Education Curriculum about Bullying

5 Tips for Teachers to Make Classrooms Bully Free, New Educational Curriculum Released

Each day in America, it is estimated that 160,000 students stay home from school to avoid being bullied. If you take a look at the media headlines in any given week, it's easy to see that bullying is a growing problem in our schools. The good news is that it is a problem that many teachers can help tackle by creating a bully-free classroom, something that is easier to do than one might think.

"We all know that bullying is a major concern in our schools," explains Peter J. Goodman, author of the book "We're All Different But We're All Kitty Cats." "But there are things teachers can do to help address this problem and prevent it from happening." 

Goodman has now bundled his popular book with an educational curriculum package, which helps children identify and work through their emotions and feelings. The combined tools use cats as characters to help teach children about bullying and accepting others even if they have differences. The curriculum, titled "Bully Free Students Make Bully Free Classrooms," focuses on such lessons as what bullying is and feelings and bullying, helping children to identify feelings and how to make the right decisions when they do.

"Being able to integrate a bullying curriculum into the classroom is an effective way to help tackle this problem," says Julia Anderson, Ed.D, a primary school teacher at Arlington Public Schools. "The subject needs to be there at every level during the elementary school years so that the foundation has been laid."

Using a fun, interesting, and educational curriculum such as "Bully Free Students Make Bully Free Classrooms," which has been designed for pre-K through grade 3 students, is just one way that teachers can help create a bully-free classroom. Other tips for doing so include:
Teaching kids to be upstanders, rather than bystanders. Children typically bully others because they believe they are in a power position to do so. But if peers stand up for the child being bullied, the power is taken away from the bully.

Place an emphasis on teaching kindness. Show kids ways that they can be kind to one another, and recognize it when they do, complimenting them on it.

Pair up kids who need a buddy. There are, at times, new kids or those who have a harder time in social situations. Teachers can help with this situation by pairing the child up with someone who has a stronger social personality, so they can stay together during particular activities.
Work with students to brainstorm a list of classroom rules regarding kindness, tolerance, and bullying. Include ways that they can handle conflict resolution, as well, so that they know what to do if situations arise.

"When you combine several of these factors, you will have a much greater chance of creating a bully-free classroom," added Goodman. "Children learn when they have fun, when the information is repeated, and when they can actively play a role."

"Teachers have to be more proactive in this area so that we can create a safer classroom," explains Karen Goldberg, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with parents and families. "Addressing the issue now and creating a bully-free classroom can save a lot of problems from occurring later on. Plus, the kids learn skills they can use for a lifetime."
The Kitty Cats book and curriculum has been written for children in pre-kindergarten through the third grade. The earlier children learn about the importance of preventing bullying, the better. To learn more about the book series, the curriculum bundle, or to purchase the volume that addresses bullying, visit www.kittycatsbook.com.

About dreamBIG Press

dreamBIG Press is a publishing house that has created a series of children's books titled We're All Different But We're All Kitty Cats. The books are designed for elementary-school-aged children, to tackle common issues that they may encounter such as bullying, childhood fears, confidence, being different, and making friends. Through the use of a cast of cats, the author helps children better understand those issues, and learn how to deal with them. The company was started by Peter J. Goodman, a multimedia children's author and president of Gut Instinct Creative, an award-winning marketing communications company. For more information about dreamBIG Press or the book series, visit the site at: www.kittycatsbook.com or our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/kittycatsbook.

New book teaches kids how to deal with bullies



"All Kitty Cats" book about bullying

Approximately a third of all children are bullied at school at some point. It’s a problem that impacts millions of children every year, leaving many parents unsure of what to do. Before the school bells ring for the next school year, it’s important that parents have a serious conversation with their children about bullying, to help them avoid being a victim, or doing the bullying. It is never too early to educate children about bullying.

“Issues like bullying are familiar to most kids. They may have been a victim of it, they may have done the bullying, or they may have seen others being bullied,” explains Peter J. Goodman, author of the first book in a new series “We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats,” which releases on August 1, 2012. “The first thing we need to do is start a conversation about it early, so that we can address it and start reducing the incidents. And prevention is most effective when implemented at the preschool level.”

Bullying, according to the National Institutes of Health, is when someone repeatedly tries to harm someone that they think is weaker. Bullying comes in multiple forms, including physical (e.g., hitting, kicking, pushing, etc.), verbal (e.g., threatening, teasing, etc.), and social (e.g., rumors, exclusion, etc.). In recent years, cyber-bullying has also become more widespread, which involves bullying through the use of electronic means, including online and through text messaging.

Here are some tips for parents when talking to their child about bullying:

• Discuss what bullying is so they have a clear definition of what would be included.
• Teach them to not react to bullies. If they do react, the bully is more likely to continue the behavior. By your child not reacting, the bully will most likely lose interest.
• Explain that children need to be confident when dealing with bullies. If ignoring them doesn’t work to end the bullying, they need to stand up to them by being confident, looking them in the eye, and telling them to stop the behavior.
• Encourage the child to make friends with others, so that the bully sees that the child has support.
• Always make sure that the child knows to seek assistance from school personnel. Bullying should be reported, so that the school can properly deal with it.
• Help children identify their strengths and learn to focus on those, rather than focusing on any negative traits that the bully may tease them about.

There are several ways parents can help children learn to better understand bullying, including through reading books together and role playing. If a parent realizes that their child is the bully, they need to discuss the problem with their child, try to get to the bottom of why they are engaging in such behaviors, and work with the school administrators to help stop the behavior.

“Bullying is a serious issue, and we need to have an open dialogue about it,” added Goodman. “That’s what my books are all about. They start a conversation that will last a lifetime.”

In his first book of the series, “The First Day of School,” Goodman addresses the issue of bullying. Through a cast of cat characters, he helps children learn what bullying is, and what parents and classmates can do to help address it. To learn more about the book series, or to purchase the volume that addresses bullying, visit www.kittycatsbook.com.