Preventing and Addressing Bullying in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide

Bullying is a common problem in schools, and it can affect a student’s mental health and school performance long after it happens. This guide is for teachers who want to understand what bullying is and what they can do about it in their own classrooms. It explains how bullying is defined, its four main types, its effects on both victims and bullies, and six practical strategies for preventing it and responding to it.

On this page 6 sections

What bullying is

Bullying is repeated and intentional aggressive behavior toward another person who has difficulty defending themselves (Olweus, 1991). Three features set it apart from an ordinary conflict between students:

• It is repeated. It happens again and again, not just once.
• It is intentional. The person doing it means to hurt or intimidate.
• There is an imbalance of power. The target finds it hard to defend themselves.

Types of bullying

There are four main types of bullying (Kowalski, Limber, & Agatston, 2012; Vaillancourt, Hymel, & McDougall, 2013).

Type	What it looks like
Physical	Hitting, pushing, kicking, or other physical acts of aggression
Verbal	Name-calling, teasing, threatening language, or other words used to hurt or humiliate
Relational	Leaving the victim out of social groups, spreading rumors or gossip about them
Cyber	Using technology, such as social media or text messages, to harass or intimidate

Relational bullying and cyberbullying are often harder for teachers to see than physical bullying, so it helps to watch for signs of exclusion and to listen when students report what happens online.

Effects of bullying

Bullying harms students in more than one way:

• Mental health. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem (Hawker & Boulton, 2000).
• School performance. Victims may have trouble concentrating in class and may see their academic achievement decline (Juvonen, Graham, & Schuster, 2003).
• Effects on bullies. Students who bully others may also face negative consequences, such as academic difficulties and delinquency (Farrington, 2010).

Because both sides are affected, prevention and response should look after the victim and the bully.

Strategies for preventing and addressing bullying

1. Create a positive classroom environment

A positive classroom can help stop bullying before it starts (Bradshaw, Sawyer, & O’Brennan, 2009). Teachers can:

• Model respectful and kind behavior.
• Set clear expectations for how students treat each other.
• Reinforce positive behavior when it happens.
• Build a sense of community by having students work together and giving them chances to get to know one another.

2. Teach social and emotional skills

Students who have strong social and emotional skills are better able to resolve conflicts and avoid bullying (Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011). Useful skills include:

• Empathy
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Self-regulation

Teachers can build these skills through role-playing, group discussions, and cooperative learning activities.

3. Respond to bullying incidents quickly

When bullying happens, a quick and appropriate response matters (Bradshaw, Sawyer, & O’Brennan, 2009). A teacher can:

1. Listen to the victim.
2. Document the incident.
3. Contact the appropriate authorities if necessary.
4. Work with the student who bullied to help them understand the consequences of their behavior and learn better ways of dealing with others.

4. Involve parents and the community

Bullying prevention works better when families and the community take part (Espelage & Swearer, 2010). Teachers can talk with parents about why preventing bullying matters and share resources on how to support their children at home. Community organizations can also support schools and families with resources and services.

5. Use technology responsibly

Technology can help teachers teach students about bullying and connect victims with support (Kowalski, Limber, & Agatston, 2012). Teachers can also monitor online behavior and step in when cyberbullying occurs, while making sure students are not using technology to bully others.

6. Support both victims and bullies

Victims may need counseling or other support services to cope with what happened. Students who bully may need intervention to understand the effects of their actions and to develop better ways of relating to others. Teachers can work with school counselors, social workers, and other support staff to provide this help (Espelage & Swearer, 2010).

Summary

Bullying is repeated, intentional aggression against someone who has trouble defending themselves, and it can be physical, verbal, relational, or online. It affects the mental health and learning of victims and also harms the students who bully. Teachers can prevent and address it by creating a positive classroom, teaching social and emotional skills, responding quickly to incidents, involving parents and the community, using technology responsibly, and making sure both victims and bullies get support.

Frequently asked questions