strategies to curtail bullying and gossip in young students
By nmariean
@nmariean (19)
United States
February 12, 2013 6:34pm CST
I teach 8-9 year olds from low income/ low socioeconomic areas. Recently I have run into problems with students bullying and picking on each other. In a class of 24 students I have about 5 students who are constantly picking on others, talking about others, and engaging in other bullying behaviors. I am really struggling with how to get through to them. I have tried incentives, positive rewards, independently speaking to the students in question, referrals to the principal, moving seating arrangements, class meetings, calling parents. Nothing has worked and the problem is getting worse. Do you have any suggestions?
1 response
@subterfuge54 (207)
• Philippines
13 Feb 13
Have you tried making a behavioral contract with each of them in front of their parents? The behavioral contract states specific behaviors that you, as teacher, wants to address like bullying. Then the student and the parents set agreeable consequences and punishments when this bullying is done again. The students themselves should be the one who will write it down on a piece of paper. The parents' presence is a must because they know very well what would be the best consequences to give.
After that, the guidance counselor or you should talk to the parents because the children will not behave that way if they have no problems at home. Try to help the parents find ways to solve their problems at home so that a change of behavior would be achieved. Good luck! :)
@nmariean (19)
• United States
14 Feb 13
Unfortunately, I work in an area where we have very little parental involvement. Parents are also rarely invited to volunteer and participate in the classroom. When we have activities at night, we have to lure them in with incentives and food! Many of the "problem" children do not have a supportive home life, so having to deal with those issues in school is very difficult. I recently sent home a behavior contract with one child to have it signed and returned daily, and have not gotten one back yet. it's very frustrating. I agree that something has to happen at home.
