Hats off to teachers…it’s time for…Mid-Week Focus!
Mid-Week Focus is all about quick and easy ways to approach teaching to keep kids on task in any instructional setting.
Let’s share insight and practical ideas. Please send yours in a comment. Let’s blend fun with function, even when the focus is on a very serious issue like bullying.
Why add some fun to the challenge of decreasing the “badness” of bullying? To catch and keep kids’ attention and engage them in preventing this unacceptable behavior. It’s all about mindset – set your students’ minds right; get them to “buy in” to no tolerance for bullies.
If you work with older elementary school children, try addressing bullying (and its prevention) in a RAP (no singing talent required, I know because I’ve done this) that plays with the word COOL. Be cool…read on…
“Let’s rap…” “Rap’s hot, bullying’s not!”
After you announce to your group that “We need to spend a little time together with an important subject – preventing bullying,” ask them to join you in a short rap. “Clap along lightly with me, or snap to the rap,” tell the kids, “catch the beat, catch the message…BULLYING ISN’T COOL!”
RAP IT UP – COOL!
What’s cool? What’s not?
What’s out? What’s hot?
Rap’s cool, bullying’s not!
Bullying’s out, respect’s hot!
Now pull out a one, two, one, two, three “punch” with the steps below:
- Repeat your Rap with the class a couple more times to impart your main message.
- Post the rap lines on the board (or have them pre-printed in large type on a poster to show) with blank spaces like you see below.
RAP IT UP – COOL!
What’s cool? What’s not?
What’s out? What’s hot?
_________________’s cool, _______________’s not!
_________________’s out, ________________’s hot!
- Then add to the fun and function of the teaching trick by asking a kid to take over as lead “rapper.”
- Explain that you need him or her to drop in new words that connect in some way to preventing bullying. Encourage everyone to sing along.
- Keep the rap rockin’ by inviting other kids to take the lead, as long as your students are cool with the rappin’ activity.
If you try this quick trick before the Olympics close in London, add sports to the lyrical mix. Sports are cool, bullying’s not! Bullying’s out, Olympic winners are hot! Note that we all win when no child suffers from being bullied. (Sports themes work with most kids anytime.)
Throughout the school year make seasonal connections with your made-up raps. Example: Fall’s cool, bullying’s not! Bullying’s out, Halloween’s hot!
Cool is a popular word worldwide. Use its word power in an easy rhythmic rap to help teach powerful lessons.
Stop by next Wednesday for more Mid-Week Focus. On Monday Attention-ology will be back with more magic.
All the best,
Barbara ♥ The Lovable Poet
