26_Recognizing Bullying

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. —Mark Twain Recognizing Bullying At Home Resources Level: Lower Elementary (K-2) Concepts: • Bullying • Conflict • PowerBig Ideas For This LessonThere is no “one size fits all” solution to address bullying. Bullying is a complex social issue that variesgreatly from situation to situation and impacts all parties involved – from victim to perpetrator and allof the by-standers, up-standers, and community members in between. Much like the failed anti-drugprograms of the 1990’s, emerging research is continually pointing to “anti-bullying” programs as inef-fective or, worse, even resulting in increases in bullying behaviors.While the topic of bullying prevention may still be open-ended, students can begin to advocate forthemselves by developing an awareness of what makes a behavior bullying. Bullying is defined as: 1. Intentional, aggressive behavior that causes someone harm. 2. A pattern of behavior or repeated act that happens over time. 3. Involves an imbalance of power in a relationship.The best thing students can do when they see bullying happening is to report it to an adult. Essential VocabularyBullying: A behavior that meets the following three criteria: Intentional, aggressive behavior that causes someoneharm. A pattern of behavior or repeated act that happens over time. Involves an imbalance of power in a relationship.Conflict: Any situation in which there is no clear solution. A disagreement or argument.Criteria: A standard by which something may be judged or evaluated.Harm: Damage resulting from a conflict. Harm can take many forms, such as: emotional, physical, monetary, social,and academic.Pattern of Behavior: Any observable action that occurs repeatedly over time.Power: An advantage or ability that one person possesses over another. Power can take many forms, including:physical size and strength, social power (popular vs. unpopular), age, intelligence, money, numbers (many against few),ability, etc.Reporting: Telling an adult or person of power about a situation in order to keep someone safeTattling: Telling an adult or person of power about a situation in order to get them into trouble.Scenario: An imaginary situation that may be used for practice or rehearsal.© 2018 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 1 of 2 All rights reserved.

RECOGNIZING BULLYING | GRADES K-2 PracticeDiscuss the issue of bullying with your student and ask them if they can identify any times they have eitherbeen bullied or have bullied others. Then, help them to use pictures and words to explain the best way, in theiropinion, to deal with a bully.Bonus: Many of us think of bullies as “bad.” Research suggests, however, that bullies actually need as much ormore support as victims of bullying. Have a discussion with your student about why others may bully. Whatsort of emotions/feelings do you imagine a bully has about his/her self? What sort of situations could leadsomeone to bully? Would having empathy for a bully be helpful? Why or why not? Student Resources• My Secret Bully (Picture Book) by Tracey Ludwig• S ay Something 10th Anniversary Edition (Picture Book) by Peggy Moss• Trouble Talk (Picture Book) by Tracy Ludwig• Those Shoes (Picture Book) by Maribeth Boelts• Wings (Picture Book) by Christopher Myers• The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up For Others by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy• Bully Free Zone In a Jar: Tips for Dealing with Bullying by Free Spirit Publishing Adult Resources• 10 Tips to Reduce Bullying and Cyber bullying (Blog)• Colorado Department of Education Bully Prevention Resources (Website)• Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades (Book) by Michelle Anthony and Reyna Lindert• No Kidding About Bullying: 125 Ready-to-Use Activities to Help Kids Manage Anger, Resolve Conflicts, Build Empathy, and Get Along (Book) by Naomi Drew M.A. © 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 2 of 2 All rights reserved.