Behavior in School: How to Deal with Bullying

As a new teacher learning how to deal with bullying behavior in the classroom for the first time, it is crucial to have bullying lessons, especially due to the nature of rising violence in schools. These theme lesson plans will give the new teacher more confidence in how to deal with this not so easy topic.

Lesson Plan 1

Brainstorm with the students acts of bullying. How many times in the past year have they seen these types of bullying behavior at school?

Draw a chart on the board with one column being the act of violence and the succeeding columns being the rate of frequency. Example: Never, Once, A Few Times, Many Times. Students can either copy the chart or you could do it together with the students where they tick off the appropriate columns.

Encourage discussion. Do the students think that bullying is a problem in school?

Then using a Venn diagram, have students compare their opinions with at least one partner they don't know in class. Students then share their opinions with the entire class.

Follow-up for homework. Students can find out three facts about school violence in other countries: what it is, why it happens, and what they are doing about it. Tell the class. Discuss which ideas you think would work in your school.

Lesson Plan 2

Step-by-step

As a class, talk about what it means to be a "bully"
Have students think of words that might be associated with a "bully" (examples: loud, mean, popular, etc.) Write these words on the board or overhead.

Have students think of words that might be associated with a "victim" (examples: weak, different, studious, etc.) Write these words on the board or overhead.

Place additional vocabulary words (attached list of 10) on the board, overhead or in hand out form. Have students work in assigned groups of two. Try to pair up students who might not usually choose to work together. Have them define the 10 vocabulary words. Using a dictionary or computer, the paired groups should write their definitions on paper or handout.

After students have written their definitions, have each group give their definition of one vocabulary word to the class. These definitions can be placed on the board or overhead?
Credit to Nellie Deutsch. ETNI (lesson 2)

Note: By pairing students who might not usually work together, you are creating an assignment within your assignment. Watch how students try to get to know each other. How do they work on building a new relationship? Ask the students how they felt about getting to know someone they might not have known before the assignment.

Do you speak to people you don't know? Do you try to meet new friends?

When you know a little bit about someone, does it change your view about that person? Why? Is it easy to make new friends?

**This article was first published online at suite101.com** Please visit http://www.newteachersupport.suite101.com for further titles and blogs.