Classroom Meetings – Building Relationships and Community

1. May 7, 2009 Classroom Meetings – Building Relationships and Community Facilitated by: Penny Bisignano, State Olweus Coordinator Kathy Lockard, Olweus Trainer AEA 14 Jaymie Randel, Olweus Trainer AEA 267

2. Objectives… Participants will … …learn about the why, what, and how of classroom meetings. …learn about resources for classroom meetings. …hear from schools who have implemented classroom meetings.

3. Featuring… Jan Strutzenberg, Professional School Counselor, Treynor Elementary School Leona Hoth, Principal, Decorah Middle School Barb Sims, Principal, Red Oak Middle School La Jean Wehring, Math, Science, Health, Treynor Middle and High School Michelle Dohlman, Professional School Counselor, Osage High School

4. Key Listening Points • What do class meetings look like and sound like? • What topics are covered during initial class meetings? • Where are you making connections across the curriculum? • What do students have to say about class meetings?

5. Class Meetings Defined Watch a short portion of this video from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program published by Hazelden. A copy of this video can be obtained from your AEA Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainer.

6. Bullying Defined “A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students. Bullying implies an imbalance in power or strength. The student who is bullied has difficulty defending himself/herself.” Dan Olweus (1993)

7. We will not bully others. We will help students who are bullied. We will include students who are left out. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school or at home. Four Rules…

8. Featured Schools… • Treynor Elementary School, Treynor, Iowa • Jan Strutzenberg will share how Treynor Elementary established classroom meetings, what they do in the sessions, resources they like and use. They will give us some tips that they have found helpful and cautions or challenges they faced or face in their bullying prevention efforts through classroom meetings.

9. Conducting a Class Meeting Watch a short portion of this video from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program published by Hazelden. A copy of this video can be obtained from your AEA Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainer.

10. Class Meeting Guidelines • If possible, meet once a week at a regular time. 15-30 minutes for lower primary. 30-40 minutes for upper primary and above. • Students arranged in a circle. • Conduct an honest open dialog. Focus on solutions. • No put-downs, accusations or disrespect to others. • Practice active listening (eyes, polite, hearing other side) and do not interrupt.

11. Class Meeting Guidelines • Use of “I” voice. “I feel this way when (don’t accuse) classmates tease me.” NOT “Johnny is teasing on the playground.” • Student lead (when skilled) to set up the agenda. • Teacher is the final agenda arbitrator, but students could alternately facilitate the meeting.

12. Featured Schools… • Decorah and Red Oak Middle Schools • Leona Hoth from Decorah and Barb Sims from Red Oak will share how they established classroom meetings in their schools, what they do in the sessions, resources they like and use. They will give us some tips that they have found helpful and cautions or challenges they faced or face in their bullying prevention efforts through classroom meetings.

13. Why Do Classroom Meetings An OBPP research study has shown that teachers who systematically used class meetings in their anti-bullying work obtained larger reductions in bullying problems in one year compared to those who used class meetings to a lesser degree or not at all. Olweus and Alsaker (1991)

14. Why Do Classroom Meetings • Teach students about bullying, rules, related issues • Help students learn more about themselves, feelings, reactions • Build a sense of community • Help the teacher learn more about classroom culture • Provide a forum for addressing and following up on bullying issues

15. Featured Schools… • Treynor and Osage High Schools • Michelle Dohlman from Osage and La Jean Wehring from Treynor will share how they established classroom meetings in their schools, what they do in the sessions, resources they like and use. They will give us some tips that they have found helpful and cautions or challenges they faced or face in their bullying prevention efforts through classroom meetings.

16. Focus classroom time… Summary • Class meetings are a key program component and should be held regularly. • The teacher’s role is more of a facilitator than a teacher. Class meetings are an opportunity for students to share their feelings and opinions, and to suggest solutions as they learn to follow the rules and handle bullying situations appropriately. • Although class meetings will initially focus on bullying, the meetings should be viewed as a forum to discuss any issues that come up at school, to build cohesiveness and community, and to recognize achievements of the class as a whole.

17. The Law Iowa is committed to providing all students with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect.

18. Program goal is to… Change the norms around bullying behavior and to restructure the school setting itself so that bullying is less likely to occur or be rewarded. Taken from Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Schoolwide Guide

19. Getting started with needs assessment and administrator support Coordinating committee Train all staff Kick-off event for students Family and community involvement Bullying Prevention Program Guidelines…

20. Establish and enforce school rules Focus classroom time on bullying prevention Increase adult supervision Intervene consistently and appropriately (including follow-up) Continue efforts over time Bullying Prevention Program Guidelines…

21. Classroom Meeting Resources Please refer to the handout provided along with the Power Point from today’s ICN located on the IPTV website.