Understanding Bullying/Mean Behaviors Presented By Rhonda Chapman 8 th Grade Counselor Couch Middle School

Pre Test Please answer TRUE or FALSE to the following statements. 1.___Bullying interferes with learning, but is not against the law. 2.___Teasing someone is a form of bullying. 3.___Intentionally not letting a person sit with your group at school can be bullying. 4.___A bully is a person that makes bad grades in school and often gets in trouble. 5.___Sending a text message to say hurtful things about another person is not a form of bullying.

Pre Test Continues 6.___Boys bully by fighting while girls only tease others and spread rumors. 7.___Bystanders should ignore bullying behavior and not report bullying behavior because it only makes the situation worse. 8.___ The bully needs help while the victim will be fine. 9.___Intentionally saying mean things about someone to embarrass or hurt them in order to get a laugh from others is a form of bullying. 10.___Direct bullying is the number one form of bullying.

Pre Test Continues 11.___A bully will stop bullying by the age of 16 and will probably not drop out of school. 12.___The victim is usually insecure and has low self esteem. 13.___Bystanders can be drawn into bullying behavior by group pressure. 14.___ One way you can help stop bullying is to tell the bully that he/she is doing inappropriate things. 15.___Bullying does not happen in the classroom because the teachers are watching.

Big Questions? Why do people engage in mean behaviors? Is there ever a reason to mistreat others?

FACT Bullying interferes with learning In recent studies, It has been reported that 88% of middle school and high school students have experienced being victimized by bullying in school. Source: U.S. Department of Education

Bullying… OIOIs aggressive behavior that intends to cause harm or distress. OHOHUMILIATION OUOUsually is repeated over time, but can happen only once. Occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power or strength.

Direct Bullying O Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting… O Taunting, teasing, racial slurs, verbal harassment O Threatening, obscene gestures

Indirect Bullying #1 form of bullying O Getting another person to bully someone for you O Spreading rumors O Deliberately excluding someone from a group or activity O Cyber-bullying

CYBER BULLIES’ TECHNOLOGY   Cell phones  Cell phone text messages  Defamatory online personal polling web sites  Chat rooms  Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

Could you be a bully? Do you engage in mean behaviors? Do you talk about others? Do you send hurtful text messages about others?

How can we Stop the Meaness?

Student Strategies to Stop the Meanness Do not participate in the harassment, teasing, bullying, or hurting of others. Offer kind words to the victim Do not become involved in rumors and gossip If you can effectively communicate with the bully or person who is engaging in mean behaviors, tell he/she that he/she is doing inappropriate things Do not become involved in physical or verbal fights with a bully Seek adult help

What can you do to help stop the Pain?

Post-Test Please answer TRUE or FALSE to the following statements. 1.___Bullying interferes with learning, but is not against the law. 2.___Teasing someone is a form of bullying. 3.___Intentionally not letting a person sit with your group at school can be bullying. 4.___A bully is a person that makes bad grades in school and often gets in trouble. 5.___Sending a text message to say hurtful things about another person is not a form of bullying.

6.___Boys bully by fighting while girls only tease others and spread rumors. 7.___Bystanders should ignore bullying behavior and not report bullying behavior because it only makes the situation worse. 8.___ The bully needs help while the victim will be fine. 9.___Intentionally saying mean things about someone to embarrass or hurt them in order to get a laugh from others is a form of bullying. 10.___Direct bullying is the number one form of bullying. Post Test Continues

Post-Test Continues 11.___A bully will stop bullying by the age of 16 and will probably not drop out of school. 12.___The victim is usually insecure and has low self esteem. 13.___Bystanders can be drawn into bullying behavior by group pressure. 14.___ One way you can help stop bullying is to tell the bully that he/she is doing inappropriate things. 15.___Bullying does not happen in the classroom because the teachers are watching.