A High-Interest Novel Helps Struggling Readers Confront Bullying in Schools

I think bullying is a huge problem in schools that is often enough ignored. Bullying these days can come in so many form ranging from facebook, to texting and so on and so on. I think its very important that kids are taught not only that this is a problem that exists but are also taught strategies on how to cope with this type of situation; like staying strong, beliving in yourself and ignoring what others are saying. I love the part of the lesson where the students are asked to journal because I think that will give them an opportunity to reflect upon their lives and specific situations they have encountered where they may have been bullied and talk about it. The readers theater is also a great part of the lesson because it helps the kids who are reading the novel who may no understand what it feels like to be bullied really get into the character and empathize with how the character is feeling. I felt those two parts of the lesson's were very strong and I will use this lesson in my classroom.

I am a huge fan of the whole Bluford series, have been using the books for years. I tell every teacher I meet to buy a class set! This lesson would be great to use in conjunction with the free video on Bullying from Teaching Tolerance, put out by the Southern Poverty Law Center!