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Take a Stand on Bullying Academic ExtensionsLevel: Middle School (6-8)

Big Ideas: Cultivating Empathy, Kindness, & Compassion

There is no “one size fits all” solution to address bullying. Bullying is a complex social issue that varies greatly from situation to situation and impacts all parties involved – from victim to perpetrator and all of the by-standers, up-standers, and community members in between. Much like the failed anti-drug programs of the 1990’s, emerging research is continually pointing to “anti-bullying” programs as ineffective or, worse, even resulting in increases in bullying behaviors.

Given what we have learned about goal setting this is not surprising – the focus with anti-bullying programs is on stopping unwanted behaviors rather than promoting desired behaviors. If we want to stop bullying, we need to start by creating the conditions we do want: warm, caring, and supportive school communities and empathetic, kind, and emotionally intelligent students and educators. Programs and initiatives that focus on wellness rather than deficits, promote positive school climate rather than policing target populations, and teach preventative social-emotional skills to all students are much more likely to yield these results.

The resources and activities in this extension lesson are not designed to provide clear-cut answers about “how to stop bullying,” rather; they are starting points for reflection and conversation. Encourage your students to take multiple viewpoints as you read these stories, including that of both victims and bullies. While the topic of bullying prevention may still be open-ended, the cultivation of empathy, kindness, and compassion will undoubtedly play a central role.

Teaching Note: The Dialogue Journal Strategy will work well when reading one of the novels in this collection. It can be used when having students respond to teacher facilitated discussions when the entire class is reading the same story. The Dialogue Journal can also be added to literature circle packets to complement students’ engagement with the text in preparation for reflection and writing tasks.

TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

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Student Resources

Literature Text:

• Bully by Patricia Polacco (Grades 3 – 7) • Bystander by James Preller (Grades 6 – 9) • Colder than Ice by David Patneaude (Grades 4 – 6) • Confessions of a Former Bully by Tracey Ludwig (Grades 4 – 6) • Crow Boy by Taro Yashima (Grades 4 – 6) • Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (Grades 6 – 9) • Here Today by Ann M. Martin (Grades 4 – 8) • Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts (Grades 4 – 8) • Starting School with an Enemy by Elisa Carbone (Grades 4 - 7) • Stitches by Glen Huser (Grades 7 – 10) • The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz (Grades 4 – 7) • The Misfits by James Howe (Grades 4 – 8) • The Revealers by Doug Wilhelm (Grades 5 – 7) • The Second Life of Abigail Walker by Frances O’Roark Dowell (Grades 4 – 7)

Informational Text: • Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain (Grades 3 – 6) • Bullying At School - A Kids Book about Bullying To Help Them Against Bullies by Jenny River (Grades K – 5) • Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy by Bob Somson, Ph.D. (Grades K – 6) • Teaching Children Empathy, The Social Emotion: Lessons, Activities and Reproducible Worksheets (K-6) That Teach How to “Step Into Others’ Shoes” by Tonia Caselman • The Kids’ Guide to Working Out Conflicts: How to Keep Cool, Stay Safe, and Get Along by Naomi Drew, MA. (Gr. 6–10) • The Survival Guide to Bullying: Written by a Teen by Aija Mayrock (Grades 4 – 7)

TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

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More Lists of Students Books on the Topic of Bullying:

• American Federation of Teachers Bullying Prevention Booklists for Students • Cooperative Children’s Book Center - Books About Bullying, Teasing, Relational Aggression, and School Violence • Plymouth School District - How To Deal With Bullies: Books & Resources • Publisher’s Weekly Bullying Resources: A Selected List • Teasing and Bullying Booklist from the Bank Street College of Education • Wikispaces.com Booklists on Bullying

Learning Links:

• Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs by Sandra McLeod Humphrey (Grades 4 – 7) • More If You Had to Choose What Would You Do? By Sandra McLeod Humphrey and Brian Strassburg (Grades 4 – 7) • Bully Free Zone In a Jar: Tips for Dealing with Bullying by Free Spirit Publishing

Website Resources:

• Kidpower.org • Kids Against Bullying • National Bullying Prevention Center • Roots of Empathy • Stop Cyberbullying • Stopbullying.gov

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TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

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Writing Tasks

• In your opinion, what is the best way for schools to address bullying? How would your response to bullying differ from traditional anti-bullying or zero tolerance bullying programs? Why do you believe it would be effective? Write an argumentative essay stating your opinion, using logical reasoning and relevant evidence to support your claim.

• Bullying does not just happen at school, but schools are charged with the task of catching, stopping, and preventing bullying. Do you think that schools should be responsible for anti-bullying education? Why or why not? In your opinion, is there a better forum to address bullying? Write an argumentative essay, supporting your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence.

• “Bullies need as much support as their victims.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why or why not? Write an argumentative essay, making sure to provide logically ordered reasons for your claim that are convincingly supported by relevant evidence and personal experience.

.Writing Rubrics and Student Self-Assessment Check-Lists

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Teacher Resources

• Preventing Classroom Bullying - What Teachers Can Do³ (PDF) • How to Intervene to Stop Bullying: Tips for On-The-Spot Intervention at School⁴ (PDF) • 10 Tips to Reduce Bullying and Cyberbullying⁵ (Blog) • Colorado Department of Education Bully Prevention Resources (Website) • Educator Toolkits and Activities on Bullying by the National Bullying Prevention Center Teaching Empathy to Prevent Bullying⁶ (Blog) • Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear (Book) by Carrie Goldman • Bullying at School: What We Know and What We Can Do (Book) by Dan Olweus • Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness Through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations (Book) by Lester Laminack and Reba M. Wadsworth • How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression: Elementary Grade Lessons and Activities That Teach Empathy, Friendship, and Respect (Book) by Steve Breakstone, Michael Dreiblatt and Karen Dreiblatt • Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades (Book) by Michelle Anthony and Reyna Lindert

TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

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• 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. • The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to HighSchool--How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle (Book) by Barbara Coloroso

Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts:

R.CCR.1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing and speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.R.CCR.2. Determine central ideas of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.R.CCR.3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. R.CCR.4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning and tone. R.CCR.6. Analyze how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. W.CCR.1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or text, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. W.CCR.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.SL.CCR.1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on other’s ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.SL.CCR.3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.SL.CCR.6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicate tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. L.CCR.1. Demonstrate the command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.L.CCR.2. Demonstrate the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.L.CCR.3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. L.CCR.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

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TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

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L.CCR.6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

Colorado Academic Standards for Comprehensive Health:

6th – 2.1a. Describe the benefits of healthy relationships.6th – 4.3a. Describe the short- and long-term consequences of violence on perpetrators, victims, and bystanders6th – 4.3b. Explain the role of bystanders in escalating, preventing, or stopping bullying, fighting, hazing, or violence6th – 4.3c. Describe strategies to avoid physical fighting and violence6th – 4.3d. Identify a variety of nonviolent ways to respond when angry or upset6th – 4.3g. Demonstrate ways of solving conflicts nonviolently such as conflict resolution and diffusion.7th – 3.1c. Demonstrate negotiation skills to support the healthy expression of personal needs.7th – 3.1d. Demonstrate the ability to state personal needs and articulate limits.7th – 3.1e. Practice verbal and nonverbal ways to ask for help from trusted adults or friends.8th – 4.5a. Demonstrate how to prevent or stop bullying as a bystander, perpetrator, or victim.8th – 4.5b. Stand up for those being bullied.8th – 4.5c. Advocate for a positive and respectful school environment that supports pro-social behavior.

P21 Partnership for 21st Century Learning Student Outcomes:

Leadership and Innovation Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – Solve Problems • Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions.Leadership and Innovation Skills: Communication and Collaboration – Collaborate with Others • Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams.Life and Career Skills: Social and Cross-Cultural Skills – Work Effectively in Diverse Teams • Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds.Life and Career Skills: Leadership and Responsibility – Be Responsible to Others • Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind.

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TAKE A STAND ON BULLYING - ACADEMIC EXTENSIONS | GRADES 6-8

© 2016 Empowering Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

REFERENCES

1. Wiggs, M. (2015). Opinion/Argument Writing Self-Assessment Checklists for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6. Developed for Empowering Education by Educational Performance Consulting, LLC.

2. Wiggs, M. (2015). Opinion/Argument Writing Rubrics for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6. Developed for Empowering Education by Educational Performance Consulting, LLC.

3. Wright, J. (2003). Preventing Classroom Bullying - What Teachers Can Do. Retrieved from http://www.polk-fl.net/staff/resources/documents/bully_Booklet.pdf

4. US Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). How to Intervene to Stop Bullying: Tips for On-The-Spot Intervention at School. Stop Bullying Now. Retrieved from http://www.polk-fl.net/staff/resources/documents/bully_howtointerveneonthespot.pdf

5. Jacobs, T., Judge. (2011, January 31). Top 10 Tips To Reduce Bullying and Cyberbullying. Retrieved from http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/01/top-5-tips-to-reduce-bullying-and-cyberbullying-from-eschool-news/#more-11539

6. Staub, E. (2010, November 18). Teaching Empathy to Prevent Bullying. Retrieved from http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2010/11/teaching-empathy-successful-in-preventing-bullying-nytimes/

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