Bullying

Since bullying was a large part of my own life growing up (getting bullied, that is, not bullying other people), I decided to incorporate it into the literature unit we just started today. I wanted the kids to know some strategies they can use for when they get bullied, and I also wanted them to know that they aren't alone.

I had the students do a quick writing assignment to get their brain juices flowing and to make it a little easier for them to open up and talk about a subject that is often very difficult to talk about at this age.

I had the students answer the following questions:
1 - Describe a time when you were bullied or made fun of and how you felt
2 - Why do you think that some people bully other people?
3 - What do you think are some good ways of handling bullying or prejudice towards you or towards someone else?

Although some of my students didn't quite take the assignment seriously, I have found most of the answers to be very telling. There have been less than five students who said that they'd never been bullied (which means that the other 105 or so have). And although some of the bullying stories break your heart, I think the most interesting answers are probably the ones that have to deal with how to solve the problem.

The vast majority of students at this age (12-13 years old) said that the best thing to do was to go tell a trusted adult, like an understanding teacher or a parent.

Many said the best way to deal with it was just by ignoring the problem, or by asking them to stop.

A dozen or so of the students suggesting fighting back with physical or verbal aggression, either by yourself or with a group of friends.

But I'll admit, it was the answers like the ones below that almost brought tears to my eyes:

"Try and look at their side of the story. Maybe they've been bullied and feel like they need to do it. Try and talk to them and become friends with your bully."

[The next one was written after the student shared several examples of when he himself had been bullied]: "Just ask him what is wrong and ask him if he wants to join in the activity."

"Tell the person being bullied to not give up if others are bullying her. I like to tell her to not give up and be strong."

"I would take the person who is getting bullied away and hang out with them."

"Be nice to them and don't bully them back. Be nice to new kids or people you just met."

"Sometimes it is really hard but you can do it. Tell a teacher or principal that you trust and that can handle the situation. Trying to be nice to them is good too. Maybe they just want a friend and no one will be their friend."

"Try to find out if they have a bad life at home, try and maybe become their friend and be nice to them so they won't be mean."

"A way to stop bullying is to include everyone in what you are doing. An example would be if you are going to play soccer in the schoolyard at lunch, let everyone play."

I was also astounded at how many of the kids wrote that some people bully others because they're having a hard time at home or in their life and that you should look at things from their perspective. Even though my students aren't quite children anymore, I often think to myself, "From the mouths of babes..."

The world will be all right as long as there are still kids like these in our schools.

And just because I have to share, this is what one kid wrote in response to that question:

"Ask your mom if you can beat the bully up."

At least he's requesting permission, right?

Lines I Wish I Would Have Written

As more and more of my students' first attempts at poetry are coming in, I have come across some pretty incredible lines.

So here goes the list of lines I wish I would have written myself:

"They will make a new number
To describe how I feel about you."

"The big question is
Why we're stuck taming a wild
River."

"I was fed by drought"

"I sold a road" (I just feel like you could do so much with that line)

"You're my housewife fixing our twisted time" (This line just won't get out of my head)

And what would one of these posts be without a few funny lines thrown in just for fun?

"You fluffy rainbow that fills your soul...
Hello rainbow you're cute
And disrespectful" 
(This is what happens when I tell them to start combining random words together to form a poem)

"Fashion designers
Make a lot of money
Just for making
Clothes."
(I don't know why I think this one's so funny, but I do)

And what's a post without someone mentioning Justin Bieber? [Since I can't go more than one class period without his name being brought up]:

"It's sad that every day a man loses his manhood
Because they got a British tan.
See that limo? That's Justin Bieber
Coming to sing Baby...
Now he can sing his sparkled music
Again."

Teen Angst

As part of our poetry unit, I've been asking the students to make a "found poem," which is where you pull random words and phrases from various books and magazines and then rearrange them to create a poem (like magnetic poetry).

Some of the poems are surprisingly profound, even though I don't think the students necessarily intended them to be that way.

And some are just funny.

Like this:

I love you
I love you
I do
But I just don't like
Those very old shoes.
I bought you some new ones
You threw them away
I don't know if I want you to be my boyfriend.
Just...
Take me to Justin Bieber's concert
And we'll be okay.
If you don't do what I tell you
We really are gonna become
Frenemies.
Love you.


Sometimes I just die. Bless their hearts.

Memorable Student Lines

My four classes just all finished up writing the final drafts of their personal narratives. Here are some of my favorite lines from their stories:

"My dad is kind of short, so that's where I think his anger comes from."

"[The ice cream] felt like a frozen tangy snowman was dancing on my tongue."

"In Mexico there are a lot of short people like my dad." (And that's the last line of the story).

"If I was the mountain I would be a nice smelling green thingy." (I still have no idea what he's talking about at this point in the story, but I still laugh every time I think of it)

[Explaining about this superstitious ritual he does in basketball to try and have better luck]:
"It does not give you 12% luck. It maybe gives you--12% luck to make it in, just 12% to miss it." (I'd best talk to his math teacher...)

"I look down and the snow is as white as a nerd's face."

"The drive was as long and boring as a SpongeBob movie."

[After I told a student he needed to add a character description]:
"My aunt looks like she has hair, mouth, ears, eyes."

"Height-wise, Parker is a garden gnome."

Man, I love these kids. I wish I could include a line from every story, because trust me, they all have good lines. Teaching 7th graders is way too much fun!