Educating Students about the Consequences of Cyberbullying and Sexting post thumbnail

Educating Students about the Consequences of Cyberbullying and Sexting

Quite often when you investigate a cyberbullying or sexting incident, you will come to learn that the “offending” parties didn’t fully understand the consequences of their actions or how what they did could have ever resulted in the trouble that they are now facing. Maybe they didn’t think that what they were doing was that […]

Student Plays to Combat Bullying post thumbnail

Student Plays to Combat Bullying

We are always interested in sharing cool ideas that schools are doing to promote positive climates and reduce peer conflict and bullying.  One idea that has worked very well in some communities is the creation and performance of a school play with social norming messages interwoven in the fabric of its storyline. It can include […]

Advice to Teen Girls about Bullying and Drama post thumbnail

Advice to Teen Girls about Bullying and Drama

I was recently asked to write a guest blog directed towards teen girls and related to issues of harassment and bullying online and offline…and so I wanted to share it with our readers.  It has a very conversational tone, and reflects what I want to convey to this population as they navigate the difficult waters […]

Anonymous Reporting for Bullying and Cyberbullying Incidents post thumbnail

Anonymous Reporting for Bullying and Cyberbullying Incidents

Justin and I strongly believe in the value of anonymous reporting systems in schools.  Based on our experiences working with students across the nation, we have found that they want to speak up and let adults know what is going on (both offline and online), but they are very nervous that it will end up […]

Nice it Forward post thumbnail

Nice it Forward

There appears to be a growing movement among teens to, well, be nice.  Or at least a movement to actively use social media to say nice things about others.  We are all familiar with the myriad of ways that technology can be used to cause harm; this blog is dedicated to working towards limiting those […]

Less schoolwide bans on devices, more school climate initiatives! post thumbnail

Less schoolwide bans on devices, more school climate initiatives!

Computers have long been a fixture in many American schools. Indeed, we had computers in our middle schools back in the day. And when we visit schools today — large and small, rural and urban — they (of course) all have computers. Many schools have computer labs or general-access machines in libraries or other common […]

Teens and Technology, School District Policy Issues, 2012-2013 post thumbnail

Teens and Technology, School District Policy Issues, 2012-2013

With the beginning of the school year upon us again, I thought it might be valuable to review a very important topic. One of the most important steps a district can take to help protect their students and protect themselves from legal liability is to have a clear and comprehensive policy regarding bullying and harassment, […]

School-Based Efforts to Prevent Cyberbullying post thumbnail

School-Based Efforts to Prevent Cyberbullying

While bullying historically has occurred within or in close proximity to the school, advances in communication technologies have allowed would-be bullies to extend their reach. Cyberbullying – as it is termed – has become a significant concern among adolescents and adults alike. As a result, parents, school professionals, law enforcement, and youth themselves are looking […]

Bullying and Peer Violence Videos as Teaching Tools? post thumbnail

Bullying and Peer Violence Videos as Teaching Tools?

A colleague sent me an article detailing how pictures and videos of bullying and other forms of violence posted online – student on student, or student on teacher – can actually be used as a “teachable tool” and to “wake everyone up.”  Parents can sit down with youth and watch them together, and convey lessons […]

School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time post thumbnail

School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time

We’ve been discussing the importance of school climate as it relates to bullying and cyberbullying quite a bit on this blog (see here and here for examples). Well, we just published a whole book on the topic! School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time is now in print and available […]