Steps to Preventing Bullying: A Graphic

Steps to Preventing Bullying: A Graphic

The first component is Cognitive. We must understand what bullying is so we can recognize it when we see it. The second component is Emotion. Unless our emotions are engaged, we will not be able to step beyond our own self-consciousness to take action for others. The key emotions are empathy – being able to […]

This is Our House: How to Be An Ally Activity

This is Our House: How to Be An Ally Activity

In this activity, suitable for preschool through primary grades, children learn to empathize with how it feels to be bullied and learn ways to be an ally and support the victim. “This house is mine,” declares George as he stakes claim to a large cardboard box and then ruthlessly excludes everybody else because they are […]

Words of love and peace everyone should hear

Words of love and peace everyone should hear

Grant is a six-year-year old boy who is one of the “little people.” He suffers from a form of dwarfism – DiastrophicDisplasia‬. He has a message that everyone should hear. To learn more about dwarfism and bullying visit Kids Health. To learn more about Grant visit his Facebook Page Please share Grant’s message and help fight […]

Syria Retaliation: What are we teaching our children?

The new school year has started. Teachers are busy educating their new students about how to behave in the classroom – How to make friends. How to help others. How to deal with bullies. In some school districts and states teachers are implementing new and tougher policies against bullying. These policies are very strict. Here, […]

We are Watching

We are watching. What would you do if you saw someone bullying someone else or someone hurting another person and that person was calling for help? There are three possibilities. Do nothing. Call for help. Take action. The first choice is to make no choice at all. Nothing changes. You have done nothing. The second choice is to call for help. […]

Do you love torture?

Do you love torture? Do you watch TV shows and movies where characters are subjected to intense physical pain? Do you play video games where you stomp on characters and mutilate them? Do you read books where evil minds and law enforcement design new ways to extract that important bit of information from the hero or the criminal? Seems […]

Bully by Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco has a new picturebook out. If you are expecting a sweet-hearted book like Thunder Cake or Renchko’s Eggs or Bun Bun Button, be forewarned, Polacco has again gone to the nub of an issue and faced it square on.  This is a picturebook for middle schoolers not elementary school children. The characters are […]

Be Strong, Be Mean, or Give In?

       In the corner of the preschool, Tio is building a block tower.        “I’ll put this block on.” Andy says picking up a big blue block.        “No way,” Tio says.  “This is my tower.”        “Then you can’t use this block, ” Andy says clutching it to his chest.        Tio stands up. “Give it back.” […]

Be an “Upstander”

Be an “Upstander”

October is Anti-Bullying Month The Dignity for All Students Act has sent school districts scurrying to buy the latest and greatest anti-bullying programs. At the Lehman Alternative Community School in Ithaca New York they are using  a homegrown program initiated by the school’s social worker Celia Clement two years ago. Clement’s program called WAM “Welcoming […]

You Can’t Say You Can’t Play

In every classroom, in every school, in every community there are always insiders and outsiders. When you were in school which were you? In 1992 Vivian Gussin Paley set out to change the social order in her kindergarten classroom. She noticed, as most teachers do, that even when you outlaw hitting and ban name calling, […]

Megan Landry sings “Stronger”

Megan Landry, a 15 year old Canadian, sings about the pain bullying causes in this original song she wrote. Find Megan on Facebook Bullying for girls often takes the form of name calling and put downs that destroy self-image. Learn more at Girls’ Health