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October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness month, and schools everywhere are raising awareness by hanging posters, holding assemblies, bringing in guest speakers, wearing blue, etc. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 3 US students say they have been bullied at school. As both parents and educators, we are hypersensitive to this issue, and are on full alert for any social, verbal, or physical behavior that may cause another student(s) to feel uncomfortable. On the flip side, we also find it is important to talk to the students who are causing the discomfort, sometimes unknowingly, and have found this visual at Ms. Sepp's Counseling Corner to be very helpful.
When working with our guided reading groups this month, we are making a conscious effort to incorporate several books with a bullying theme. We'd like to share a list of a few of our favorites, all with a variety of lessons but with a central theme of bullying.
Chrysanthemum by David Henkes
This book is a favorite of ours. We use it at the beginning of the year with the incoming fourth graders as both a social and language-based activity. The book involves a young girl, Chrysanthemum, who is teased at school because of her name, despite her parents constant reassurance that her name is beautiful and that her peers are jealous. It isn't until her music teacher tells Chrysanthemum's class that she also is named after a flower and that she loves the name so much that she would also pick that name for her future baby.
Recess Queen by David Henkes by Alexis O'Neill
No one messes with Mean Jean at recess. No one, that is, until the new girl, Katie Sue comes to school. Sweet, little Katie Sue isn't intimidated by Mean Jean. In fact, she invites her to jump rope, much to the surprise of her classmates. Katie Sue's kind and genuine invitation becomes the start of a new friendship.
The Bully Blockers Club by Teresa Bateman
Lotty Raccoon is exited for school, but her excitement is short-lived as Grant Grizzly soon begins bullying her. Lotty tries a variety of strategies at the advice of her brother and sister: ignoring him, trying to be a friend, and making a joke about it, but nothing works. When Lotty's parents find out, they talk to the teacher, who in turn, speaks to Grant. Soon, Grant begins to bully her when no adults are around. Lotty soon notices that other kids are being bullied by Grant, so she decides to start a club-The Bully Blockers Club.
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Molly Lou Melon is an awkward little girl: short, clumsy, buckteeth, and a voice that sounds like a bullfrog, but she believed in herself because of her grandmother's wisdom and love. When Molly Lou starts a new school, Ronald Durkin makes fun of her. Molly does not let him stand in her way. Instead, she shows her talents and her uniqueness only to have Ronald Durkin reconsider how he treats her.
Pete starts a new school, and although his classmates are welcoming, he does not reciprocate their kindness. He ruins a soccer game, squirts juice on to a classmate's shirt, and dishes out a fair share of taunts and put-downs. His classmates share with him that they will not tolerate his behavior because they made a promise that they will stand up to bullies. Pete initially resists the promise but then shares that he use to be bullied, and no one ever stood up for him. One classmate, Ralph speaks up for Pete and asks for others to treat him kindly even though he has not treated others kindly.
Oliver's interests are very different from the other boys in his class. While others prefer to play sports, Oliver enjoys jumping rope, playing with dolls, and sing and dance. When his parents find about his passion for dancing, they decide to send him to dancing school. Once his friends find out the news, they tease him, calling him a "sissy." Oliver practices and enters a talent show. His classmates attend, and change their opinion. They have a new found respect for him, calling him a "star."
The Meanest Thing To Say by Bill Cosby
Michael Reilly introduces a new game to Little Bill and his friends, a mean game of teasing: Each person has 12 chances to say something mean to someone, and whoever says the meanest thing wins. Little Bill trys to think of mean things to say in retaliation. Little Bill's father gives him a a simple yet effective strategy to use.
"Children should be able to live a life free from bullying and harassment and it is time that we all took a stand against this." - Katherine Jenkins
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