No Bullying Teach-in, Instructions, Sevice Learning Network 13:1

Online Project Two: No Bullying Teach-in

Introduction

Overview

A "Teach-In" project offers service-learning methods to help upper-level students (mentors) teach younger students about school violence and safety. Cross-age projects such as these have the potential to:

Introduce both age levels to information about particular topics (bullying, mediation).
Improve academic skills (reading, comprehending, and applying what is read).
Influence older and younger student attitudes about at-risk activities (bullying).
Develop positive school-safety skills (mediation).
Use interactive techniques to develop cooperative-learning, critical-thinking, research, communication, and reflection skills.

Key elements of these School Safety Teach-in projects include:

A simple, step-by-step lesson plan. Teach-In lessons do not require teaching skills.
Teach-In topics that help students avoid at-risk behaviors (bullying) and promote school safety (mediation).

Pitfalls to Avoid

Teach-In projects should provide a positive experience for both the student mentor and the young audience. To this end, avoid:

Putting the student mentor in an uncomfortable or humiliating position. Assign a Teach-In project to student mentors who have the appropriate skill set (reading, speaking and other communications skills, etc.).
Expecting the student mentor to stand before an audience and confess or apologize for any negative personal behaviors.
Giving too much material for the student mentors to teach. Teach-In lessons should take no more than one classroom period for the student mentors to deliver.

Teacher Instructions

This online project is designed to address the problem of bullying. This project allows students to identify, explore, and reflect upon bullying behaviors and can be completed by individuals, pairs, or small groups of participants.

Hours required: 2-6

Description: Participants will act as mentors to present a group of younger students (3^rd-5th grade) with a "Teach In" that focuses on the prevention of bullying. If relevant, tell students that--if completed--time spent on this project can be counted as community service hours.

Objectives: This No Bullying Teach-In project has the potential to:

Develop positive impacts on student attitudes about bullying.
Provide students with an opportunity to serve as positive influences on other young people.
To develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Use "Stop and Think" procedures as a reflection component.

Note: AVOID having student participants refer to, or in any way "confess" to his/her own bullying behaviors.

Helping Students Prepare: 1) Identify a group of younger students to work with. 2) If necessary, be prepared to provide transportation for participants to the Teach-In site. 3) Ensure that the student mentors understand the lesson plan and can present the lesson in an age-appropriate, structured way. It is important that the participant be able to read in front of the class comfortably! Having students read as a group will give students with weak communication skills to feel more confident.

Materials Participants will need:

Mentoring Students

Handout One--Fact Sheet--one per student

Handout Two--Action Steps--one per student

Handout Three--Lesson Plan--one per student

Handout Four-No Bullying Quiz--one per student

Answer Sheet--No Bullying Quiz--one per student

Handout Five--Two Short Stories

Fall 2007

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Fall 2007

NETWORK Home Lead Article Talking Points FYI Online Lessons and Projects Resources Conferences Archives

NETWORK Home
Lead Article
Talking Points
FYI
Online Lessons and Projects
Resources
Conferences

Archives