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Promote empathy and perspective-taking, and help students challenge prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Start by reviewing bullying basics and testing yourself for hidden bias, then follow up with activities that remind students to Speak Up at School. And, since students aren't the only ones who bully, assess the power dynamics among the adults in your building.

"Hate, bias and passivity toward harm to others all thrive on a lack of knowledge. We stand up for one another when we get more informed about fellow human beings and the world."

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Promote empathy and perspective-taking, and help students challenge prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Start by reviewing bullying basics and testing yourself for hidden bias, then follow up with activities that remind students to Speak Up at School. And, since students aren't the only ones who bully, assess the power dynamics among the adults in your building.

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Welcome to the Clemson University website for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP). This website is focused on bullying prevention research, OBPP training information, ongoing programming and training support of our certified Olweus Trainer-Consultants.

The Olweus Program (pronounced Ol-VAY-us) is a comprehensive approach that includes schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community components. The program is focused on long-term change that creates a safe and positive school climate. It is designed and evaluated for use in elementary, middle, junior high and high schools (K-12). The program's goals are to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school children and to improve peer relations at school. The program has been found to reduce bullying among students, improve the social climate of classrooms, and reduce related antisocial behaviors, such as vandalism and truancy. The Olweus Program has been implemented in more than a dozen countries around the world, and in thousands of schools in the United States.
Why the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Works? Get all the answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Our annual report, "Bullying in US Schools: 2019 Status Report", published in October 2019. This report updates the 2013 Status Report (Luxenberg, Limber, and Olweus 2014) and reflects the status of bullying around the United States during the 2015-2019 school years (August 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019).

The OBPP is one of the programs conducted by the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life.

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Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Clemson University

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Welcome to the Clemson University website for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP). This website is focused on bullying prevention research, OBPP training information, ongoing programming and training support of our certified Olweus Trainer-Consultants. The Olweus Program (pronounced Ol-VAY-us) is a comprehensive approach that includes schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community components.

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From the first illustration on the title page to the final illustration on the "for the adults" page, this wordless beauty takes readers young and old on the emotional journey of two characters, the new student who is the victim of hurtful behavior and the bystander (and eventual upstander or ally). We even gain a tiny glimpse into the emotions of the bully in the book, from when it's obvious that he's in a bad mood just before he hurts the victim, to when he realizes that it seems just about every other child in school really likes the new student. We see a child and her family moving into a new house, and then we realize that she is also a new student at school. The husband/wife duo known as Kerascoet allow us to understand how lonely she feels that first day of school, and how sad and embarrassed she feels after she is bullied. We also see how conflicted the bystander is... She isn't sure what to do to help the victim in the moment, and she spends the rest of the evening and morning mulling over how she can assist. This decision is something most school-aged readers will be able to identify with, which allows parents and caregivers reading the story with the children easy conversation starters.

The authors/illustrators also includes discussion questions at the back of the book. As a former third grade teacher, I appreciate that the questions aren't targeted solely towards bullies and bullying behavior, but that the wording is more open to also include "someone who is being hurt," "kids being mean," and "aggressors." There is indeed a fine line between someone being mean and bullying behavior, and the use of both types of language will help children avoid the overuse of the label "bully."

Of note- given that this book is wordless, readers don't know for sure whether Vanessa is the victim or the ally, and I love that ambiguity. We're not sure if the "I" of "I Walk With Vanessa" is the girl who struggles over what to do about the hurtful behavior she saw (making Vanessa the victim), or if the "I" is the victim who gets to walk with her new empowering friend Vanessa. I personally like that this ambiguity allows the story to be read from either perspective.

If you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, teacher, babysitter, or friend to school-aged children, please make this book a part of your personal library and visit it often. Use the conversations that it starts to help your children help make the world a kinder, more empathetic place.

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I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness

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I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness [Kerascoët] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness

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Stop Bullying on the Spot

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response.

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According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, approximately one in four students report being bullied. Even more shocking, 5.4 million students stay home on any given day because they're worried about being bullied. Whether your students are learning at home or in school, here are 10 simple yet powerful ways to get teachers and counselors involved in helping to prevent bullying.

1. Read books.

One of the best ways to teach kids about bullying-what it looks like and how it feels-is through books. Here are 23 books about bullying to share with students. Find captivating picture books for elementary students and moving chapter books for middle school and high school students.

2. Incorporate bullying prevention into social-emotional learning.

Bullying prevention and social-emotional learning don't need to be separate. In fact, whether students are learning at school or at home, the best way to build a positive learning environment is through social-emotional learning that has an intentional focus on bullying prevention. For tips and ideas on how to do this, check out this free, on-demand webinar, Bullying Prevention and Social Emotional Learning: What Is One Without the Other?

3. Encourage journal writing.

Writing about a problem like bullying helps kids not only process their feelings, it also gives them a safe space to tell their stories. This collection of bullying-awareness writing prompts has thought-provoking questions that lead to deeper understanding, such as: "Why do you think some people bully others?" "Have you ever felt bullied by someone? What made you feel this way?" and "Why do you think people have trouble accepting others who are different from them?"

4. Hold a contest.

Challenge students to create their own original anti-bullying posters. If students are learning from home, post them on a virtual bulletin board using an app like Padlet, or create a slideshow for all to see. If they're learning in person, line your school walls with these positive messages to encourage bullying prevention.

5. Teach students to be upstanders.

It takes compassion and courage to stand up to a bully, but if students see bullying and do nothing, they may actually be part of the problem. Students need to learn the ways they can instead take action. There's a great resource from Stomp Out Bullying that explains how to teach students to be an upstander.

6. Create a no-bullying pledge.

Create a custom no-bullying pledge for your school. Ask for student input and vote on a pledge that fits your community best. Practice your pledge at assemblies and in classrooms. If your school is learning remotely, teachers can include the motto in their daily lessons. Here's an example of a pledge to help get you started.

7. Make and wear blue bracelets.

Create a wearable symbol of your school's commitment to anti-bullying. Sponsor a school-wide project to make and wear blue bracelets to show your support. If kids are learning online, post a tutorial video, like the one above. When students wear their bracelets, they're saying, "We're all in this together, and we're a team. We will not tolerate bullying."

8. Watch videos, or make your own.

Stomp Out Bullying has curated an amazing collection of videos to help prevent bullying. They feature stars like singer Demi Lovato, Olympian Laurie Hernandez, actor Anna Camp, and more. Share their encouraging messages to get inspired. Then, challenge students to create their own video, or team up and make it a class or school project. When you're finished, submit your video to Stomp Out Bullying and become part of their gallery.

9. Encourage reports of cyberbullying.

Because of the move to virtual learning, kids are using technology more than ever before. And unfortunately, increased access has led to more reports of cyberbullying. Now is the perfect time to double-down on educating kids about cyberbullying. Teach them to not only recognize it but how to shut it down. Visit this cyber bullying website for tips that will help delete the digital drama.

10. Embrace diversity.

We all sometimes make snap judgments about people we don't really know based on how they look on the outside. But the funny thing is, once you get to know that person, you find your judgments were off-base. The goal of the #SeeMe campaign is to empower kids to define themselves and see others from the inside out.

Watch videos and learn more about #SeeMe campaign. Invite students to use their phones to film their own snippets. Give them this sentence starter: "See me. I'm _____ and I want you to see that I'm _____."

Learn more ways to prevent bullying all year long.

Whether students are learning at home or at school, one of the best ways to build a positive learning environment is through social-emotional learning (SEL) that has an intentional focus on bullying prevention. To learn more, just click on the orange link below to check out a free, on-demand webinar: Bullying Prevention and Social Emotional Learning: What is One Without the Other?
Yes, I Want to Stop Bullying!

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10 Simple, Yet Powerful, Ideas to Stop Bullying at Your School

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According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, approximately one in four students report being bullied. Even more shocking, 5.4 million students stay home on any given day because they're worried about being bullied. Whether your students are learning at home or in school, here are 10 simple yet powerful ways to get teachers and counselors involved in helping to prevent bullying.

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This course outline provides an instructional pathway for sixth-grade educators to teach an 18-week Facing History course exploring questions of identity, family legacy, group membership, and choices.

Course content is based on the following resources: 1) Unit: Identity & Community, 2) Unit: My Part of the Story, 3) Novel: Wonder, and 4) Memoir: Brown Girl Dreaming.

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This course outline provides an instructional pathway for sixth-grade educators to teach an 18-week Facing History course exploring questions of identity, family legacy, group membership, and choices. Course content is based on the following resources: 1) Unit: Identity & Community, 2) Unit: My Part of the Story, 3) Novel: Wonder, and 4) Memoir: Brown Girl Dreaming.

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According to statistics from the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five kids has been bullied. It's more important than ever to teach students about the negative effects of bullying and to do so as early as possible. With the help of our awesome teacher community, we compiled this list of anti-bullying books (organized from youngest to oldest) that address bullying, teasing, friendship, self-esteem, and more.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry

True friends stick up for one another, even when it's a little bit scary.

Buy it: Stick and Stone at Amazon

2. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Molly Lou is a unique individual, that's for sure. But her grandmother has taught her well. So when a bully picks on Molly, she knows just what to do.

Buy it: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon at Amazon

3. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Anti-bullying books are hard to find for the younger set, but Chrysanthemum is a popular picture book about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. It has sold more than a million copies and was named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association.

Buy it: Chrysanthemum at Amazon

4. A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems

Sometimes it's terrifying to be the little guy on campus. Will Piggie and Gerald figure out a way to survive the playground bully?

Buy it: A Big Guy Took My Ball! at Amazon

5. One by Kathryn Otoshi

In this beautiful and spare picture book, author Otoshi tackles what it means to exclude a peer-and why it's important to respect different personalities-in an artful and imaginative way.

Buy it: One at Amazon

6. The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith

Mean Jean is the recess queen, and it isn't until a new girl becomes her friend that recess dynamics change for the better. This book is ideal for addressing bullying that can be resolved without adult intervention.

Buy it: The Recess Queen at Amazon

7. The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy

One of the best things kids can do to combat bullying is to stand up for one another, which is exactly what The Juice Box Bully is about. Students will learn how to have each other's back instead of doing nothing when they witness bully confrontation.

Buy it: The Juice Box Bully at Amazon

8. Willow Finds a Way by Lana Button

When bully Kristabelle starts uninviting kids to her birthday party, shy, quiet Willow decides she's had enough. Her simple act shocks everyone and changes the dynamic of the whole classroom.

Buy it: Willow Finds a Way at Amazon

9. I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët

This pictures-only storybook beautifully illustrates how one person's kindness can inspire an entire community to stand up to bullying.

Buy it: I Walk With Vanessa at Amazon

10. You, Me and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders

A very helpful book for teaching children about empathy, feelings, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and recognizing bullying behaviors.

Buy it: You, Me and Empathy at Amazon

11. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Readers will learn about the benefits of making new friends in this book. When Jeremy Ross tries to get rid of his enemy, his dad comes to the rescue. The catch? The only way for Jeremy to succeed is to spend an entire day playing with the enemy. Soon, his worst enemy turns into his best friend!

Buy it: Enemy Pie at Amazon

12. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Monica and Katie have been friends since kindergarten, but the older they get, the more confusing the friendship becomes. Monica can't understand why Katie has started to exclude her and call her names.

Buy it: My Secret Bully at Amazon

13. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

The Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945, proving that anti-bullying books have been around for a long time. This book follows a classmate who is ridiculed by bullies for wearing the same dress to school every day, while other students stand by and do nothing to help.

Buy it: The Hundred Dresses at Amazon

14. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

This book sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children and reminds readers how small acts of kindness can help others feel included.

Buy it: The Invisible Boy at Amazon

15. No More Labels! by Denisha Cook and LaMonica Powers

With a focus on students with different abilities, this book teaches kids to build on their personal strengths, regardless of what labels-official or unofficial-the world puts on them.

Buy it: No More Labels! at Amazon

16. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

There are many messages in this book that follows the story of Chloe, who won't let the new girl, Maya, play with her and her friends. Eventually Maya stops coming to school, and Chloe realizes that a small act of kindness-like being Maya's friend-could have gone a long way.

Buy it: Each Kindness at Amazon

17. Bully by Patricia Polacco

Here's a book that takes on cyberbullying and cliques. When students begin teasing classmates on Facebook, Lyla knows something needs to be done. This is one of our fave anti-bullying books for our increasingly digitally savvy students.

Buy it: Bully at Amazon

18. The Bully Book by Eric Kahn Gale

This book pulls from actual events as the author loosely recounts what it was like when he was bullied in sixth grade. It incorporates both sides of bullying and addresses this ongoing issue in the lives of middle schoolers.

Buy it: The Bully Book at Amazon

19. Blubber by Judy Blume

Like many of Blume's novels, this one is enduringly relevant. While some of the references may elude young readers, the realistic ways kids speak and act-taking teasing too far until it escalates into physical bullying-make Blubber both a compelling story and an important look at the harm kids can do to one another.

Buy it: Blubber at Amazon

20. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This uplifting novel follows August Pullman to fifth grade, which is his first time entering a mainstream school. August was born with a facial deformity, so he'll have to convince his classmates that he is normal, just like them, despite his appearance.

Buy it: Wonder at Amazon

21. Restart by Gordon Korman

Prolific middle-grade author Korman steps into a bully's shoes in this book. When Chase wakes up with a bump on his head and no memory of what he was like before his fall, he has to relearn who he was-and he's not sure he likes what he discovers. Can he be a better person with this second chance?

Buy it: Restart at Amazon

22. Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

What happens when your best friend since forever starts hanging out with the "popular" crowd? A story about how hard it is to find your real friends in life, but how the journey is worth it.

Buy it: Real Friends at Amazon

23. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Heroine Annabelle must find her courage to stand up to a cruel bully and lead by example in this poignant tale set in the United States during World War II.

Buy it: Wolf Hollow at Amazon

24. Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones

One of our favorite anti-bullying books, this is a must-read for teens. Today's top young adult authors contributed 70 heartfelt stories about bullying in this collection-from being a bystander to a victim to a bully themselves. The book also includes resources and suggestions for further reading.

Buy it: Dear Bully at Amazon

25. Tease by Amanda Maciel

This story is about a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for bullying after a classmate commits suicide. Now she's under attack as her peers, the community, and the media berate her for causing such a tragic event.

Buy it: Tease at Amazon

26. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Sixteen-year-old Alice decides to settle the score with classmates after she is diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing she only has a few months left to live, she figures if she gets even and hurts people for the things they've done in the past, it won't matter in the future. To her surprise, she goes into remission and has to face the consequences of all she has said and done.

Buy it: Side Effects May Vary at Amazon

27. The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Two trans teens have to rely on each other as they navigate school and life. This is a great pick for cis gender teens and tweens to better understand the trans experience.

Buy it: The Art of Being Normal at Amazon

28. It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller

Centered on the LGBTQ+ experience, this bestseller includes testimonials and essays by famous and successful adults who struggled as adolescents. No matter who is reading, there is much to be gained from this collection.

Buy it: It Gets Better at Amazon

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28 Must-Read Anti-Bullying Books for Kids

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It's more important than ever to teach students about the negative effects of bullying early-on. These anti-bullying books can help.

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Standing Up to Bullying: Children's Books to Build Social and Emotional Skills

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Learn some basic facts about bullying, a growing problem affecting our schools and our communities. Children's books can help our kids see the world from different perspectives and build empathy. In this article, you'll find books we recommend for strengthening social and emotional learning, as well as books that deal with bullying head-on.

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Awards & Honors

Junior Library Guild Selection 2002 Los Angeles Times Children's Bestsellers List, Spring 2002 (Twice)

Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, Recommended Book, March 2002

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2002
Children's Choice Nominations & Awards
WINNER
Maryland Children's Book Award, 2004
Community Distinction
One Community, One Book award, Clark County, Nevada, 2011
Virginia Young Readers, 2003-2004

NOMINATIONS
Abilene (Texas) I.S.D.'S Mockingbird Book Award, 2002-2003

Arizona Young Reader Award, 2005

Georgia Picture Story Book Award,2006-2007

Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003-04

Nevada Young Readers Award

Nebraska - The Golden Sower Award, 2004-2005

North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2003-2004

South Carolina Picture Book Award, 2005-2006

Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2004

Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award, 2003-2004
Bank Street College, Best Books of 2002

THE RECESS QUEEN

Written by Alexis O'Neill
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0439206375
ISBN-13: 978-0439206372
Grades K-3

Buy now

Summary

A schoolyard bully is enlightened by the new kid in class in this lively story about the power of kindness and friendship. "Mean Jean was Recess Queen/ and nobody said any different," the tale begins. Each day at recess, Mean Jean blasts through the playground . . . No one dares cross her path: "She'd push 'em and smoosh 'em, lollapaloosh 'em." But when tiny Katie Sue, a new student, arrives, all bets are off. . . Her role usurped, Mean Jean moves toward a meltdown, until Katie Sue makes her an offer she finds difficult to refuse: an invitation to play together.

Reviews

Told in a rollicking rhyme, the story offers a lighthearted look at a serious topic in schools and on playgrounds everywhere - the bully. Katie Sue puts Mean Jean in her place in a surprisingly easy way - simply by being too new to know any better. In a nice twist, when confronted by Mean Jean, instead of backing away, the newcomer invites her to play. Both the text and the art are smart, sassy, and energetic. The text effectively dips, swirls, and slants around the action of the art, further marrying the two.
- School Library Journal

A schoolyard bully is enlightened by the new kid in class in this lively story about the power of kindness and friendship. O'Neill's text brims with fun-to-say phrases that fit a rollicking rhythm, and her assessment of recess dynamics feels authentic.
- Publisher's Weekly

O'Neill puts seemingly meek, new classmate Katie Sue up against aggressive Mean Jean, swaggering boss of the playground. But Katie Sue stands up to her with a cheeky, "How DID you get to be so bossy?" and pulls out a jump rope, inviting Mean Jean to jump along. Presto change-o, a friendship is born. Huliska-Beith's rubbery-limbed figures, rolling perspectives, and neon-bright colors reflect the text's informality as well as its frenzied energy. Young readers will be caught up by Katie Sue's engaging, fizzy exuberance.
- Kirkus Reviews

The ability to offhandedly deflate a bully, with neither animosity nor remorse, is my idea of heaven - and is high on my wish list for my daughters. This snappily told story of unwavering self-worth and the power of cheerful assertion gives us hope - and lots of laughs.
- Just One More Book

Click below for pdfs for The Recess Queen

Listen to The Recess Queen in French!

The Recess Queen Book Trailer

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Junior Library Guild Selection 2002 Los Angeles Times Children's Bestsellers List, Spring 2002 (Twice) Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, Recommended Book, March 2002 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2002 Children's Choice Nominations & Awards WINNER Maryland Children's Book Award, 2004 Community Distinction One Community, One Book award, Clark County, Nevada,