Karolinka Peterka EDS 369B 4/28/14 How to Bullyproof Your Classroom Intro and Ch. 1 3 Main Ideas 1.

The most important step in preventing bullying is stopping the gateway behaviors. Although gateway behaviors might not be considered bullying, they could lead to bullying or they send the message that teasing, exclusion, and being unkind are acceptable behaviors in the classroom. Stopping these behaviors before they become a habit or lead to worse behaviors is the first step in maintaining a bully-free classroom. 2. Teachers need to always be aware of the behavior that is going on both in the classroom and in the halls or at recess. Teachers can objectively observe their student to focus on social interactions. Often times bullying behaviors go unnoticed. Also, teachers have to stay objective so that disrespectful behaviors are stopped across the board. Students should not get away with mean behaviors simply because they are popular or likeable. All students should have to meet the same expectations. 3. Communication with parents is essential to preventing bullying. This includes informing parents about behaviors and consequences that occurred in the classroom and listening to parents and their concerns. However, communication with parents should not always focus on the negative. Maintaining positive communication with parents will not only make it easier to talk about unacceptable behaviors, but parents will also be more comfortable sharing their concerns. 2 Questions 1. Chapter 1 touched on the subject of student denial. The reading said that sometimes they will deny bullying behavior, but the teacher is not supposed to engage them in conversation. The teacher should be firm, address the rules, and provide a fair consequence. However, what if the

teacher misinterpreted the situation? Wouldnt talking to the student help clarify? Or is the assumption that any behaviors that even suggest bullying are not appropriate? 2. The reading also mentioned that conflict resolution is not an appropriate solution to bullying. Because bullying is one-sided, the student who is being targeted should be left out of the conversation. Does this mean that the teacher should only talk with the student who displayed the bullying behaviors? Would it be appropriate to discuss the incident with the student who was targeted separately? 1 Idea for Implementation 1. I have to admit that sometimes even when I witness gateway behaviors, I let them slide. Often it is because there is a lot more going on in the classroom that I need to be paying attention to and I dont have time to intervene or redirect. The behaviors are usually small enough that I brush them off. But after reading these chapters I realize that because I am brushing them off and not responding, I am sending the message that they are acceptable and no consequences will be made if the behaviors continue. Therefore, during my next placement I want to make sure that when I do see a gateway behavior, I nip it in the bud. I need to make it a priority so that students will know that they are not meeting the expectations and that their behavior will not be tolerated. I want to firmly stop them and redirect their behavior as we learned in Power of Our Words and give logical consequences if necessary.