Showing posts with label Have You Filled a Bucket Today?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Have You Filled a Bucket Today?. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
Lessons from Caine's Arcade
Please watch the whole thing. It will not disappoint.
One of the books I recommend for early bullying prevention is Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. (You can also download great materials for kids ages 4-9. But to be honest, older kids really get this story, too, so have older kids mentor younger ones using this -- you'll be amazed at how it works.)
The lessons are simple but ageless: either you're a person who dips into someone's bucket and takes something away from them emotionally by being mean or you fill a person's bucket with kindness.
The is one of the most beautiful bucket filling stories I've ever seen. Please share it because everyone needs a little bucket filling.
Hope this starts out your Monday with a smile. (And Nirvan, you are so cool. Sometimes it just takes ONE.)
Monday, June 14, 2010
It's a Good Time to Talk to your School About Next Year's plans for Bullying Prevention
Some schools around the country are already out for the year. In the East, where I live, they only have a couple of more days before they're free!
Even if your school is already in vacation mode, it's a good time to send them an email or a note to ask "What's up?" for next year.
If you don't already have a bullying prevention program in place, here are a couple of suggestions to get started.
Programs have to engage the following stakeholders: Principals, teachers, after school staff, lunch monitors, parents, and finally, the kids.
Here are some simple and cost efficient ways to get started:
Principals and Teachers: Check out this three day conference in NYC hosted by the Center for Social and Emotional Education and suggest that someone in the school or school district go for professional training. I've met with this group and I have a lot of respect for their work. School climate is a critical and complicated subject which requires professional guidance. Information learned at the conference can be shared with all other adults in the building that interact kids, including after-school staff. If it's not possible to come to NYC, there are other organizations that host them in different parts of the country.
Parents: Enlist the support of the other parents while you're at barbeques or the pool. Believe me, it's a subject that hits a nerve with more parents than you would have guessed. There's safety in numbers and instead of complaining about kids bullying other kids, do something about it. Start forming a group of interested parents to come up with resources and age appropriate ideas that the school can incorporate when the new school year comes around.
A book I found inspiring is Schools Where Everyone Belongs by Stan Davis. I love the title. It's a positive message that he reinforces over and over again with good clear examples of the challenges and how to overcome them.
And since we can't forget that the kids also live in an online world, I suggest the following web sites: Common Sense Media and iKeepSafe. They have tremendous resources for homes and schools. The government also offers free booklets about online safety and they're great: Netcetera.
Students: Two great books that can jump start an anti-bullying or leadership campaign in elementary schools: Have You Filled a Bucket Today and One. It's amazing what happens when you put older kids together with younger kids to read these two books and discuss them. With a little guidance, kids mentor each other better than we ever could.
There are dozens of ways to approach school climate and bullying issues. Just start somewhere. Something unexpected happened when I started a home grown campaign at a local school. Kids weren't necessarily expecting miracles but things seemed to improve simply because someone was paying attention to the problem. Some kids were relieved that we were bringing up the subject. Once again, it was proof that we don't always know what's going on in their minds or their world.
So have a frozen concoction, preferably with a little umbrella, and starting getting creative.
Even if your school is already in vacation mode, it's a good time to send them an email or a note to ask "What's up?" for next year.
If you don't already have a bullying prevention program in place, here are a couple of suggestions to get started.
Programs have to engage the following stakeholders: Principals, teachers, after school staff, lunch monitors, parents, and finally, the kids.
Here are some simple and cost efficient ways to get started:
Principals and Teachers: Check out this three day conference in NYC hosted by the Center for Social and Emotional Education and suggest that someone in the school or school district go for professional training. I've met with this group and I have a lot of respect for their work. School climate is a critical and complicated subject which requires professional guidance. Information learned at the conference can be shared with all other adults in the building that interact kids, including after-school staff. If it's not possible to come to NYC, there are other organizations that host them in different parts of the country.
Parents: Enlist the support of the other parents while you're at barbeques or the pool. Believe me, it's a subject that hits a nerve with more parents than you would have guessed. There's safety in numbers and instead of complaining about kids bullying other kids, do something about it. Start forming a group of interested parents to come up with resources and age appropriate ideas that the school can incorporate when the new school year comes around.
A book I found inspiring is Schools Where Everyone Belongs by Stan Davis. I love the title. It's a positive message that he reinforces over and over again with good clear examples of the challenges and how to overcome them.
And since we can't forget that the kids also live in an online world, I suggest the following web sites: Common Sense Media and iKeepSafe. They have tremendous resources for homes and schools. The government also offers free booklets about online safety and they're great: Netcetera.
Students: Two great books that can jump start an anti-bullying or leadership campaign in elementary schools: Have You Filled a Bucket Today and One. It's amazing what happens when you put older kids together with younger kids to read these two books and discuss them. With a little guidance, kids mentor each other better than we ever could.
There are dozens of ways to approach school climate and bullying issues. Just start somewhere. Something unexpected happened when I started a home grown campaign at a local school. Kids weren't necessarily expecting miracles but things seemed to improve simply because someone was paying attention to the problem. Some kids were relieved that we were bringing up the subject. Once again, it was proof that we don't always know what's going on in their minds or their world.
So have a frozen concoction, preferably with a little umbrella, and starting getting creative.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Preventing Bullying on a Budget
Since most every school has a bullying problem, why doesn't every school have a prevention program?
Denial on the part of administrators, lack of interest by parents, teacher cooperation and money are some of the top reasons but none of them are good enough.
As for parents, a few parents can make a big difference. If you're reading this, it's clear that you're interested. Find a few other parents who feel the same way. Research activities.
Many teachers have compassion and understand that students do better work when they feel respected and the general atmosphere is nurturing. Unfortunately, some teachers don't. As a matter of fact, some teachers add to the problem. It's just a fact. But engage the teachers who "get it." You can't change the school 100% but you can change the balance.
If money is a problem (and it almost always is), get creative.
Consider a "Leadership Program" to focus on the importance of the bystander and empower them to step up. Older kids can mentor younger kids. I started one of these programs in a school recently. There are many good children's books about the right way to treat each other. Two of these are "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" and "One." When the older kids read these with the younger kids, the message is delivered to both. "Have You Filled a Bucket Today? has a wide variety of activities that can be downloaded for free.
Of course, not one of these ideas is the magic bullet. But they are a way of starting TODAY. To be successful, bullying prevention programs have to include everyone: administrators, teachers, parents, students, coaches, and even lunch monitors and it has to be consistent and constant. It's overwhelming but starting small and doing things that include as many as possible is much better than doing nothing. Programs like Olweus are the preferred way to go: it includes training and is sustainable. But if you can't find the money or you can't get the teachers to jump on board, don't let it stop you.
Every child deserves to be protected and supported. Don't let excuses get in the way.
Tomorrow, I'll post some links to free resources for online safety. Bullying doesn't end in the schoolyard anymore.
Denial on the part of administrators, lack of interest by parents, teacher cooperation and money are some of the top reasons but none of them are good enough.
As for parents, a few parents can make a big difference. If you're reading this, it's clear that you're interested. Find a few other parents who feel the same way. Research activities.
Many teachers have compassion and understand that students do better work when they feel respected and the general atmosphere is nurturing. Unfortunately, some teachers don't. As a matter of fact, some teachers add to the problem. It's just a fact. But engage the teachers who "get it." You can't change the school 100% but you can change the balance.
If money is a problem (and it almost always is), get creative.
Consider a "Leadership Program" to focus on the importance of the bystander and empower them to step up. Older kids can mentor younger kids. I started one of these programs in a school recently. There are many good children's books about the right way to treat each other. Two of these are "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" and "One." When the older kids read these with the younger kids, the message is delivered to both. "Have You Filled a Bucket Today? has a wide variety of activities that can be downloaded for free.
Of course, not one of these ideas is the magic bullet. But they are a way of starting TODAY. To be successful, bullying prevention programs have to include everyone: administrators, teachers, parents, students, coaches, and even lunch monitors and it has to be consistent and constant. It's overwhelming but starting small and doing things that include as many as possible is much better than doing nothing. Programs like Olweus are the preferred way to go: it includes training and is sustainable. But if you can't find the money or you can't get the teachers to jump on board, don't let it stop you.
Every child deserves to be protected and supported. Don't let excuses get in the way.
Tomorrow, I'll post some links to free resources for online safety. Bullying doesn't end in the schoolyard anymore.
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