Grade 6 Safe Schools
Student Handout Packet
December 3, 2015
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
Establishing Guidelines For Discussion
If you have not already established ground rules for your Community time, it is
suggested that you complete this activity. A useful way to encourage openness and
positive behavior is to introduce working agreements or ground rules that
communicate an expected standard of behavior. Encourage your students to
collaboratively develop working agreements that ensure safety and respect. Suggest
one or more of the following:
Respect Others:
•
You will hear ideas that may be different or new to you, and opinions with which
you may disagree. As you participate and interact, try to take in new information
without judgment and to keep an open mind. Make sure that your words and
body language reflect a respectful attitude toward others. Learn by listening to
others.
•
Speak From the “I”: Speak from your own personal experiences and try not to
judge the experiences of others. Use I-statements such as “I feel…” or “In my
experience…” Avoid “You should” or “You all think that …” statements and
generalizations of any kind.
•
Ask Questions: Much of the information we will cover will be new to many of
you. Feel free to ask any questions that come up for you—either during the
activity or privately afterwards—without fear that they are too “silly.” Make sure
to phrase all questions in respectful and nonjudgmental ways.
•
Respect Confidentiality: Please make sure that everything said in the room stays
in the room. When sharing personal anecdotes, make sure to avoid using the
real names of other people.
•
Share “Air Time”: While you are encouraged to express your ideas and
opinions, please do not monopolize the group’s time. Help create a safe space
in which everyone can speak. No one, however, is obligated to speak. “Passing”
is okay.
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
2
Ground Rules for a Welcoming
Community
Respect Others
• Listen to others without judgment
• Speak from the “I” perspective
• Ask questions in a respectful
nonjudgmental way
• Respect confidentiality
• Share “Air Time”
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
3
I WAS JUST KIDDING
When joking around or name-calling leads to hurt feelings or consequences, “I was just
kidding!” is a common response. Most of us enjoy poking fun at each other in a goodnatured way. And some people just don’t know how to take a joke, right? So how do
we know when we have crossed the line? When are we no longer “just kidding,” but
participating in mean behavior?
Read the scenarios below. With a partner or in a small group, discuss whether or not
you think each situation is an example of harmless fun or hurtful language. Explain how
you came to your decisions or what additional information you need to make a
decision.
1. Anica is 5 feet 8 inches and towers over most of the students in her sixth grade class.
While looking for a place to sit during lunch, her friend saw her looking for a seat and
went up to her and said, “Hey, shorty, come sit with us!” Anica laughed and decided to
sit down with her friend’s group. Harmless joking or hurtful language? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. At the lunch table, Angel says to his best friend Malcolm, "Dude, what's up with your
sweater? It's so gay." Malcolm chuckles and replies, "I know, right? My mom bought it
for me and said I had to wear it at least once." Some kids at the table laugh, some
don't. Harmless joking or hurtful language? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
4
3. Eve overheard Luke and his friends talking in the hallway near their lockers. One of
Luke's friends told him that he should ask Eve out. Luke responded loudly “Eeewww,
no way!” Then, when he saw her, he laughed and said, “Oh, I was just kidding!”
~Harmless joking or hurtful language? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Based on your conversation, list three ways to complete the following sentence.
Joking around has crossed the line to become hurtful when…
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
5
Friendly Teasing and Mean Teasing
When we first think of the word “teasing,” we think of something negative. However,
as we develop relationships with others, one way that we may try to make a connection
is by teasing others in a more friendly way. This type of teasing may show affection and
be playful with those we like being around. Friendly teasing involves a lot of sarcasm.
Sarcasm is when people joke with you by often telling you the opposite of what you
expect them to say. Here is an example of friendly teasing: Sarah and April are good
friends. April tells Sarah she got an “A” on a test she had been worried about. Sarah
responds to April by saying, “That’s too bad, your mom is going to be so mad!”
The tricky part of this is determining when someone may be teasing you in a friendly
manner. Let’s look at some ways to help you determine when someone might be doing
that friendly thing:
• Does the person have a history of taking negative actions against you? NO
• Are you in a conflict with this person at the moment? NO
• Just before the action took place, was the person communicating in a negative way?
NO
• Was this person trying to impress his friends or those around you? NO
• Did the person give you any nonverbal cues such as a smile or a smirk? YES
• Did the comment follow with a laugh or giggle? YES
• Did the person’s tone sound friendly? YES
• Did the person stop when you asked for the teasing to stop? YES
If your answers match the ones listed above, it’s very likely that friendly teasing was
taking place. We respond to friendly teasing by just laughing or giving a smile.
*Adapted from Social Thinking Worksheets for Tweens and Teens: Learning to Read in Between the
Social Lines by Michelle Garcia Winner ©2011
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
6
Notify An Adult
! What should you do when you witness something disrespectful?
When it is safe to, stand up by speaking up! You may immediately “Name It, Claim It
and Stop It” right then and there. Be an ally, not a bystander.
You may also show your disapproval of the behavior by showing your support for the
student being targeted. If the person who is being mean sees other people being
kind, maybe he/she will get the message that it’s not cool or okay to be mean. Try
this:
1. Invite the targeted student to join you as you walk away. Don’t leave the targeted
student alone.
2. Say something positive or complimentary to the student who is being targeted.
3. Speak with and listen to the targeted student. Open up a conversation.
4. Help the targeted student notify an adult.
! What should you do when, for safety’s sake, you choose not to intervene during the
heat of the moment?
You should not intervene in a situation if there is a threat to your personal safety. In
those cases you should always keep yourself safe first and then notify adults of the
situation.
! After witnessing something disrespectful, there may be times when you will want to:
1.
2.
3.
Talk to an adult about something you have seen, heard or experienced;
Notify an adult about something concerning; or
Anonymously report something to a responsible adult.
! How do you notify a responsible adult?
1.
Talk in person with someone.
a. Talk directly with a trusting adult in your family.
b. Talk directly with an adult here at school. You should feel comfortable
talking with any teacher or staff member, but you may choose to talk with
whomever you feel most comfortable.
c. Ask your teacher for a pass to go speak directly with a Guidance
Counselor.
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
7
2.
Report it.
a. You may go online to https://respect.newton.k12.ma.us/reportnow and
complete an online form, something you may do anonymously. When
submitted, the form will automatically be emailed to Principal Harutunian
b. There is a drop box in Guidance where you can place Bullying report
forms.
3.
Write about it and share what you wrote with someone.
a. Hand your written concern directly to a trusting adult in your family or
here at school.
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
8
Safe Schools Reflection
What went well today?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Your homework is to go home and tell your parents what you learned
today. Describe what you would tell your parents.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
What would you tell your friend about what you learned today?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
What could we change for next time?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
9
Immediate Concerns
First and Last Name: _________________________________ Team: ________________
Please fill this sheet out to let us know whether you have any serious concerns about
yourself or another student related to how safe and respected you/they feel at school.
If you do, please also let us know how you would like us to respond below.
After today, additional sheets will be available in Guidance. Stop by anytime to fill one
out and place it in the “Safe Schools Day” mailbox.
I need an adult to reach out to me because I have immediate concerns to share.
____ Yes
____ No
If you checked “yes”, please let us know how you’d like us to respond:
___ I would like my guidance counselor to reach out to me privately about my safety
concern.
___ I would like this Oak Hill faculty member _____________________ to reach out to
me privately about my safety concern.
Safe Schools Student Handout Packet 2015
10