Follow ups

IDevice Icon Sample Responses

Even if you are making good use of the "teachable moment" when bullying occurs, you will still encounter situations where you have to follow-up with individual students, to investigate situations you hear about, or when you simply suspect that a problem exists. The following are examples of things you can say or do to be more effective.

 

Step
Do's Don'ts
Provide follow-up as needed both for the students who were victimized and those who bullied.

Determine what type of situations and level of severity of bullying incidents require follow-up intervention from adults.

Victimized students need to process the circumstances of the bullying, vent their feelings about it, and get support

Help bullied students identify what form of reparation would be meaningful

Provide assurances that victimized students will be protected from further harm that adults are taking action to stop the bullying.

Provide victimized students with opportunities to practice assertiveness skills, to build self-esteem, and identify peer supports

students who bully need assistance taking responsibility for their behavior, seeing things from the victim's vantage point, and finding ways to make amends.

Assistance with anger management or using power in socially appropriate ways may be useful in dealing with students who bully others (e.g., fighting for a cause they care about).

 

 

Don't feel follow-up is required for every bullying situation.

Don't imply or state that the victim was responsible for the bullying.

Don't highlight an individual student's predicament through announcements or other means. (Say instead: "I understand there have been some instances where kids have been having trouble being bullied on the playground and I'd like to talk about ways we can make it a safer place for everyone.")

Don't bring the bullied student together with the tormentor unless the victimized student specifically requests that as a form of reparation.

Don't attempt this without rehearsal and careful supervision.

Don't attempt without facilitation by a supportive and knowledgeable adult.


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