the media, school environment, family and the community.
Teach Empathy Teach empathy and other character traits that are valued by our society.
Build Skills Build skills of what to do to help when you realize you are the aggressor, target/victim, or bystander. Typically girls will go in and out of all three of these roles, therefore it is important to know skills and strategies to help in each of these roles. Don’t forget to emphasize the significance of how the bystander can be of help. Social aggression only flourishes when it is accepted and promoted by the social group.
Therapeutic Novels for Adolescents Wighita Press is committed to publishing high quality books that offer help to troubled children and adolescents in a way that identifies with their situations. The “I Only Said” series’ purpose is to help the reader cope with their problems and to avoid the extreme act of suicide. Therefore, these stories place emphasis on therapeutic interventions.
Challenge Unhealthy Beliefs Challenge unhealthy beliefs, asking such questions as,“Is it okay to talk bad about someone? Is it okay to make fun of someone or laugh at them? Is it okay to do nothing and watch as someone gets excluded or made fun of?”Ask,“What do you think you will think/feel about your behavior in 10 years?”
www.wighitapress.com • 501-455-0905 • contact@wighitapress.net
Positive Expectations Maintain positive expectations with accountability. Hold students accountable for behavior, including restitution — fix what you did wrong; and resolution — come up with a plan so it doesn’t happen again; and reconciliation — find a way to heal the hurt.
Focus on Personal Strengths Focus on personal strengths, helping each person value their individuality and strengths. Redirect the victim toward people and activities that are socially and emotionally healthy. Our hope for our young girls is to feel empowered, self-confident showing respect for themselves and for others. By implementing the 10 action steps we can, and will, make a positive difference in the struggle against girl bullying. Diane Senn is the author of Bullying in the Girl’s World available through www. youthlight.com. www.seenmagazine.us
SouthEast Education Network SPRING 2011
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