E FFECTIVE W AYS TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE B

ULLYING

Presented by:

Marissa Rex

Professional School Counselor

B ACKGROUND I NFORMATION

 Marissa Rex Professional School Counselor  Hiawatha Elementary School Toledo, OH    2 nd Year as School Counselor Additional License: Early Childhood Education Chi Sigma Iota (Alpha Chapter) President at Ohio University  Hiawatha Elementary, Washington Local Schools    340 Students 50% labeled as “Economically Disadvantaged” School closure in the district  District lines changed---1/3 of our students reassigned, gained slightly more

W ASHINGTON D EFINITION OF L OCAL B S CHOOLS ULLYING ’

 Definition:   Intentional  Verbal, Physical, Cyber, Relational Has happened before (aggressor targeting this student)    Causes physical or mental harm Severe, persistent, pervasive Creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the target  How I describe it to my students:  Over and over again, same people, on purpose, hurt

S CHOOL C OUNSELING S ERVICES

 Individual Counseling   Formative Assessment Play    Games Art Sandtray    Every 1-2 weeks Every month “As needed”  Counseling notification form

S ERVICES

 Small Group Counseling   Games Team-Building   Challenges Happy cup, sad cup   Every week, 6-8 weeks Every week, rotating group   Counseling notification form Counseling permission form

S ERVICES

 Classroom-Based Counseling (lessons/units)   Menu of services K-6  Sample lessons   Primary (K-2) Intermediate (3-6+)    3 lesson unit 1 lesson per month 1 lesson “unit”

S ERVICES

 Staff Professional Development  Jim Bisenius techniques

S ERVICES

 Staff Professional Development  Student Bullying Video

S ERVICES

 Counselor Mail     2 letters per student each school year 1 letter per classroom each week During the last week, some classrooms get more (it keeps the Counselor Mail cycle even) Includes:   Hand-written letter Word search, funny picture, etc.

Reminders during Monday announcements

S ERVICES

 Monthly Newsletter   Message Description of Counseling Services      Web Resource Helpful Hints Book List (Monthly Topic) News Etc…

S ERVICES

 Quarterly and Annual Reports  Individual Counseling       Small Group Classroom-Based Professional Development Meetings Misc. Tasks Summary

O VERVIEW OF S CHOOL -W IDE P ROGRAMS

 Main Programs:  PAWS- Pride, Attitude, Work Habits, Self-Control      Cooperative Games (Fall and Spring) Mix it Up at Lunch Days No Name-Calling Awareness Week Bully Free Awareness Week Be the Change Day  Focus:  Specifics of the Programs    How Hiawatha Organized the Programs Recognition and Feedback How to Apply for Awards

Student’s Name: ________________

PAWS C ARDS

 Goal:  Help students recognize their PAWSitive behaviors  Make connections between good behaviors and positive recognition This student made a difference, showing excellence in… Pride Attitude Work Habits Self-Control  Reward System:   Each month, we hold a drawing for students and teachers.

Prizes are pencils, certificate  Grand prize winners get a gift certificate to a book store

C OOPERATIVE G AMES

 Goal:  Improve school climate  How it Works:   Divide students into groups (K-6) Play cooperative games   Have picnic lunch Fall and Spring  Student Leaders, 1 adult per group  Organization:  PE teacher, volunteers, committee

C OOPERATIVE G AMES

M IX IT U P AT L UNCH D AYS

 Goal:   Help students get to know each other on a more meaningful level.

Improve school climate, students interactions  How it started:  Teaching Tolerance website  Building off Cooperative Games (Fall)  Wanted to improve SWIS data

S CHEDULING

 Sub-committee  2 Groups (A and B)  1 grade level per group   Divide students evenly among teachers Use the regular lunch schedule  Students eat on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule.

 Discuss with cafeteria manager   We did this on a “one choice” day for buyers Packers can take their lunches with them or you can line up lunch bins in the cafeteria based on regular classrooms

W ALL OF I NTOLERANCE

Classrooms created bricks Wall under bricks was covered with class pictures and our district’s core values

C OOPERATIVE G AMES /R ECESS

 Built on what we just did with  Cooperative Games Older students are the leaders  Had to change schedule to lunch then recess   Recess supervisors call out group numbers (room numbers) instead of grade level when recess is over They all had a checklist of when groups arrived at recess and when they would need to be picked up

L UNCH

  Students eat based on their Mix it Up Day teacher’s schedule Our cafeteria manager was very willing to work with us on this program  Give everyone plenty of notice!

C LASSROOM T IME

 The time during the lunch/recess block when a group is not at lunch or recess.

 11:50-1:15 (lunch/recess block)  Groups most often have “sandwiched” time  Classroom  Lunch  Recess  Classroom

N O N AME -C ALLING A WARENESS W EEK

 Goal:  Continue to improve and maintain building climate  Events:   Classroom lessons (sign-up) Creative Expression Contest      Pictures Songs Sculptures Stories Poems

B ULLY F REE A WARENESS W EEK

 Goal:  Continue to improve and maintain building climate  Events:  Classroom lessons  Door Decorating Contest  Student-driven  Celebration of each classroom’s effort

B E THE C HANGE D AY

 Currently aimed at our intermediate students  Eventually we hope to incorporate this message in our school-wide efforts  Similar to a “Challenge Day”   If You Really Knew Me http://www.challengeday.org/mtv/  Provides students with an opportunity to get to know each other and break down barriers

S URVEYS

 Jim Bisenius  http://bullyproofingyouth.com/    Code Survey: 1, 1v, 2, and 3 Administer to K-6   K-2 have alternative version (yes/no) K-1 complete one-on-one, 2 completes as a class Results to staff (as needed)  Refer to handout

S URVEYS

 Counselor  District-Wide    Staff complete an annual survey of their school counseling services Zoomerang  Can use a free survey system, such as Survey Monkey Analyze the results  Refer to handout

S URVEYS

 Bullying (4-6)   District-Wide Zoomerang   Students 4-6 completed  Computer lab or mobile lab Analyzed results for staff meeting/bullying presentation  Refer to handout

D ISTRICT P OLICIES

 Anonymous Reporting System   Box on the wall, form All students trained  Handout  Administrative Investigation Form  Primarily for principals  School counselor version for anonymous reporting

R ECOGNITION AND F EEDBACK

 Awards (2009-2011)   Model School Award (National) Promising Practice Award (State and National)  2011 “Honorable Mention” State School of Character  Grant (2009-2010)  Ohio School Counselor Association  Staff Feedback

H OW TO A PPLY FOR A WARDS /G RANTS

 Model School Award  http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools  Character Education Partnership  Promising Practice Award    http://www.character.org/applicationprocess State School of Character National School of Character  http://www.character.org/nsocapplicationprocess  OSCA Grant  http://www.ohioschoolcounselor.org/Default.aspx?pag

eId=536895

F REE M ATERIALS !

    Sesame Street Workshop  www.sesameworkshop.org/initiatives Teaching Tolerance  www.teachingtolerance.org

Operation Respect  http://operationrespect.org/index.php

Stop Bullying Now!

 www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids  Other websites:  www.storybird.com

    www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org

www.athinline.org

www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html

www.schcounselor.com

C ONCLUSION

   Whether you are a new counselor or a veteran, you can help proactively manage bullying!

A positive attitude and strong work ethic goes a LONG way and can change people’s view of the counseling field.

You do NOT have to do this alone!

Contact information: Marissa Rex (419) 473-8266 [email protected]