Teaching Kindness, Modeling Respect
Categories
Image credit: https://nafme.org/blog/what-are-your-2020-resolutions-for-your-music-classroom/
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, which is a great time to pause and think about how we can make our classrooms safer and more supportive for students. Bullying doesn’t just hurt the student being targeted—it impacts the whole classroom environment, and as teachers, we have a lot of influence when it comes to preventing it.
And it’s not just students who experience bullying—teachers can be targets too. Verbal harassment, repeated disrespect, or even online attacks can create a hostile environment that makes it harder to teach and harder for students to learn. When teachers are bullied—whether by students, parents, or even colleagues—it chips away at morale and can model harmful behavior for kids. Acknowledging this reality is important because preventing bullying means building a culture of respect that protects everyone in the school community.
Here are a few simple ways to help:
1. Set the tone early
Make sure all students know your classroom is a place where respect matters. Talk about expectations together and let kids help create “rules of kindness.” When kids help create the rules, they take more ownership in following them.
Here are some examples of classroom norms for each grade level: https://relay.libguides.com/classroom-norms-by-grade
2. Teach empathy in small ways
You don’t need a big lesson plan to teach empathy. Try quick activities like “put yourself in their shoes” discussions, perspective flipping, a compliment circle, or journaling prompts. Even reading a story and asking, “How do you think that character felt?” helps students build empathy and awareness.
Teaching teens about empathy: https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/teaching-empathy-to-teens/
Empathy exercises for all ages: https://blog.calmclassroom.com/empathy-exercises-students-all-ages
3. Be present and approachable
A lot of bullying happens when adults aren’t nearby. Simply being visible—circulating during group work, hanging out in the hall between classes, or greeting students at the door—sends the message that you’re paying attention. And when kids know you’re approachable, they’re more likely to speak up if something’s wrong. The key, though, is to be fair and consistent. If your students feel like they can trust you, they will be more likely to let you know if something is going on.
4. Act quickly and consistently
When you do notice bullying, step in right away. Stay calm, separate the students if needed, and address the behavior directly. Follow up with support for the student who was targeted and guidance for the student who did the bullying. Consistency shows students you take this seriously every time.
Check out these tips from the Anti-Bullying Alliance: https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/attachments/responding-to-bullying-tips-for-teachers_0.pdf
5. Celebrate kindness
Catch students being kind! Whether it’s a quick shout-out, a kindness bulletin board, or a simple “thank you” in front of the class, recognizing positive behavior encourages more of it. And don’t forget—kindness matters for adults too. Recognizing when a colleague offers support, or when students show respect to their teachers reinforces the idea that kindness is everyone’s responsibility. When staff and students alike feel valued, it builds a stronger, safer school culture.
Check out this cute idea for a kindness jar: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oPnxw4nz_5c
If your school has activities for Bullying Prevention Month, get your class involved. Events can include things like wearing orange for Unity Day, creating kindness paper chains, or organizing an anti-bullying assembly. These events show students that preventing bullying is a community effort, not just something that happens in one classroom.
The staff at this middle school celebrates acts of kindness by posting write-ups all over the school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45xcR8N-A3c
The takeaway: You don’t have to tackle bullying with huge programs or complicated systems. Small, everyday actions—setting expectations, modeling respect, and celebrating kindness—add up to a classroom where every student feels safe and supported.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this important topic, check out our course, The Bullying Conundrum: A Journey from Awareness to Activism. It’s designed to help educators not only recognize and respond to bullying but also take proactive steps to create safer, more inclusive school communities. The course will cover current research on dealing with school bullying, strategies to help victims and bystanders, instructional practices to prevent bullying, and research-proven methods to build a culture of tolerance in the classroom.
Here are a few classes related to this topic:
Social and Emotional Learning: Promoting Positive Mental Health Across the Curriculum
Trauma, Stress, and Anxiety in Schools: Finding Hope and Building Resilience
Refocusing Attention: Tackling Student Distractions by Gaining Their Attention