How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression

Steve Breakstone, co-founder of Balance Educational Services, LLC, is a specialist in student discipline, bullying and violence prevention, behavior management and effective communication styles. During his dynamic workshops, he uses his theatrical experience to role-play serious realities such as being bullied, being the subject of rumors or being shunned by cliques. Steve is an expert in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, offering easy to understand seminars to teachers, administrators and attorneys. Steve has served as the Director of Northstar Community Alliance where he worked to prevent and reduce substance abuse. He has also worked to prevent domestic abuse as the Youth and Community Educator with Project Against Violent Encounters. Steve is a past facilitator with FATHERTIME, a parenting program, and is a trained mediator. In the late 1980s, Steve and his dog, Dixie, walked 3000 miles from New Orleans to Washington State. He is the author of the book Washington WALKABOUT, which examines the experiences of a man with developmental disabilities as he and Steve walked 1,300 miles around the state of Washington, promoting the capabilities of people with disabilities. Steve lives on 30 acres in Vermont with nature photographer Jane Glesne, and their cat. Michael Dreiblatt of Manchester Center, Vermont is a co-founder of Balance Educational Services, LLC and Stand Up to Bullying. He is an outstanding national speaker and educational consultant, who concentrates in anti-bullying, violence prevention, creating healthy relationships, and discipline of students with special needs. With his humorous style and engaging stories, he has taught these topics to thousands of adults and students. Dreiblatt is also an expert in workplace bullying and harassment, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004). As one of America's favorite bullying prevention speakers and top motivational speakers, Mike has successfully trained over 500,000 students, faculty, parents and staff, how to stop bullying. His realistic and upbeat message helps schools create a positive culture and shows students how to safely and effectively stop the bullying. Mike has been as been a guest speaker in 43 states, authored two books and helped hundreds of schools and districts across America to stop the bullying. Mike have worked with many diverse school districts including the Clark County School District, New York City Department of Education, Los Angeles Unified School District, Albuquerque Public Schools, Polk County Public Schools, El Paso ISD, Gallup-McKinley County Schools and McAllen ISD. Mike's master's degree is in school leadership with a specialization in curriculum & assessment. He has served as a principal, dean of students, teacher, grant writer and mediator. His first book, How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, provides K-8 teachers, school administrators, and counselors with fun, interactive lessons and activities that stop bullying, support students' safety and well-being, promote healthy social-emotional development, and improve academic achievement. Mike's second book, The Wallop Story, includes lots of fun role plays and step-by-step help on how to stand up to bullies. Mike has been a national speaker since 2001. Karen Dreiblatt, cofounder of Balance Educational Services, LLC, has devoted her adult life to bettering the lives of children. Using her background in psychology, Dreiblatt has worked with middle school students in special education, founded a play-based preschool, and has worked in the nonprofit sector to provide healthy recreation options for children of all ages.

Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. "Same Page" Understanding of Violence, Respect, and Bullying Defining Violence What Is Bullying and Respect? Ground Rules Statistics and Studies 2. Solving Problems Peacefully and Resolving Conflicts Respectfully The Five Steps Statistics and Studies 3. Creating Empathy What Makes You Feel....? Emotional Statues: Recognizing Body Language Statistics and Studies Unit Test: Chapters 1-3 4. Emotional Control and Anger Management Guided Visualizations and Anger Monster Poster Feeling Clouds and Charades: Expressing Feelings in Pro-Social Ways Deep Breathing and Positive Affirmations ABCD Exercise Statistics and Studies 5. Teaching Assertiveness Teaching Assertive Communication Handshaking: Using the Qualities of Assertiveness Recognizing Assertive, Aggressive, and Passive Communication Styles Practicing Assertive Statements Assertiveness Role-Plays Statistics and Studies 6. Responding to a Bully Bully Proofing Plan of Action Role-Playing the Bully Proofing Plan of Action Statistics and Studies Unit Test: Chapters 4-6 7. The Power of Bystanders What's a Bystander to Do? Tattling Versus Teling, A.K.A. Ratting Versus Reporting Statistics and Studies 8. Playful Teasing Versus Hurtful Taunting Defining Playful Teasing Versus Hurtful Taunting You Be the Judge Statistics and Studies 9. Making Friends: Strategies to Resist Social Aggression Definition of Social Aggression Likes and Yikes: Determining Friendship Qualities Personal Boundaries Finding New Friends Statistics and Studies Unit Test: Chapters 7-9 Final Test: Chapters 1-9 Epilogue Resources Resource A: Problems and Conflicts to Resolve Resource B: Assertive Statements Resource C: Assertive Communication Scenarios Resource D: Lesson Outlines References

"Presents novel strategies to help educators effectively respond to the bullying crisis in our schools. From treatment of animals to assertiveness training, conflict response to body language of the bullied, this book offers an innovative approach to teaching bully-proofing strategies." -- Rhonda Williams, Instructor in Counseling and Leadership "In our ever-changing world, we have to teach social skills and character education, and this book hits on both topics while teaching children how to stop bullying." -- Melissa Albright, Sixth-Grade Teacher "The activities provide students with great opportunities to build respect, empathy, and friendships, and they help build awareness of ways to prevent bullying and build character in students." -- Amy B. Myers, Second-Grade Teacher "A practical book packed with the kinds of anti-bullying strategies that teachers, coaches, therapists, and kids regularly request. Every chapter is packed with tips on how to stay physically and emotionally safe when bullying occurs, and children are coached to practice assertive behaviors and avoid the victim role." -- Cheryl Dellasega, Professor, Penn State University "This timely book includes perfectly sequenced, content-enriched, practical lessons that will enhance any anti-bullying effort. The student-focused activities will facilitate and maintain learning of important anti-bullying concepts that can never be overemphasized." -- Allan L. Beane, Founder and President "Once educators appreciate the psychological and social significance of bullying, harassment, and emotional violence in schools, they are ready to translate that awareness into concrete actions. This is where this book comes in. Breakstone and his colleagues offer a well-grounded strategy and a series of tactical exercises designed to accomplish this critical mission." -- James Garbarino, Director