F.E.N.C.E.S.-bullying strategies for adults

1st Step: Stop, or END the Bullying:

• Stand between the children who bullied and those who are victimized, preferably blocking eye contact between them.
• Set ground rules for all participants. e.g. "I want you to stand here while I talk.  I want you to listen and not talk."
• Don't get into a verbal or physical confrontation with any student, send bystanders away, sort out facts now.

2nd Step: Support the children who have been bullied in a way that allows him/her to regain self-control and to "save face".

• Stand close to the child who has been bullied and make minimal eye contact-just enough to gauge emotions.  Physically comfort the child, but avoid embarrassing them.  Be sure to follow-up by seeing the child later and take measures to protect the child from further bullying or retaliation.
• Don't get in the "child's face" if they have been bullied.  Ask the victim to repeat what happened and offer a lot of sympathy right then, wait until later.

3rd Step:  Name the bullying behavior and refer to the school rules against bullying.

• State what you saw-heard; label it bullying; state that it is against the school rules e.g. "Leaving someone out of the game is exclusion and is against our school rules about bullying."  Use a matter-or-fact voice to point out which behaviors are unacceptable.  State your personal feeling about the behavior.
• Don't accuse simply state the facts.  Don't engage in a discussion right now.

4th Step: Empower the bystander with information about how to act in the future.

• Use a calm, supportive tone of voice to let bystanders know that you noticed their interaction or that you are pleased with the way they tried to help-even if they were unsuccessful.
• Give bystanders a way to save face, "Maybe you weren't comfortable saying something right then, or didn't know what to do."  let them know you are disappointed that they didn't do anything and that you expect them to intervene next time or get an adult if they need help.
• Don't scold bystnaders for not getting involved.  Don't ask bystanders for explanations at this time.

5th Step: Impose immediate and appropriate consequences for students who bully others.

• As a first step, take away social opportunities from students who bully (as much as your role permits).  Let the bully know that you and other adults will be watching carefully to make sure they are making better choices in the future.  Be sure to notify the teachers of the bully and victim(s) about what happened.
• Make sure consequences are logical and directly connected to the offense.  As a second level consequence, consider having the child who bullied notify their parents and or the teacher of the victimized child.
• Don't require student to apologize during the heat of the moment.  Don't scold.  Don't make a plan of reparation at this point unless the victim requests it.

6th Step: Follow Up...Impose additional consequences or means to make reparation as appropriate.

• Find out what would be meaningful to the victim and help the bully put the plan into action.
• Be sure to supervise, or assign an adult to supervise all steps of the process.
• Bring the victim and bully together for reparation unless requested by the victim.

(Olweus, 2006)

Biology Lesson-Video Clip

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/video/index.html
Questions:
What made this lesson more interesting?
What was the purpose of the lesson?
What did the class learn from him?
How did he use body language to teach his lesson?
How do you communicate with body language?

Hope

Hope is Eternal

You will need: Faith & Perseverance

"All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of one small candle." - Anonymous

Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by darkness and we wonder if we'll ever smile again.  At times like this it is essential to remember that we are not alone.  Seek out comfort from family, freidns, and negihbors-or volunteer to help others.  Ironically, bringing hope to someone else's life is the best way to strengthen it in our own. 

Simple Steps

* Designate a safe place in your home to keep a "Hope Candle."  Light it regularly, saying a few positive words aloud, as a symbol to yourself and to the world that hope endures.

* Make a "Hope Box."  Cover a show box with pretty paper and fill it with items that inspire hope in you-a drawing from a child, a loving note from your spouse or a newspaper article.

Strength

Don't Give Up

You will need: Tenacity & Focus

"Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will." -Mohandas K. Gandhi

Look at a young child working on a project-cutting with little plastic scissors, drawing with markers, taping the loose ends-and never a thought of failure.  There is just, "What do I need to make this what I want it to be?"  When it's all done, no matter what it looks like, there's a sense of pride and accomplishment.  What does this tell us?

Simple Steps
*  Don't fear failure.  It's not very often that we get it right on the first try.  it's the second, third or one hundredth try that makes it work.  Understand that there will be failures and learn from them.
*  Avoid judgement.  If things are not turning out exactly as you envisioned, don't get discouraged.  See what you end up with.  Some of the world's greatest inventions were borne from mistakes.

Stress

Manage Stress Day by Day

Stress management is important for performing at your peak mentally, physically, and emotionally.  Control your stress through a healthy lifestyle and the right attitude. 

1. Let go of unrealistic expectations of yourself and others.  Not everything has to be perfect.
2. Simplify your schedule.  Say "no" when you can to events and requests that ad extra stress.
3. Learn to be flexible.  Accept that you can't control every aspect of life.
4. Get plenty of sleep-it recharges both your body and your mind.
5. Make time for relaxation every day.  Go for a stroll, take a bubble bath, work on a hobby, or play games with family or friends.  Do something that you enjoy.
6. Learn to unwind in healthy ways-through music, meditation, stretching, or exerise.

 

Easy Energy Foods

Keeping your body properly fueled helps you maintain your power of positive thinking.  While sugar and caffeine offer a short burst of energy, they don't provide a lasting source of strength.

Try these snacks with an energy-sustaining mix of carbohydrates and protein.

• peanut butter or a slice of turkey on whole-wheat bread
• cottage cheese mixed with fruit
• trail mix with dried fruit, nuts and seeds.
• yogurt with fruit
• hummus on pita bread or with some fresh vegetables
• a cup of bean soup
• sliced mozzarella cheese and whole grain crackers

Also, be sure to drink plenty of water so dehydration doesn't drag your energy level down.

15 Reasons to Love Education

1. Knowing you make a difference.
2. Creating a better tomorrow.
3.  Working with children.
4.  Helping learning happen.
5.  Memorable moments
6.  Being in great company.
7.  Using your mind, heart and soul every day.
8.  Rewards that money can't buy.
9.  A sense of accomplishment.
10.  Shaping lives, dreams and futures.
11.  Each day can be an adventure.
12.  Feeling proud of being a role model.
13.  Summer vacation.
14.  Recognizing that your job is important even on the "bad" days.
15.  Seeing a student's face light up.

Connecting With Parents

Make a Call

• Soon after the first week of school, make it a point to telephone the parents or guardians of each student.
• Keep the discussion upbeat and be sure to mention something positive about each child.  Be as specific as possible.
• Invite questions, concerns, and suggestions.
• Listen patiently.
• If there is a disagreement, avoid getting into a long discussion or an argument.  Arrange to meet in person to discuss the issue.
• Take notes of your conversation and keep them in a log.
• Follow up with a note or phone call to report the progress on any issues.

Organization Tips

Quotes

"I touch the future. I teach."-Christa McAuliffe

"The greatest gift that you can give to another is knowledge for knowledge is power—power to build and to dream. What you can envision in your mind you can achieve."
-Jack Podojil

"Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students."
-Charles Kuralt

"Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives."
-Andy Rooney

"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years."
-Jacques Barzun

"A child miseducated is a child lost."
-John F. Kennedy

"If your plan is for 1 year, plant rice;
If your plan is for 10 years, plant trees;
If your plan is for 100 years, educate children."
-Confucius

"Good teachers are costly. Bad teachers cost more."
-Bob Talbert

"I'm not a teacher, but an awakener."
-Robert Frost

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement."
-Anatole France

Best First Day of School Story

This one is dedicated to all who ever taught school, parented
children, or served their country.

A former Sergeant, having served his time with the Marine Corps, took a
new job as a school teacher, but just before the school year started, he
injured his back. He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper
part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't even
noticeable.
On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest
students in the school. The smart mouthed punks, having already heard the
new teacher was a former Marine, were leery of him and decided to see how
tough he really was, before trying any pranks.
Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened
the window wide and sat down at his desk. When a strong breeze made his tie
flap, he picked up a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest.
There was dead silence. He had no trouble with discipline that year.

Teachers Should Enjoy Their Job

This is a good one for giggles.
http://www.wimp.com/teachersdancing/