October is National Anti-Bullying Month

I feel very strongly about bullying and the effect it has on our students. I think teachers and parents are responsible for teaching students how to deal with bullies. Teachers are especially important in this quest to stop bullying because we are the ones who are able to deal with situations most directly. We are also responsible for making sure our classrooms are safe places for all students to learn. In this post, I have included some resources you might want to use.

A Poem to share with your students about bullying:
Everyday is the same. 
Not one kid knows my name. 
I'm the last to be picked in class. 
I wish that this time would just pass. 
Every night home alone, 
Not one ring from the phone. 
Gum stuck in my hair from a classmate, 
All of this teasing is what I really hate. 
Then one day a girl came up to me, 
And said, "What are you doing tonight Melanie B?" 
A party at last, 
This horrible time has past. 
A new beginning for me to start, 
Every word will come from my heart. 
Getting ready for the party that night, 
Making sure everything is right. 
Seven o'clock, the time is finally here, 
I walk to the door with not one fear. 
I walk in the room, no one's in sight. 
Then I hear a giggle from the right. 
I turn around and see an egg. 
The first one they threw was at my leg. 
Next my hair was gooey and gross, 
Then my stomach got the most. 

Laughter and name calling floods the room, 
I slam the door with a boom! 
Running home it's getting late, 
Why does God give me this fate? 
Tears drizzle down my cheeks as the rain starts to pour, 
Finally I reach my front door. 
I got to my room, not one word was said, 
I sit down and sob on my bed. 
Time doesn't seem to pass, as I stare at the clock, 
I start to memorize the rhythm of its "tic tock" 
Then my ears begin to pierce as I hear the phone ring, 
Since there's been silence for a while, my eardrums begin to sting. 
It's as if an old doll has been found and renewed, 
Because once that phone rang, I became in a different mood. 
I wasn't sure if I should pick it up and see who is calling, 
Would I be overwhelmed or start bawling? 
I pick it up, I thought I had no choice, 
An old lost friend is the recognized voice. 
She tells me she is sorry and that she wants to be my friend, 
Now it seems that my life won't come to an end.


The poem was found here. 


I thought this poem was very powerful and I plan to share it with my students this week. I'm going to change the last line a bit though because it is too strong for fifth graders. Students who are a little older could handle it though. 


I plan to display some books in my room about anti-bullying this month. Here is a list you could purchase or check out from your local/school library: 


YA Literature 

1. The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill Alexander
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
3. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
4. Names Will Never Hurt Me by Jaimie Adoff
5. The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
6. Blubber by Judy Blume
7. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
8. The Truth about the Truman School by Dori Hillestand Butler
9. Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
10. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
11. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
12. This Is What I Did by Ann Lee Ellis
13. The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake
14. Shattering Glass by Gail Giles
15. Sticks and Stones by Beth Goobie
16. Nailed by Patrick Jones
17. Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel
18. Stuck on Earth by David Klass
19. Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
20. Schooled by Gordan Korman
21. Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss
22. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
23. The Beckoners by Carrie Mac
24. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
25. Slam Book by Ann M. Martin
26. The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
27. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
28. Vintage Veronica by Erica Perl
29. Burn by Suzanne Phillips
30. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
31. Bystander by James Preller
32. Bullyville by Francine Prose
33. Bad Apple by Laura Ruby
34. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
35. Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr
36. The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss
37. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
38. Roxy and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
39. Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
40. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
41. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Picture Books

1. The Berenstein Bears and too much teasing by Berenstein

2. Amelia Takes Command by Marisa Moss

3. Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain

4. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henke

5. Cockroach Cooties by Laurence Yep

6. Mean, Mean Maureen Green by Judy Cox

7. Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe

8. Talking About Bullying by Jillian Powell

9. Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

10. The Hundred Dresses by E. Estes

11. The Rat and the Tiger by Keiko Kasza

These lists were compiled from here  and Mitali's Fire Escape. Plus, I added a few recommendations of my own. Leave a comment if you want to add to the list. 

Here are some anti-bullying resources and lesson plans from ReadWriteThink. 

Please talk to your students and children about bullying. Hopefully, together, we can eradicate this tragedy in our schools and neighborhoods!