I loved this lesson. The "Scary Guy" was amazing. This lesson just shows to never judge by the outer appearance because what you see on the outside doesn't match what's on the inside where it matters. "Scary Guy" travels around the world to schools discussing bullying and all the different concequences that come with bullying.
EDUC 2120 – Lesson 9 – The Bully Project
What is the “7 Days and 7 Nights Challenge?”
The 7 Days and 7 Nights Challenge is for students and adults. In schools now, you’ll see negative comments and name calling all around. This challenge is to challenge everyone not to say a negative word about anyone on this planet for 7 days and 7 nights. This challenge isn’t to be easy because it’s supposed to challenge you. Without realizing it, everyone shoots out negative comments/names about anything, and this challenge will keep you thinking before you speak.
How does bullying impact the learning and overall school experience of your students?
Bullying has always been an issue for students in the school system. When a student is bullied and put down to where they feel like they aren’t good enough, smart enough, or good looking enough, everything they have been bullied for, reflects through their grades. Not only is it going to reflect their school grades, relationships with friends and family, but also sometimes bullying can get so serious in young students lives, it can result into suicide. When someone is bullied, their overall school experience isn’t worth it to them. Students who were making good grades at the beginning of the year could end up failing assignments because of bullying. Bullying is something that needs to be dealt with, but in the right manner.
What can we apply from Scary’s explanation of the size of a person’s storage tank?
From the video, I understood that the storage tank was the same size in each person no matter how big or little, but it’s just how much each person could hold all the negative energy before they exploded. It’s all about being quick to temper. Do you get mad easily, or can you hold in a lot of that negative energy? I think everyone needs to work on how much negative energy we can hold. Being future teachers, we need to be careful about releasing that negative energy into our classrooms. Our storage tanks need to be bigger and fuller. Our tempers don’t need to be so quick.
How do the lessons of helping others and never judging others prevent bullying in elementary and later on?
If children learn at a young age that helping others and never judging others is the right thing to do, then most likely if they start acting on it early in life, they will more than likely stick with it as they get older. Lessons about helping others and never judging are great to start at the elementary level because they can learn what’s right and what’s wrong and carry it with them in the later grades and teach their peers the same actions. More than likely if a handful of students do good deeds, it will rub off on the surrounding students.
How and how often do you address such lessons on character and kindness?
I think teachers need to address such lessons on an everyday basis. The lessons don’t have to be a full lesson every day, but I think it’s great to mention character and kindness to all students at least once a day. For a teacher to be able to teach such lessons, they need to show what they teach. If a teacher wants to teach acceptance and kindness, they need to show it towards their students and the rest of the staff.
How do these issues relate to student’s academic success?
Bullying distracts the student from getting their work done. If a student is being bullied, they will focus more on not being noticed than they will their school assignments. Students who are bullied while in grade school, it will affect their academic success tremendously.
According to Scary, how might parents and other adults unintentionally teach behaviors that lead to bullying?
If a parent were to get mad or release negative energy in their household, they just taught their child anger and negative energy. Parents don’t realize that their children notice every little thing that they do, and they remember it. A child learns from their parents from every action they do, that’s why parents have to be extra careful of what they say and do around their children because their child could pick up that word, phrase, or action and it would be their fault. I guess this is why being a parent is so hard because parents do things without thinking and teach behaviors unintentionally.
What is shared as the most significant thing for parents to do if their child is crying, sad, or angry?
If a parent notices their child is expressing their feelings out loud, the parent needs to take action. They need stop whatever they are doing at the time and sit down and listen to their child. Really, the only thing a parent needs to do is listen. They need to be a listening ear for their child in any situation.
Why does “ignoring a problem” not work?
Ignoring a problem doesn’t work because you will never find a solution. You’ve already heard all the negative energy and words shooting your way and there’s no way that you can ignore them. Parents, adults, and teachers should be there for their children and students whenever they need someone to listen to them. Not ignoring a problem can result into a solution to the problem and even sometimes a closer relationship with your family or whomever you may be talking to.
Summary
This lesson was very interesting. I enjoyed every bit of it. These videos of the “Scary Guy” were phenomenal and it looks like he’s making such a difference in the students, teachers, and even the parent’s lives whom he talks to. It seems like he really cares about the world and getting rid of all the hate. One thing he said that stuck with me was “No one is safe until all the hate is gone… You can’t eliminate hate with hate.”
Research Question
How can teachers help prevent bullying in the classroom?
Reference(s): http://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/build-safe-environment/
Research Analysis
Prevention of bullying all starts with a safe and supportive school environment. Safety starts within the classroom. All students need to feel safe in the classroom, in the restrooms, cafeteria, in the hallways and the playground. If everyone at school worked together to create a safe and supportive school environment, it could decrease bullying.
Teachers need to create ground rules in their classrooms. Teachers need to create rules that their students approve of in the classroom. Students can create their own rules of respect and responsibility. Instead of teachers telling students what not to do, tell them what’s right to do. Also, teachers should always support and encourage the school rules in the school handbook.
Teachers who want their students to follow the rules, they need to follow them themselves. Show your students respect and encourage them to do their best. You need to make your rules simple and easy to understand for your students. If you have a misbehaving student, talk to them privately and don’t embarrass them in front of their peers. Reward good behavior and help students understand that if they break a rule and they don’t fix their actions there will be consequences that follow.
Research Summary
The research I found was helpful, like always. I’ve come to realize that everything that has to do with prevention of bullying, classroom management, etc. all starts with the teacher. I think all of the tips I mentioned above, are all very good ideas and helpful for all future teachers.