Hello Parents!
My lessons are underway this year in all of the ES classrooms, EC-1 all the way up to grade 5. All of the students should be familiar with "Talk-Walk-Squawk" now, as seen to the right. This is an overall framework which allows students to solve problems with peers. In the first step, "Talk" refers to voicing their concerns to their classmate. For example, "Please stop doing that" or "I don't like it when you do that." The "Walk" refers to moving away when the classmate does not stop the behavior. "Squawk" refers to asking an adult for assistance. I also mention that students can always seek help from an adult, or "squawk," right away if they are not feeling safe, feel hurt, or threatened in any way.
In KG-5th grades, I teach them about the "Bag of Tricks." Inside the bag of tricks, are strategies for coping with teasing, displayed with an orange background. (So?, Agree, Stand up for Yourself, Move Away, Make a Joke, Respond with a Compliment, Ignore) Also, you will see a few strategies with a dark green background. These strategies are for other kinds of issues they may have with peers, when the problem is not teasing. (Apologize, Compromise, Take Turns, Flip a Coin/Rock, Paper, Scissors) Two of the strategies can be used in any situation: I-Messages & Ask an Adult for Ideas. One of the rectangles in the bag is blank. This allows for a discussion about the fact that they may be able to craft a response that is just as effective as the ones I listed. During my lessons, kids have opportunities to act out scenarios and practice using these strategies. For example, two students would come up to the front, one the teaser, one the teased. "Your shirt is ugly!" the teaser says. "Why yes it is! This is the ugliest shirt I've ever seen! (points to his own shirt.) I emphasize that it's important to keep your anger or sadness in check when you are teased, because this will only invite more teasing. I also relay that teasing back undermines the effectiveness of the strategies I list. The goal of this unit is to empower students to cope with everyday peer situations, and to create an environment where we can talk openly about teasing and aggressive behaviors. I believe it helps keep TAISM a safe place for kids. My next unit will be on Cooperation.
