BullyingWhen our group was deciding what educational issue we wanted to pursue our project on, we wanted something that we were all really passionate about. A big problem that is occurring in schools across America is bullying. The definition of a bully is using strength or superior influence to intimidate someone and generally force them to do what you want. However, bullying isn't just about teasing kids on the playground; it is much more serious and could leave negative scars for life. When we discuss the type of classrooms we hope to have, we always describe that we want a “safe” and “welcoming” place for our students. So this is a huge issue to address to ensure that our classrooms can be like this. There is no reason why a child should ever have to endure such torment. The first article I chose to read was called Types of Bullying, written by LuAnn Schindler in Life 123 Responses at the Speed ​​of Life. I chose this article first and foremost because I wanted to really understand all the types of bullying that children are facing at school these days. Bullying is more than just physical hitting and kicking, it can also be verbal and even cyberbullying. The best known type of bullying is physical bullying. According to this article, physical bullying involves the use of physical force or intimidation tactics against another's body or property. This may involve hitting, kicking, biting, pinching or pushing. Any force that requires a child to do something of their own volition is considered physical bullying. Another type of bullying mentioned in this article that most people don't think about is verbal and emotional bullying. This means insulting, teasing, insulting, gossiping and even influencing other people not to talk to… middle of paper… the problem is even worse. So make sure you let students know what they are doing that is wrong, why it is wrong, and get involved. Next establish a clear definition of bullying and enforce rules and expectations. This lets students know what behavior is expected and sets the tone for the class. On top of all of this, it's also important to reward positive behavior, have open communication, involve parents, look for warning signs, clear the scene, monitor hot spots, and most importantly, know your state laws and district policies. As you read these different articles I believe I truly understood not only better what bullying is, but also how to prevent it when I became a teacher myself. It is important that our schools provide a safe and respectful learning environment for all our children and we must take these measures to ensure that bullying is not tolerated.