tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39873552724281621462024-03-12T21:21:05.219-07:00Naomi DrewInformation, free downloads, links, and expert commentary on bullying, parenting, conflict resolution, and character education. Great source for teachers, parents, school counselors, and youth group leaders. We welcome your comments!Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-54859268636788509072013-04-04T20:11:00.000-07:002013-04-04T20:11:59.005-07:00Reader SuggestionI love when readers send in ideas that have been useful to them. I just received this list of conflict resolution resources that were recommended in an article called "Don't Get Revenge: Conflict Resolution Skills," published on line in The Consumer Voice. Special thanks for this list to Kenya at the W.B. Goodwin Community Center who is using conflict resolution in her life, and from what her Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-53636907406222626392012-10-04T18:30:00.000-07:002012-10-05T11:41:24.443-07:00Amazing Books to Help Teachers and Parents Combat Bullying
I am so excited about the new anti-bullying series that was just released by Free Spirit Publishing! The Weird Series, written by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Paula Heaphy, is perfect for kids in grades K-3, and I think teachers are just going to eat these books up. Below is an interview I did with author Erin Frankel. I know her books are going to help countless kids:
Tell us Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-86864581524669679982012-07-18T08:08:00.002-07:002012-08-14T09:02:28.675-07:00Free "Upstander" Lesson (scroll down)Teaching kids to be "upstanders" rather than bystanders is one of the most important antidotes to bullying. Here's a lesson you can use right now that's sure to help.
Lesson: Standing Up for Others
Preparation. On chart paper, write: “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”—Helen Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-11110390177737089862012-03-27T11:05:00.001-07:002012-03-27T11:10:56.008-07:00Listening in Conflict: Free/DownloadableLet's face it -- we've all had trouble doing it, including me. It's hard to listen when we're bursting at the seams. But conflicts don't get solved unless we're willing and able to hear the other person out. The only time this doesn't apply is when someone's being abusive or disrespectful. But in regular, day-to-day conflicts, if we can garner up the gumption to take the high ground, we stand a Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-53485103232009202502012-03-22T07:19:00.001-07:002012-03-22T07:22:55.916-07:00A Photo for Our TimesIs it possible that the bullying, hatred, divisiveness, and intolerance in our world, can be overcome by simple acts between two people repeated over time and multiplied by all of us?
Photo by Ishvara Devi
What Do You Think? To leave a comment, click on the word “comments” and write your comment in the box, then click on “Select profile . . .” If the top group of options Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-4404036794469536802012-03-20T08:29:00.000-07:002012-03-20T08:29:20.918-07:00Is Being Cruel the New Cool?Bullying, intolerance, humiliation via the web -- many experts are calling it an epidemic of cruelty among our youth. This reality is echoed in schoolyards, classrooms, and campuses across the US.
Cruel language and violent behavior saturate video games, TV shows, and music kids adore. Victims are often seen as people who deserve the treatment they're getting. This concurs with anti-bullying Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-16741375575610871022011-11-16T10:04:00.000-08:002011-11-16T10:04:59.193-08:00What to Do If You Receive Mean Texts, Tweets, Posts, or E-mailsThis advise from the Committee for Children is sound, practical, and to the point. Please pass it on to every young person you know:
Never, ever respond to the message sender.
Report it as soon as possible to a trusted adult (and if that person doesn’t help, tell others until someone does).
Save or print the message to keep a record, then delete it from the phone.
Only keep contact information Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-38183588965226435302011-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:002011-09-13T11:52:03.607-07:00Everything You Need to Know About NJ's New Anti-Bullying LawEvery school in the State of New Jersey is now required to enact what has come to be known as "The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights." What follows is an excerpt from a feature article I wrote for this month's NJEA Review detailing the responsibilities of every teacher regarding this important new law:
“They call me names every day and make me feel like I don’t belong. It never stops.” Her face Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-40918389959802424322011-08-22T15:53:00.000-07:002011-08-22T15:53:20.014-07:00A New Book to Help Kids Who Are BulliedI just learned about a newly-released anthology, "Dear Bully," by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones, a compilation of real stories from seventy authors who were bullied, or did some bullying themselves. It sounds like a must-read for kids, parents, and teachers. I'm looking forward to reading it soon!
Here's a review of "Dear Bully" that appeared in School Library Journal:
This is a Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-8198290335168531412011-08-05T08:33:00.000-07:002011-08-08T07:39:09.325-07:00Back from South AfricaAnd what a trip it was! We visited schools, an orphanage, a game reserve, and many, many sites in this fascinating country, including the profoundly moving Apartheid Museum. So many of the children we met were incredibly friendly and warm in spite of poverty, very difficult living conditions, and in many cases, the loss of a parent to AIDS.
I got the chance to speak with teachers in a number of Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-85030715085646780272011-07-06T17:14:00.000-07:002011-07-06T17:25:39.012-07:00A Mother Speaks Out Against Bullying“It’s a tragedy that shouldn’t happen to anyone,” said Wendy Walsh whose 13 year-old son committed suicide last fall after being brutally bullied for being gay.
To prevent this tragedy from happening to any other child, Wendy Walsh filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. The Federal Justice Department investigated her complaint and discovered that Seth was a sensitive boy who, “Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-64501761727500234902011-07-01T17:19:00.000-07:002011-07-01T17:24:47.619-07:00The No Bullying PledgeIntroduce your kids to the No Bullying Pledge. Be they at home, at camp, in school, or any other place where kids gather, this needs to be the standard. Ending bullying starts with each of us, and the time to act is now. Please pass this on to every parent, teacher, or group leader you know:
The No Bullying Pledge
I Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-31488893873173681822011-06-30T07:42:00.000-07:002011-07-26T08:51:58.143-07:007 Steps to Bully-Proofing KidsAccording to White House estimates, over 13 million kids are bullied across the U.S. each year, so it’s important to take pro-active steps. For parents, teachers, counselors, grandparents, group leaders, and anyone else with a child in your life, here seven steps to help you “bully-proof” the kids you love and care about:
1. Teach them to value their self-worth. Every child needs to know they Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-88654923490062937072011-06-22T11:41:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:41:45.032-07:00Bullying and Conflict: Turning Things AroundAny teacher who’s ever had a class filled with bullying and conflict knows the challenge and frustration of getting through each day. Emily Voelkel of Houston Texas, is one such teacher. Faced with a 4th grade class who were at each others' throats continuously, Emily summoned up massive doses of determination, creative energy, and heart to deal with the problem head-on. She decided to use No Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-31186251935384825672011-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:38:57.659-07:00Getting a Jump on the New Anti-Bullying LawI just spent two days working with staff and students at Veteran's Memorial School in Union City, NJ, where dynamic principal, Catalina Tomargo, decided to start now in preparing her school for New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, set to go into effect on September 1, 2011. One of the most comprehensive in the nation, this law requires that all New Jersey schools have programs and Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-33916057178566089142011-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:002011-06-04T19:22:22.190-07:00New Research Sheds Light on Predictors of BullyingNewly-released data by developmental psychology professor, Dr. Elizabeth Kelley shows that kids who have outbursts and show strong reactive emotions are are more likely to be bullied. "Unfortunately, I think this says a lot about adolescent behavior." says Dr. Kelly, "Bullies pick on the kids they think they can get a rise out of, and when those kids react strongly, they just tend to get Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-10076282247877417552011-05-14T21:38:00.000-07:002011-05-14T21:38:51.141-07:00The Wisdom of Arun GandhiIcon, visionary, and bridge to the teachings of his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi, Arun Gandhi brought his universal message of respect and non-violence my area this weekend. With quiet passion Gandhi urged us all to find a place of compassion inside ourselves, and to always seek understanding in the face of conflict.
Continuously stressing his grandfather’s message: “We must be the Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-61110665948752235462011-05-06T11:44:00.000-07:002011-05-09T19:40:52.222-07:00Fostering Empathy From the StartDid you know that the more love and affection a person receives as a baby the more empathic they will be as an adult. Babies who are held frequently and whose cries are answered quickly became more caring people in later years. So say the findings of Notre Dame psychology professor Darcia Narvaez, in a group of studies she conducted on fostering empathy.
The higher parents were in "responsivity"Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-80625301401693730122011-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:002011-05-05T14:00:15.926-07:007 Ways to Prevent Bullying and Mean BehaviorEven "nice" kids can resort to meanness in today's contentious culture. Here are seven steps to take if you're a teacher or parent. They'll help cut back on mean behavior and bring about more kindness.
Make kindness the expected norm in your class or home.
Model, teach, reinforce and expect kindness, compassion, respectful behavior. If you’re a teacher, weave in a lesson a week and follow up. IfNaomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-72464758481632812152011-05-02T19:47:00.000-07:002011-05-02T19:47:56.502-07:00Three Things Parents Can Do to Raise Kids Who Don’t BullyParents, did you know that by talking to your kids, sharing ideas together, and knowing your kids’ friends, you can better assure that your children will not end up bullying others. This is the finding of a new study released at the Pediatric Academic Society conference held on May 1st in Denver.
To find out which parental behaviors can cause kids to bully others, click here.
Talking and Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-80276781625052190202011-04-18T10:49:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:49:47.618-07:00Teachers: Make Anti-Bullying a Part of Your DayAccording to StopBullyingNow, one of the most highly respected anti-bullying resources in the nation, one of the most important ways to put an end to bullying is to:
Focus class time on bullying prevention. It is important that bullying prevention programs include a classroom component. Teachers (with the support of administrators) should set aside 20–30 minutes each week (or every other week) Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-48492337351850344412011-04-14T18:54:00.000-07:002011-04-14T19:02:24.196-07:00How to Meditate Kids' Conflicts
If conflict among your kids the bane of your existence, you're not alone. As the mom of two boys, my sons and I were not strangers to conflict. Bickering, fighting, put-downs, and the like can drain time, energy, and peace from any parent's life. In fact many conflict among kids as one of the top stresses families face.
If you've already tried intervening, ignoring, reasoning, and Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-89360250729034920232011-04-06T08:17:00.000-07:002011-04-07T19:50:49.874-07:00Put an End to Bullying in Your School“While disciplining the perpetrators is likely a necessary step, it often is insufficient. A school’s responsibility is to eliminate the hostile environment . . .”
- from the new US Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-61669327106210616782011-04-04T17:23:00.000-07:002011-04-04T17:23:53.658-07:00The Top 4 Things Parents Can Do for Bullied Kids
1. Listen to them and empathize. Don't minimize the hurt they've been through, but don't make them feel like a victim either. Hear them out, then ask them how they might want you to help. Encourage them to speak to their teacher or counselor, and see if they want you to reach out to them too.
2. Help them see their own strengths and personal assets. Is your child kind, funny, helpful, Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3987355272428162146.post-89637615544611402882011-03-30T14:33:00.000-07:002011-03-30T18:26:05.683-07:00Teens Stamping Out CyberbullyingWhen we hear the word "cyberbullying" we immediately think of all the bad things kids are doing through the internet, cell phones, and videos. On the bright side of this looming social problem, however, is an amazing network called TeenAngels. These are kids ranging from 13 to 18 who have voluntarily been trained in internet safety, security, and other pertinent issues, who take their Naomi Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992437562754250475noreply@blogger.com0