops that can help them identify and respond to potentially damaging victimization as well as to implement positive feedback and modeling to address appropriate social interactions.
Teachers can recognize bullying by being active listeners, and observers in their classroom. Teachers also need to know their students in a way that if there was bullying going on in the classroom, the teacher would see a change in a student, whether it be that the student is withdrawing themselves or something along the lines of that. I have seen bullying happening in a classroom, and some teachers don't know their students well enough to see a different in the student who is being bullied. Bullying seems to be a major problem within schools lately, and it doesn't seem to be adressed by many teachers as I have seen. Teachers are definitely responsible for addressing bullying if they see it happening. The teacher needs to step in, identify the problem, and take specific measures to make sure this problem doesn't happen again. If the teacher has to bring in the parents and the principal to stop bullying then that is what they should do. Anything that has to be done to stop the bullying needs to be done.
It is the teacher's job to promote an accepting classroom where all the students are respecful to one another. To do this a teacher needs to never turn his or her back and to say aware of all situations. The students will know that the classroom has a zero tolerance for bullying. If a student disobeys, he or she will face infractions. At the time of the incident, the teacher should talk to all students involved and discuss alternatives other than bullying. It would be benefical for students to know steps to resolving conflicts. Role playing is another way to show students bullying is not allowed. The class could role play bullying situations and this would allow students to see the consequences.
I think it is crucial for teachers to be focused and always looking out for bullying. As many of you have probably heard, so many students today are taking their lives because of bullying. I think it is very important to address any form of bullying being observed, or reported by other students. I remember when I was in school, I would see students get picked on or bullied and I would try to stick up for people because it really broke my heart to see that happening. I always wished teachers would see what was happening because most of the time, if a student told the teacher, they would get more bullied because they told. From growing up in a rough school district with constant fights and gang issues in middle school, I will always be on the look out for bullies.
I will make sure to address any sort of bullying seen or heard because if you stop it in the beginning its less likely to escalate, and possibly affects a students life. It is important to talk to students who are bullying and being bullied separate or together because then they may have some issues or feelings they need to release instead of taking it out on another student. Students who bully usually have issues or problems at home with family, or give in to peer pressure to "look cool". I think if teachers look for easier ways to resolve conflict and move along, the less students will be bullied.
The teacher’s role in addressing bullying behavior is just that. The teacher needs to address it. Page 167 of the textbook discusses different strategies for teachers to implement a bullying prevention program. If the teacher does not implement a plan and lay out the rules, the students may begin bullying and it can become a common occurrence. “Sustained bullying can become a significant problem for schools, and can contribute to an anxious and fearful environment.” Characteristics of successful bullying prevention programs: -increase the awareness and involvement of adults -survey students about bullying -supervise high-risk areas during breaks -form teacher discussion groups and coordination groups -display class rules about bullying -see pg . 167 for more characteristics and information
The most important thing that a teacher can do to prevent bullying is to make sure every student is aware of what bullying is and that it will not be tolerated. In some cases, children are not aware of the effect their words or actions have on someone else. The second thing that a teacher can do is to have an open door policy for students. Being a advocate for kids is not something that can be written in a lesson plan book.
I will address any bullying I observe in my classroom. I think it is so important that bullying not be overlooked. It is important to implement a safe classroom for all the students and that means a place of respect. On the first day of school fire drills are practiced and I think it is necessary to practice fair and appropriate treatment of other people at the same time. Physical safety is important but so is emotional safety.
Anita Harkins Bullying can come in many forms: name-calling, taunting, pushing, shoving, stealing, etc. A teacher should keep an eye out for all these signs. Others may be more subtle, like note-passing or cyber-bullying, which may take place outside of school but spread torment just as fast. Bullying should not be tolerated, and most schools have plenty of signs and lectures and school assemblies focusing on this topic. In fact, there have been even tougher crackdowns in recent years, and as a teacher I would let students know what has happened to some students as a result. The recent DeKalb County case in which a bullied student committed suicide is one example. The county was sued, then tried to weasle out of any responsibility by saying the kids had problems at home, too. I would have a locked box in my room into which students could put notes about bullying or other problems, etc. I think this might help, too.I also would make sure I have a paper trail showing I contacted the principal, perhaps my department chair, and parents, etc., so I can prove I tried to help the student. -- Anita Harkins
I think teachers need to become moer active during group times. Recess is a prime time for bullying. Most teachers group with other teachers and have no idea what is being said and done during that time. I feel the teachers need to spend more time walking around and talking with the kids. Get involved! I also think lunch is another prime time. There are only 2 lunchroom monitors. Perhaps once or twice a week the teacher could choose to sit with her class. I know this is normally a time to go off with other teachers and relax but this is a time when you could make an extreme difference to a child.
In order to be able to actively know if bullying is going on in your classroom, or even your school, as a teacher you need to have your eyes open. There are a lot of teachers that try not to get involved, to think that the students will just "work it out," but sometimes they cannot. Sometimes bullying or being bullied will eventually begin to effect the students school work,a nd as a teacher the school work of your student is the number one priority. It is good to have a good rapport with your students, so that they can feel like they can come to you if they have a problem. I will want to be approachable for my students to feel like they can come talk to me if they need help.
I feel that a teacher needs to be aware of the social interactions among their students. While I feel it important for students to create strong connection among similar peers it is important to monitor that these bonds to not become exclusive to their other classmates. As a teacher, recognition is the best way to prevent bullying from escalating. The major types to identify are physical, verbal and indirect bullying. Indirect bullying is the most difficult to detect, however it is just as influential. As a teacher I would then ask myself questions to distinguish if the behavior is bullying. Does the situation involve: 1. Deliberate and hurtful behavior. 2. Behavior that is often repeated over a period of time toward the same student(s). 3. Action against a person who may not be able to defend himself/herself. 4. Action taken by a person who typically desires to exercise power inappropriately over his/her victim.
It is also important for the teacher to keep in mind that bullying is different than just teasing 1. A bully finds enjoyment continuously harassing the same person(s). 2. Teasing naturally occurs between classmates of equal stature or popularity. 3. Teasing is not prolonged.
Once bullying is portrayed, the teacher must address the situation and work with the students to prevent the behavior. There are many steps to address bully- related actions such as: 1.Present a bullying program to all students so they can recognize what constitutes bullying and harassment. It is important to bring the up the subject multiple times a school year, not just when behavior takes place. 2.Create a survey about bullying. Talk about the results with the students. 3.Consider implementing a “consulting teacher” program. Students will check in with a particular teacher once or twice a day so that any conflicts are handled immediately or consider developing a peer mediation program. 4.A program on coping skills should be available and offered to victims of bullying. Those who are bullies need to be given information on ways to develop the skills needed to find more acceptable ways to behave.
In addition it is important for teachers to model appropriate behavior for their students. Whether direct or indirect, messages from adults sometimes reward aggressive behaviors, which may give students the wrong idea. We need to be seen as examples and foster positive relationships among our students!
Bullying is something that goes on in every single classroom, almost every day. One of the best things for teachers to do is just not be naive and think that bullying will never happen in my classroom. Odds are is that it will. It is important for the teacher to always be paying attention to their students. When they notice that one kid is starting to get picked on, it is very important to stop things before they get any worse. Teachers need to always model good behavior in their classroom and teach their students that it is not okay to bully other people in the class. I think bullying is 100% preventable, it is just how it is addressed. As a teacher, if I were to notice someone in the beginning stages of bullying or getting bullied, I will do everything in my power to stop it before it gets any worse. There needs to be discipline and consequences for bad behavior. I sometimes feel that teachers just choose not to notice it. They may see it a few times and maybe say something once, but almost just choose to look the other way and put it in the back of their heads. I believe it is also important for your students to feel comfortable enough to come up to you with any problems they have or if someone is bullying them.
As an involved parent of a 7 and 13 year old with many volunteer hours logged in both schools, I have seen a major effort to thrwart bullying the schools. Especially in recent years, and in multiple schools, it is simply not tolerated and is dealt with very seriously. There are seminars for parents offered periodically and frequent in-class sessions with school guidance counselors to educate the students. I think teachers recognize bullying easily, at least in the younger grades. AS the year progresses and the teacher develops relationships with the students, he/she will recognize if there is a problem occurring, and also will know if there is a student who is prone either to bullying or being bullied and should deal with it swiftly. A good observation time is during lunch, recess, and in after school program if applicable, since these are times children have the most freedom. It is fairly easy to spot the loners, the weaker child, or the one who is different, and those tend to be the ones who get bullied. The teacher should try and help involve the child, and always keep an eye on the child. If the teacher does feel there is bullying, I think the teacher should first try talking to the class as a whole and if that doesn't stop the problem, address the issue with the specific child manifesting the aggressive behavior. It is possible they don't even realize the impact it has. Finally, if all else fails, a note home to the parent of the bully may be in order. It is of utmost importance that each child feel safe and protected in the classroom and at school in general, and as teachers we are our student's biggest advocate during those hours. They have to feel like they can come to us for protection and for help if they need it.
With the anti- bullying campaign going on in the local public schools recently teachers and some students have been educated about bullies and ways to deal with them. We have also learned that bullies are not just the kid who takes your lunch money or threatens to beat you up after school. As Anita posted earlier, bullies can also be more subtle with the use of text messaging and the computer. This is more difficult for teachers to detect and deal with. It is important for teachers to be visible with their ears open. Teachers have to make themselves available. In middle school, some students are still too afraid to report the bully because they think they can handle it themselves or the threat of being bullied more. Teachers cannot afford to ignore bullying behavior or the student who is being bullied. It is the responsibility of the teacher and administration that each student feels and is safe at school.
Teachers need to make themselves aware of any type of scenario that could lead to potential bullying. That being said, Teachers need to establish a relationship with their students that is based on open communication. If the teachers, students, and parents have open communication most likely the students will feel more comfortable confiding in the teacher regarding any trouble they may be encountering at school. Th teachers should address the situation immediatley, at whatever administrative level necessary. At the beginning of the year, I feel the teacher should establish a no tolerance policy for any type of bullying or mistreating of our peers. It should be made very clear that is unacceptable behavior. Reading the recent article regarding the girl that committed suicide because she was being bullyied, she said that she did approach a teacher several times, and got no results. That is so upseting. It is our job as teachers to keep the students safe when they are in our care and that is part of creating a no tolerance for bullying enviroment!
It is a teacher's job to provide the students with a safe environment. One way to do this is by ensuring that there is no form of bullying. I personally will not allow any of my students to harm or insult the other children in their class. I will let my class know that we are going to act as a family in this classroom, which means we will teat all members of the family with respect and treat them the way we'd want to be treated. The students and I will work collaboratively on the first day of class to establish a set of rules that will need to be enforced if one of the students is mean to another one of the family members in the class.
If I see any child being bullyied in my class, I will try to fix it myself. If this does not work, I will report it to the counselor and principal. It is my responsibility to protect my students and turn any information I have in to the next highest person. I will then hope that information gets passed on to next highest person and will actually be acted upon. I will also have the counselor come in and have a discussion on bullying. I will make sure the students in my class feel safe and actually are safe.
Bullying is sometimes obvious, while other times it is subtle. As a result, the recognition of bullying can sometimes be difficult. Like some of my peers have said, teachers need to look for certain behaviors and behavior patterns in their students to identify bullying. Many times the victims of the bullying are afraid to tell anyone what is happening. Teachers need to make an open line of communication with their students. I really like the idea someone had about the box in the back of the classroom where students could put private notes and such.
As far as the “bulliers,” their bullying behavior should not, under any circumstances, be accepted. I remember in high school and I’ve noticed in my field experience that many teachers just ignore the bullying. Many teachers think bullying is not a problem until it gets physical, but verbal bullying is just as harmful. As teachers, our main priority should be to make our students feel safe. If they are being bullied, they obviously won’t feel safe. It is never a good idea to ignore bullying because there really is a snowball effect. What many times seems like harmless teasing can turn into severe emotional damage or even suicide or murder. This is a huge issue that we, as teachers, need to address in our classrooms. We need to make it known that bullying will NOT be tolerated!
I think teachers recognize bullying by change in attitudes/ behavior of students. Usually seeing a pattern in a students normal personality change means something out of order is occurring. Recognizing bullying can be challenging as well as finding the true source of the bullying. I agree with Magen that teachers MUST have open communication with his/her students to ensure they feel comfortable addressing the issue to the teacher.
I think the teacher holds the up most responsibility to solve the bullying situation and find the source of it. The teacher has authority to have class rules that clearly explain consequences and it is the teachers job to follow through with a consistent disciplinary system. Also, it is imperative that the teacher hears all sides of the story before making any decisions!
A teacher recognizes bullying by staying constantly aware of the students, and their surroundings. In the classroom, students may be more subdued in their bullying antics. I think that bullying most often occurs in areas and at times when students feel that they are out of reach of teachers and authority. A teacher should be aware of students during times such as lunch and recess. I also think that it is important for teachers to understand that bullying can take place outside of the classroom, such as on the internet. This is where family communication would come in handy. I think another indicator of bullying could be falling grades in the student being bullied. As long as the teacher is perceptive of changing behavior in the students of their class, then they will be able to recognize bullying problems. The teacher’s number one role in bullying is to provide consequences for the bulliers (if that’s a word!). I think that teachers should include specific rules for bullying-just as they do for classroom management. A learning environment will be severely disturbed if bullying is allowed to occur- so preventing it should be the number one goal. Most of all, I believe that teachers can try to be that “power of one.” The teacher should set an example of how to treat others that students can follow. Although this will not work every time, at least it will express to the student being bullied that someone cares.
Bullying takes many forms in today's technology driven society. Not only do we have to worry about the steroetypical bullying, but we now have to worry about technology- facebook, twitter, chatting, blogging. It is frightening that so many children are committing suicide because they have been bullied. School Counselors address bullying, but teachers who have such close contact with students must be aware of bullying and have strategies in place to address this rampant cause. The lunch room, bathroom, bus, before and after school and during class changes - if we can be as visable as possible this can help. Letting all students know we are available to listen and help out-have open communication is key.
Teachers can recognize bullying by being aware of what is happening in the classroom. Ways teachers can take a proactive approach to bullying is: discussing prevention methods with other teachers, displaying rules about bullying in the classroom, and involving parents in the process of trying to help moderate bullying. The teacher plays a large role in addressing bullying in the classroom. Teachers should take an active role in discussing the seriousness of bullying with students, as well as a proactive approach to help prevent bullying. It is also extremely important to involve parents in this process because parents can continue the discussion about bullying with their students at home. By teachers taking an active role in recognizing aggressive or violent behaviors, teachers can stop bullying before it starts.
First off, I worry about the fact that our society teaches kids not to tattle. Is it because we as adults don't want to deal with the trivial issues of "He took my crayon" or "He's not doing his work?" Maybe. But I fear telling kids not to tattle will lead to the "boy who cried wolf." There are so many issues that children and adolescents must deal with as they grow up. The idea of bullying must be addressed at the earliest age possible. A fine optimist I'd be if I didn't think it were possible to teach young children the advantages of being an individual and to treat others the way they themselves wish to be treated. I realize that can only occur in a perfect world. At the very least, children need to be taught that certain things are not as important as others. Someone threatening to cause harm to someone else should be conveyed as a serious thing that should be reported to an adult. With that said, teachers should be on the lookout for warning signs; not only in the children getting bullied, but also in the children who might be doing the bullying. Children who come from poor home environments might be the ones threatening harm to a child unless they get some lunch money. Those who are abused at home might be looking for someone on whom they can take out their frustrations. The bullies have characteristics that are just as noticeable and significant as those who are bullied. In any case, the teacher's main responsibility is to the victim. He or she must take every possible step that is outlined by the administration to be sure that the bullying is brought to a fierce and abrupt end and assist the bullied student toward a recovery (to whatever depth is necessary). Once that has happened, the teacher and support staff can begin to dig to the root of the problem and offer the bully the help and guidance he or she needs to correct this behavior. We cannot forget that the bully almost always has some underlying issue that is causing their behavior. They need just as much care and attention as the victim.
What worries me the most about the bullying issuse in classrooms to day is everything that you hear about in the news nd how personally students are taking it. What scares me is that there are people who are witnessing this take place and nothing is happeneing. I strongly believe that just lik eit is the teachers responsibility to report child abuse or any other type of abuse from a child that they should be just as responsibile for addressing bullying the same way. It creates the same type of negative feeling and issues for the student. I don't understand how some teachers can let bullying happen without any consequences. I have been in field experience where children are bullying other children and the teacher does absolutely nothing except to tell them to sit down. I believe that further more in-depth steps should be taken for example talking ith the students who are taking part in the problem and finding solutions and making accomodations.
Unfortunately bullying is such a major problem in schools. Because of technology, many children are now being harassed by facebook and myspace. It is important for teachers to be able to identify bullying and know how to address it. Too many teachers turn away and assume it's just kids being kids. But elementary school students are still tender and they take all comments to heart. So many children commit suicide to bullying, this is absolutely insane. No child should ever feel the need to take their life becuase of the ignorance of others. It's heartbreaking to think of how hurt these children must have been. When it comes my time to teach I do not want to turn the other shoulder. If bullying is going on in my classroom parents and administration will be notified,and they will continue to be notified until something is done.
Teachers recognize bullying by being active and aware in their classroom. I have been in many classrooms, both in my field experience and substituting, that there was bullying going on and the teacher was oblivious to it. I believe that keeping yours eyes and ears open is the biggest tool in recognizing bullying. I also think there are other ways such as talking to your students, especially those that you suspect may be struggling. Earning their trust and trying to get them to open up and confide in you as a teacher and helper. Another way is to simply make it very well known that the students are encouraged and welcomed to tell me about anything they have seen or heard and that anything reported will be handled with the utmost anonymity if that is their request. I had a teacher in high school that had a box in the back of her class and students were allowed to put in notes that they wanted to keep anonymous. This was for this exact type of thing. I think that is a good method. Many times if the bullying is going on and the teacher misses it or it is going on outside of their walls then there are probably students with concerns that would be willing to share them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that teachers are absolutely responsible for addressing bullying. I believe that this is something that can have horribly detrimental effects on the victim. The two cases of children committing suicide in the national news recently really has shined a spotlight on how terrible this can be for the students that are at the butt of these attacks. I will personally take these actions very seriously in my classroom. I will handle them according to severity.
I think teachers need to be aware of behavior changes with his/her students. If s/he sees a usually upbeat student become withdrawn, anxious or insecure, that behavior change may indicate bullying going on. Teachers also need to be aware if a student is being overly aggressive or violent in any way toward another student.
ReplyDeleteA teacher should first be a positive role model of how to communicate with others. If a teacher sees a student bullying another student, s/he should step in immediately and also contact both parents. It's important to communicate to the parents of the bullying activity before it gets too out of hand or if the bullying continues outside of school grounds as well.
Teachers can recognize bullying by closely watching their students and playing a role as an active listener and facilitator of learning in the classroom. Teachers who are concerned with the emotional needs of their students as well as the educational needs will more easily identify bullying in their classroom.
ReplyDeleteAs the teacher, it is important that they confront the bullying that is going on. One strategy is to provide the bully with appropriate social skills training, and give them consequences for aggressive acts towards others. Also, it's important to communicate with the families that the bullying is going on, and hopefully they can address it with them and find the root of the problem.
A teacher can recognize bullying behaviors by listening to her students and watching them. Those students who are being bullied will often withdraw or begin to act out of character (they may begin to aggress on other students because they are close to reaching a breaking point). Teachers also need to listen to what students are saying about situations between themselves or about other students; so really pay attention during transition times.
ReplyDeleteIf a teacher suspects a student is the victim of bullying, she needs to encourage the student to talk to the school counselor. The counselor is in a unique position when it comes to stopping bullying behavior (at least as far as the adults in the building go); the counselor can usually attempt so type of intervention. Everyone in the building needs to know that bullying behavior will not be tolerated and that the first line of defense is for the students to know that reporting bullying behavior is a responsible action and is not tattling. Teachers also need to keep an ear out for cyberbullying behaviors, even though the school cannot do anything in direct relation to the cyberbullying, kids do bring their “issues” with them to school, and if it is affecting schoolwork, the school may be able to get involved at that point.
A teacher must be proactive, observant, and notice the details. Also the teacher has to ask questions if he/she suspects bullying. The teacher has to be very observant of students’ behavior in the classroom. A teacher needs to pay close attention to students that seem to not have any friends. If a teacher notices a student in his/her class who appears friendless, they should keep a close eye on him or her. They could be withdrawing due to fear, intimidation, and low self-esteem resulting from being bullied. If a students entire demeanor changes such as they become more anxious and insecure. Teachers need to pay close attention as to whether there is a lack in the student’s school work, such as not participating in class. Many times teachers think of victims of bullying as sweet, quiet children that are too shy to defend themselves and we are instinctively protective of them. Sometimes victims of bullying have rather irritating habits and it may even be hard for the teacher to like them. Even if this is the case, teachers must be vigilant and allow no child to be taken advantage of, regardless of the situation. Also recognizing the characteristics of students with the potential to bully will also help a teacher recognize when bullying is present. Keeping an eye out for students with these characteristics may help the teacher prevent bullying or allow a teacher to intervene as early as possible. I think that teachers should be trained in bullying workshops that can help them identify and respond to potentially damaging victimization as well as to implement positive feedback and modeling to address appropriate social interactions.
ReplyDeleteTeachers can recognize bullying by being active listeners, and observers in their classroom. Teachers also need to know their students in a way that if there was bullying going on in the classroom, the teacher would see a change in a student, whether it be that the student is withdrawing themselves or something along the lines of that. I have seen bullying happening in a classroom, and some teachers don't know their students well enough to see a different in the student who is being bullied. Bullying seems to be a major problem within schools lately, and it doesn't seem to be adressed by many teachers as I have seen. Teachers are definitely responsible for addressing bullying if they see it happening. The teacher needs to step in, identify the problem, and take specific measures to make sure this problem doesn't happen again. If the teacher has to bring in the parents and the principal to stop bullying then that is what they should do. Anything that has to be done to stop the bullying needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteIt is the teacher's job to promote an accepting classroom where all the students are respecful to one another. To do this a teacher needs to never turn his or her back and to say aware of all situations. The students will know that the classroom has a zero tolerance for bullying. If a student disobeys, he or she will face infractions. At the time of the incident, the teacher should talk to all students involved and discuss alternatives other than bullying. It would be benefical for students to know steps to resolving conflicts. Role playing is another way to show students bullying is not allowed. The class could role play bullying situations and this would allow students to see the consequences.
ReplyDeleteI think it is crucial for teachers to be focused and always looking out for bullying. As many of you have probably heard, so many students today are taking their lives because of bullying. I think it is very important to address any form of bullying being observed, or reported by other students. I remember when I was in school, I would see students get picked on or bullied and I would try to stick up for people because it really broke my heart to see that happening. I always wished teachers would see what was happening because most of the time, if a student told the teacher, they would get more bullied because they told. From growing up in a rough school district with constant fights and gang issues in middle school, I will always be on the look out for bullies.
ReplyDeleteI will make sure to address any sort of bullying seen or heard because if you stop it in the beginning its less likely to escalate, and possibly affects a students life. It is important to talk to students who are bullying and being bullied separate or together because then they may have some issues or feelings they need to release instead of taking it out on another student. Students who bully usually have issues or problems at home with family, or give in to peer pressure to "look cool". I think if teachers look for easier ways to resolve conflict and move along, the less students will be bullied.
The teacher’s role in addressing bullying behavior is just that. The teacher needs to address it. Page 167 of the textbook discusses different strategies for teachers to implement a bullying prevention program. If the teacher does not implement a plan and lay out the rules, the students may begin bullying and it can become a common occurrence. “Sustained bullying can become a significant problem for schools, and can contribute to an anxious and fearful environment.”
ReplyDeleteCharacteristics of successful bullying prevention programs:
-increase the awareness and involvement of adults
-survey students about bullying
-supervise high-risk areas during breaks
-form teacher discussion groups and coordination groups
-display class rules about bullying
-see pg . 167 for more characteristics and information
The most important thing that a teacher can do to prevent bullying is to make sure every student is aware of what bullying is and that it will not be tolerated. In some cases, children are not aware of the effect their words or actions have on someone else. The second thing that a teacher can do is to have an open door policy for students. Being a advocate for kids is not something that can be written in a lesson plan book.
ReplyDeleteI will address any bullying I observe in my classroom. I think it is so important that bullying not be overlooked. It is important to implement a safe classroom for all the students and that means a place of respect.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day of school fire drills are practiced and I think it is necessary to practice fair and appropriate treatment of other people at the same time. Physical safety is important but so is emotional safety.
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ReplyDeleteAnita Harkins
ReplyDeleteBullying can come in many forms: name-calling, taunting, pushing, shoving, stealing, etc. A teacher should keep an eye out for all these signs. Others may be more subtle, like note-passing or cyber-bullying, which may take place outside of school but spread torment just as fast.
Bullying should not be tolerated, and most schools have plenty of signs and lectures and school assemblies focusing on this topic. In fact, there have been even tougher crackdowns in recent years, and as a teacher I would let students know what has happened to some students as a result.
The recent DeKalb County case in which a bullied student committed suicide is one example. The county was sued, then tried to weasle out of any responsibility by saying the kids had problems at home, too.
I would have a locked box in my room into which students could put notes about bullying or other problems, etc. I think this might help, too.I also would make sure I have a paper trail showing I contacted the principal, perhaps my department chair, and parents, etc., so I can prove I tried to help the student.
-- Anita Harkins
I think teachers need to become moer active during group times. Recess is a prime time for bullying. Most teachers group with other teachers and have no idea what is being said and done during that time. I feel the teachers need to spend more time walking around and talking with the kids. Get involved! I also think lunch is another prime time. There are only 2 lunchroom monitors. Perhaps once or twice a week the teacher could choose to sit with her class. I know this is normally a time to go off with other teachers and relax but this is a time when you could make an extreme difference to a child.
ReplyDeleteIn order to be able to actively know if bullying is going on in your classroom, or even your school, as a teacher you need to have your eyes open. There are a lot of teachers that try not to get involved, to think that the students will just "work it out," but sometimes they cannot. Sometimes bullying or being bullied will eventually begin to effect the students school work,a nd as a teacher the school work of your student is the number one priority.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to have a good rapport with your students, so that they can feel like they can come to you if they have a problem. I will want to be approachable for my students to feel like they can come talk to me if they need help.
Bullying
ReplyDeleteI feel that a teacher needs to be aware of the social interactions among their students. While I feel it important for students to create strong connection among similar peers it is important to monitor that these bonds to not become exclusive to their other classmates. As a teacher, recognition is the best way to prevent bullying from escalating. The major types to identify are physical, verbal and indirect bullying. Indirect bullying is the most difficult to detect, however it is just as influential. As a teacher I would then ask myself questions to distinguish if the behavior is bullying. Does the situation involve:
1. Deliberate and hurtful behavior.
2. Behavior that is often repeated over a period of time toward the same student(s).
3. Action against a person who may not be able to defend himself/herself.
4. Action taken by a person who typically desires to exercise power inappropriately over his/her victim.
It is also important for the teacher to keep in mind that bullying is different than just teasing
1. A bully finds enjoyment continuously harassing the same person(s).
2. Teasing naturally occurs between classmates of equal stature or popularity.
3. Teasing is not prolonged.
Once bullying is portrayed, the teacher must address the situation and work with the students to prevent the behavior. There are many steps to address bully- related actions such as:
1.Present a bullying program to all students so they can recognize what constitutes bullying and harassment. It is important to bring the up the subject multiple times a school year, not just when behavior takes place.
2.Create a survey about bullying. Talk about the results with the students.
3.Consider implementing a “consulting teacher” program. Students will check in with a particular teacher once or twice a day so that any conflicts are handled immediately or consider developing a peer mediation program.
4.A program on coping skills should be available and offered to victims of bullying. Those who are bullies need to be given information on ways to develop the skills needed to find more acceptable ways to behave.
In addition it is important for teachers to model appropriate behavior for their students. Whether direct or indirect, messages from adults sometimes reward aggressive behaviors, which may give students the wrong idea. We need to be seen as examples and foster positive relationships among our students!
Source: http://www.theadvocacyalliance.org/Programs%20and%20Services/MH%20Services/childrens%20publications/Bullying%20Brochure.pdf
Bullying is something that goes on in every single classroom, almost every day. One of the best things for teachers to do is just not be naive and think that bullying will never happen in my classroom. Odds are is that it will. It is important for the teacher to always be paying attention to their students. When they notice that one kid is starting to get picked on, it is very important to stop things before they get any worse. Teachers need to always model good behavior in their classroom and teach their students that it is not okay to bully other people in the class. I think bullying is 100% preventable, it is just how it is addressed. As a teacher, if I were to notice someone in the beginning stages of bullying or getting bullied, I will do everything in my power to stop it before it gets any worse. There needs to be discipline and consequences for bad behavior. I sometimes feel that teachers just choose not to notice it. They may see it a few times and maybe say something once, but almost just choose to look the other way and put it in the back of their heads. I believe it is also important for your students to feel comfortable enough to come up to you with any problems they have or if someone is bullying them.
ReplyDeleteAs an involved parent of a 7 and 13 year old with many volunteer hours logged in both schools, I have seen a major effort to thrwart bullying the schools. Especially in recent years, and in multiple schools, it is simply not tolerated and is dealt with very seriously. There are seminars for parents offered periodically and frequent in-class sessions with school guidance counselors to educate the students.
ReplyDeleteI think teachers recognize bullying easily, at least in the younger grades. AS the year progresses and the teacher develops relationships with the students, he/she will recognize if there is a problem occurring, and also will know if there is a student who is prone either to bullying or being bullied and should deal with it swiftly. A good observation time is during lunch, recess, and in after school program if applicable, since these are times children have the most freedom. It is fairly easy to spot the loners, the weaker child, or the one who is different, and those tend to be the ones who get bullied. The teacher should try and help involve the child, and always keep an eye on the child. If the teacher does feel there is bullying, I think the teacher should first try talking to the class as a whole and if that doesn't stop the problem, address the issue with the specific child manifesting the aggressive behavior. It is possible they don't even realize the impact it has. Finally, if all else fails, a note home to the parent of the bully may be in order. It is of utmost importance that each child feel safe and protected in the classroom and at school in general, and as teachers we are our student's biggest advocate during those hours. They have to feel like they can come to us for protection and for help if they need it.
With the anti- bullying campaign going on in the local public schools recently teachers and some students have been educated about bullies and ways to deal with them. We have also learned that bullies are not just the kid who takes your lunch money or threatens to beat you up after school. As Anita posted earlier, bullies can also be more subtle with the use of text messaging and the computer. This is more difficult for teachers to detect and deal with. It is important for teachers to be visible with their ears open. Teachers have to make themselves available. In middle school, some students are still too afraid to report the bully because they think they can handle it themselves or the threat of being bullied more. Teachers cannot afford to ignore bullying behavior or the student who is being bullied. It is the responsibility of the teacher and administration that each student feels and is safe at school.
ReplyDeleteTeachers need to make themselves aware of any type of scenario that could lead to potential bullying. That being said, Teachers need to establish a relationship with their students that is based on open communication. If the teachers, students, and parents have open communication most likely the students will feel more comfortable confiding in the teacher regarding any trouble they may be encountering at school. Th teachers should address the situation immediatley, at whatever administrative level necessary. At the beginning of the year, I feel the teacher should establish a no tolerance policy for any type of bullying or mistreating of our peers. It should be made very clear that is unacceptable behavior. Reading the recent article regarding the girl that committed suicide because she was being bullyied, she said that she did approach a teacher several times, and got no results. That is so upseting. It is our job as teachers to keep the students safe when they are in our care and that is part of creating a no tolerance for bullying enviroment!
ReplyDeleteIt is a teacher's job to provide the students with a safe environment. One way to do this is by ensuring that there is no form of bullying. I personally will not allow any of my students to harm or insult the other children in their class. I will let my class know that we are going to act as a family in this classroom, which means we will teat all members of the family with respect and treat them the way we'd want to be treated. The students and I will work collaboratively on the first day of class to establish a set of rules that will need to be enforced if one of the students is mean to another one of the family members in the class.
ReplyDeleteIf I see any child being bullyied in my class, I will try to fix it myself. If this does not work, I will report it to the counselor and principal. It is my responsibility to protect my students and turn any information I have in to the next highest person. I will then hope that information gets passed on to next highest person and will actually be acted upon. I will also have the counselor come in and have a discussion on bullying. I will make sure the students in my class feel safe and actually are safe.
Bullying is sometimes obvious, while other times it is subtle. As a result, the recognition of bullying can sometimes be difficult. Like some of my peers have said, teachers need to look for certain behaviors and behavior patterns in their students to identify bullying. Many times the victims of the bullying are afraid to tell anyone what is happening. Teachers need to make an open line of communication with their students. I really like the idea someone had about the box in the back of the classroom where students could put private notes and such.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the “bulliers,” their bullying behavior should not, under any circumstances, be accepted. I remember in high school and I’ve noticed in my field experience that many teachers just ignore the bullying. Many teachers think bullying is not a problem until it gets physical, but verbal bullying is just as harmful. As teachers, our main priority should be to make our students feel safe. If they are being bullied, they obviously won’t feel safe. It is never a good idea to ignore bullying because there really is a snowball effect. What many times seems like harmless teasing can turn into severe emotional damage or even suicide or murder. This is a huge issue that we, as teachers, need to address in our classrooms. We need to make it known that bullying will NOT be tolerated!
I think teachers recognize bullying by change in attitudes/ behavior of students. Usually seeing a pattern in a students normal personality change means something out of order is occurring. Recognizing bullying can be challenging as well as finding the true source of the bullying. I agree with Magen that teachers MUST have open communication with his/her students to ensure they feel comfortable addressing the issue to the teacher.
ReplyDeleteI think the teacher holds the up most responsibility to solve the bullying situation and find the source of it. The teacher has authority to have class rules that clearly explain consequences and it is the teachers job to follow through with a consistent disciplinary system. Also, it is imperative that the teacher hears all sides of the story before making any decisions!
Maggie Gudgel
A teacher recognizes bullying by staying constantly aware of the students, and their surroundings. In the classroom, students may be more subdued in their bullying antics. I think that bullying most often occurs in areas and at times when students feel that they are out of reach of teachers and authority. A teacher should be aware of students during times such as lunch and recess. I also think that it is important for teachers to understand that bullying can take place outside of the classroom, such as on the internet. This is where family communication would come in handy. I think another indicator of bullying could be falling grades in the student being bullied. As long as the teacher is perceptive of changing behavior in the students of their class, then they will be able to recognize bullying problems.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher’s number one role in bullying is to provide consequences for the bulliers (if that’s a word!). I think that teachers should include specific rules for bullying-just as they do for classroom management. A learning environment will be severely disturbed if bullying is allowed to occur- so preventing it should be the number one goal.
Most of all, I believe that teachers can try to be that “power of one.” The teacher should set an example of how to treat others that students can follow. Although this will not work every time, at least it will express to the student being bullied that someone cares.
Bullying takes many forms in today's technology driven society. Not only do we have to worry about the steroetypical bullying, but we now have to worry about technology- facebook, twitter, chatting, blogging. It is frightening that so many children are committing suicide because they have been bullied. School Counselors address bullying, but teachers who have such close contact with students must be aware of bullying and have strategies in place to address this rampant cause. The lunch room, bathroom, bus, before and after school and during class changes - if we can be as visable as possible this can help. Letting all students know we are available to listen and help out-have open communication is key.
ReplyDeleteTeachers can recognize bullying by being aware of what is happening in the classroom. Ways teachers can take a proactive approach to bullying is: discussing prevention methods with other teachers, displaying rules about bullying in the classroom, and involving parents in the process of trying to help moderate bullying. The teacher plays a large role in addressing bullying in the classroom. Teachers should take an active role in discussing the seriousness of bullying with students, as well as a proactive approach to help prevent bullying. It is also extremely important to involve parents in this process because parents can continue the discussion about bullying with their students at home. By teachers taking an active role in recognizing aggressive or violent behaviors, teachers can stop bullying before it starts.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I worry about the fact that our society teaches kids not to tattle. Is it because we as adults don't want to deal with the trivial issues of "He took my crayon" or "He's not doing his work?" Maybe. But I fear telling kids not to tattle will lead to the "boy who cried wolf." There are so many issues that children and adolescents must deal with as they grow up. The idea of bullying must be addressed at the earliest age possible. A fine optimist I'd be if I didn't think it were possible to teach young children the advantages of being an individual and to treat others the way they themselves wish to be treated. I realize that can only occur in a perfect world. At the very least, children need to be taught that certain things are not as important as others. Someone threatening to cause harm to someone else should be conveyed as a serious thing that should be reported to an adult.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, teachers should be on the lookout for warning signs; not only in the children getting bullied, but also in the children who might be doing the bullying. Children who come from poor home environments might be the ones threatening harm to a child unless they get some lunch money. Those who are abused at home might be looking for someone on whom they can take out their frustrations. The bullies have characteristics that are just as noticeable and significant as those who are bullied.
In any case, the teacher's main responsibility is to the victim. He or she must take every possible step that is outlined by the administration to be sure that the bullying is brought to a fierce and abrupt end and assist the bullied student toward a recovery (to whatever depth is necessary). Once that has happened, the teacher and support staff can begin to dig to the root of the problem and offer the bully the help and guidance he or she needs to correct this behavior. We cannot forget that the bully almost always has some underlying issue that is causing their behavior. They need just as much care and attention as the victim.
What worries me the most about the bullying issuse in classrooms to day is everything that you hear about in the news nd how personally students are taking it. What scares me is that there are people who are witnessing this take place and nothing is happeneing. I strongly believe that just lik eit is the teachers responsibility to report child abuse or any other type of abuse from a child that they should be just as responsibile for addressing bullying the same way. It creates the same type of negative feeling and issues for the student. I don't understand how some teachers can let bullying happen without any consequences. I have been in field experience where children are bullying other children and the teacher does absolutely nothing except to tell them to sit down. I believe that further more in-depth steps should be taken for example talking ith the students who are taking part in the problem and finding solutions and making accomodations.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately bullying is such a major problem in schools. Because of technology, many children are now being harassed by facebook and myspace. It is important for teachers to be able to identify bullying and know how to address it. Too many teachers turn away and assume it's just kids being kids. But elementary school students are still tender and they take all comments to heart. So many children commit suicide to bullying, this is absolutely insane. No child should ever feel the need to take their life becuase of the ignorance of others. It's heartbreaking to think of how hurt these children must have been. When it comes my time to teach I do not want to turn the other shoulder. If bullying is going on in my classroom parents and administration will be notified,and they will continue to be notified until something is done.
ReplyDelete