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As we work with youth-serving organizations across the nation, we often hear about how the resources we post on our web site are used. I was in New Hampshire last week, and heard that schools there makes laminated copies of our activities for kids (such as our crossword puzzle, word find, and word scramble), and then distributes them to students in classes at various elementary- and middle-school grade levels. Students then use dry-erase markers to fill them out, and then each class competes with other classes to earn the highest classroom-wide “successful completion” rate. The winning class then receives a pizza party! We thought this was a very creative (and environmentally-friendly) way to engage the minds of tech-involved tweens and teens, and get them excited about learning to do the right thing in cyberspace. If you’d like to share with us how you have recently used some of the materials and downloadables we provide, we’d love to hear from you!

We have long thought that one of the best ways to deal with cyberbullying (from prevention through intervention) is to involve teens.  Including youth is essential in any comprehensive and coordinated community response to cyberbullying.  Earlier in the week Sameer posted a blog discussing the ways that older teens can be used to mentor their younger counterparts in learning how to use technology safely and responsibly.  As a follow-up to that discussion, we just published a fact sheet that includes 10 ideas for practical activities that teens can easily do to work to prevent cyberbullying in their communities. This, however, is just a starting point.  What other ideas do you have that can allow teens to get actively involved in preventing or responding to cyberbullying?

We’ve had quite a bit of feedback regarding our recent post that discussed whether or not schools can discipline students for creating a Facebook page that is critical of, or harassing toward, a staff member.  The courts have given their perspective on a few different cases, but I thought I would post this simple poll for readers to weigh in themselves regarding their personal beliefs about what should or should not be allowed. Feel free to add the justification for your answer as a comment.

(if you don’t see a poll below, please try again later…we have been having trouble with the polling software)

It’s important to introduce young people to issues related to cyberbullying and online safety at an early age.  One way to do this is to have them participate in a fun activity that includes key concepts or practical advice.  For example, we have several activities on our site, including a word find and a crossword puzzle, that you can use.  Another idea is to have students write a cyberbullying limerick.  Having youth write a poem about a topic can be a great way to get them to think about that topic in a different way.  Often times I find that my students remember information that they included in their limericks better because they set it to rhyme.  So here is my shot at a cyberbullying limerick.  Use this activity in your classrooms or with your children to begin a conversation about online safety and responsibility.  Send us some examples and we’ll post them on our web site!

Cyberbullying makes life miserable
For the one who is bullied, daily activities can be unbearable
So do your part to stop this fad
By telling a teacher, or mom or dad
When you see bullying happen away from the lunchroom table