Behavior Management Tips: Anti-Bullying and More

Encourage student awareness of the effects of bullying by using a human form cut-out activity and increase prompt classroom attendence using passes and chairs.

Stop the Bullying
This simple activity can help establish an effective climate for learning and serve as a gentle reminder of the effects of hurtful actions: Provide each student with a small paper cutout in the shape of a human, or have students cut out their own paper figures, and ask students to write their names on their cutouts. Have students form a circle and pass their cutouts to the person on their right. As the cutouts are passed around the circle, have each student make a small crumple or tear in the cutout or add a pencil mar to it. When the cutouts have made their way around the entire circle, have students try to repair their cutouts by flattening, erasing, or taping. After the cutouts are repaired, discuss the activity. Talk about the effects of unkind words and hurt feelings. Display the cutouts on a classroom bulletin board.

Pass Failure
Cut down on students' unnecessary and disruptive trips to the bathroom by handing out only four hall passes -- two bathroom passes and two locker passes -- per student per semester. Students fill them out and keep them in their binders. They may use the passes when the need arises, but they get no more chances after those four passes are gone.

Do Not Enter!
Discourage latecomers by placing one or two empty chairs for latecomers by the front or back classroom door. Students who are late are not to walk in front of the room or to go to their regular seats. They must take one of the "late seats" by the door. This will prevent latecomers from disturbing the class already in progress.

Article by Linda Starr
Education World®
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