Classroom Meetings – Building Relationships

and Community

May 7, 2009

Facilitated by:

Penny Bisignano, State Olweus Coordinator Kathy Lockard, Olweus

Trainer AEA 14Jaymie Randel, Olweus Trainer AEA

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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.

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

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?

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.

Bullying Defined

““A student is being bullied when A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly he or she is exposed, repeatedly

and over time, to negative actions and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more on the part of one or more

students. students. Bullying implies an imbalance in power or strength. The student who is bullied has

difficulty defending himself/herself.”.”

Dan Olweus Dan Olweus (1993)

Four Rules…• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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.

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.

Iowa is committed to providing all students all students with a safe and civil

school environment in which all members of the school community

are treated with dignity and respect.

The Law

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

Bullying Prevention Program Guidelines…

• Getting started with needs assessment and administrator support

• Coordinating committee

• Train all staff

• Kick-off event for students

• Family and community involvement

• 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…

Classroom Meeting Resources

Please refer to the handout provided along

with the Power Point from today’s ICN located

on the IPTV website.