This presentation is designed for school professionals and other youth workers who desire a comprehensive understanding of (and action plan to deal with) cyberbullying, sexting, and unwise social media use. Apart from providing foundational information about trends and patterns, it will cover relevant legal principles and provide clarity from the courts as to when to…
Kids have bullied each other for generations. The latest generation, however has been able to utilize technology to expand their reach and the extent of their harm. This phenomenon is being called cyberbullying, defined as: “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Moreover, youth use technology…
Designed for parents and other adults who care about kids, this presentation provides a broad overview of the way teens are using and misusing their phones and various Internet-based technologies with a focus on cyberbullying, sexting, and unsafe social media practices. The latest apps and sites will be discussed, as well as what adults can…
Our high school assembly seeks to give students the information and tools to use technology safely, responsibly, and appropriately. We’re not trying to “scare them straight” as much as empower them to make good decisions online. Technology is an amazingly powerful tool that can be used for good or bad. We promote positivity! That said,…
Designed for upper-class students in leadership roles, this interactive presentation empowers youth to take a stand against online cruelty and encourages key students to play a role in creating and maintaining a school culture that condemns bullying in all of its forms. It discusses in detail relevant issues of communication, integrity, and being a good…
Our middle school assembly begins by covering the basics of schoolyard bullying and cyberbullying. We discuss what bullying is (and what it is not), so that students can identify and report it to proper authorities if necessary. We also empower them by giving them tools they can use if they are being mistreated or see…
Our upper elementary assembly is designed for students in grades 3-5 who need a general introduction to the safe and responsible use of technology. Students will learn what to do if they are being mistreated at school or online, or if they see something bad happening to one of their friends. Students are encouraged to…
Our lower elementary assembly is designed for students in grades K-2. They’re already using their parents’ smartphones and tablets; they know how to load up YouTube and their favorite social and gaming apps. And they are starting to see sarcasm, meanness, and offensive language in comments and posts, while also growing in their ability to…
We have talked a lot about resilience over the last year, and have shared some practical ways to cultivate that ability. Today, I want to provide some additional tangible strategies to help you further. I have previously discussed that it is critical for kids to be placed intentionally in situations where they can discover their…
League of Legends (or League for short) is the most popular multiplayer online game in the world, and takes place in a 3-D battle arena setting involving role-playing and real-time strategy elements into its live environment. Players in League (also known as “summoners”) are matched up with others depending on their skill and game level…
This presentation is designed for youth professionals who would like to supplement their existing programming and policies with student-centered empowerment. As more attention is given to the importance of cultivating socio-emotional learning skills among students, it seems vital to increasingly consider one often-neglected component: resilience. As critical as it is to shape and improve the…
This presentation is designed for school administrators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals who desire a comprehensive understanding of (and action plan to deal with) cyberbullying among youth with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These students arguably are among those most vulnerable to this growing problem, and have been characterized as the “perfect victim.”…
