Promoting Kindness in Your Classroom During National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and you can show your support by starting classroom conversations and sharing resources with students. Here are a few ideas:

• Participate in Unity Day. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 20, 2021, to wear orange and have your students do the same. Orange is this month-long event’s symbol of unity against bullying.
• Initiate the discussion and keep it going. It’s important to talk with students about what bullying is and what it isn’t. Discuss how words and actions can hurt someone and cause a lifetime of emotional and physical damage. It’s also vital that students understand that speaking up when they see something wrong can make a difference in others’ lives and at your school.
• Download class activities. PACER, the organization behind National Bullying Prevention Month, shares a four-week activity kit on its website for K-12 classrooms. It has activities for students to complete each week, and there are even 30-60-minute lesson plans available on the website for elementary school teachers.
• Be clear with students what they can do. Talk with students about supporting other students who have been hurt or harmed, treating others with kindness and respect, being accepting of people’s differences, and including those who are left out.
• Lead by example. Promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in your everyday interactions with students. Show them what these words look like in action and make your classroom a safe, welcoming environment for all!

For more information about National Bullying Prevention Month, visit www.pacer.org.