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School Climate 2.0
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School Climate 2.0
Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time



May 2012 | 216 pages | Corwin
Bullying is not new, but its venues have expanded to include social media and mobile phones. When students receive hurtful, threatening, or sexually explicit electronic messages, it affects their ability to concentrate on schoolwork. Renowned cyberbullying experts Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin connect the off-campus, high-tech behaviors of teens to the school environment and provide educators with a road map for developing a positive school climate that counteracts cyberbullying and sexting. School Climate 2.0 differentiates cyberbullying from traditional bullying and offers specific strategies for improving school climate, including

Building a sense of community

Peer mentoring

Social norming

Data-driven action plans

Youth grassroots campaigns

Multi-pronged policy and programming approaches by adults

Included are anecdotes, stories, and high-profile case examples that illustrate the research. The book's companion website features a Twitter feed and Facebook Fan Page with regular PreventionPoints you can put into action quickly, downloadable activities and worksheets, questions to facilitate staff and student discussions, and emerging best practices in school climate research and evaluation—powerful tools for bully-proofing your school.

 
Preface
Important Features of the Book

 
Breakdown of Chapters

 
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. Teens, Technology, and Trouble
The Story of Sam

 
What Would Happen to Sam Today?

 
Teens and Technology

 
Technology in Schools

 
Breakout Box: Delete Day

 
Why Schools Must Respond to Cyberbullying and Sexting

 
Technology Isn’t the Problem

 
The Power of a Positive School Climate

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
2. School Climate: Where It Begins and Ends
What Exactly Is School Climate?

 
Assessing Your School’s Climate

 
Breakout Box: A Positive School Climate Makes Everything Possible

 
Our School Climate Measure

 
School Climate and Behaviors at School

 
The Social Bond

 
Breakout Box: School Climate and Its Effect on School Social Issues

 
School Climate and Bullying

 
Breakout Bok: The Benefits of a Positive School Climate

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
3. Adolescent Mistreatment in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Cyberbullying
Bullying at School

 
Consequences of Bullying

 
What Is Cyberbullying?

 
Breakout Box: A Teenaged Target’s Cry for Help

 
The Cyberbullied

 
The Cyberbully

 
Where Does Cyberbullying Occur?

 
Correlates of Cyberbullying

 
Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem

 
Cyberbullying and Suicide

 
Cyberbullying and School-Related Delinquency and Violence

 
Unique Features of Cyberbullying

 
Breakout Box: Decoding your Digital Footprint

 
Breakout Box: Unique Characteristics of Cyberbullying

 
The Relationship Between Traditional Bullying and Cyberbullying

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
4. Adolescent Relationships in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Sexting
Sexting in the News

 
High Profile Incidents

 
Breakout Box: Adolescent Anger Lands Teen on the Sex Offender Registry

 
Why do Teens Engage in Sexting?

 
Sexting Images Go Viral

 
How Many Teens Really Participate in Sexting?

 
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

 
Cox Communications

 
MTV/AP

 
Pew Internet & American Life Project

 
Crimes Against Children Research Center

 
Our Own Survey

 
Sexting: A Continuum of Behaviors

 
Crimes Against Children Research Center Typology

 
Sexting and the Law

 
Breakout Box: Selected State Sexting Bills

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
5. School Climate and Online Misbehaviors
Breakout Box: School Climate and Cyberbullying

 
School Climate and Behaviors Online

 
Our Research

 
Educators' Efforts Matter

 
Whom Do Targets Tell About Their Experiences With Cyberbullying?

 
Expectation of Discipline

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
6. Strategies for Improving Your School Climate
Top-Down Approach

 
Know Their Names

 
Community Building

 
Small Teacher-Student Ratios

 
Stay in the Loop

 
Clearly Define What Is “Not Cool”

 
Breakout Box: Staying in the Loop: What I’ve Learned by Listening and Understanding

 
Monitor Behaviors and Respond Fairly and Consistently to Problems

 
Encourage Active Student Participation in Decision Making

 
Student-Teacher Evaluations

 
Encourage Reporting of Any Inappropriate Behavior

 
Cultivate Hope

 
The Important Role of School Counselors

 
Breakout Box: School Counselors Can Help

 
Inform and Involve the Community

 
Continue to Lay the Groundwork

 
Use Resources Available to You

 
Breakout Box: What YOU Can Do to Spark Climate Change in Your School

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
7. It Takes a Village: Social Norms, Bystanders, and Peer Mentoring
Social Norming

 
An Overview of Social Norms Theory

 
Social Norms Theory and Traditional Bullying

 
Using Social Norming to Prevent Cyberbullying and Sexting

 
Coordinate a Student Play

 
Breakout Box: Using Stage Productions to Enhance School Climate

 
Role-Playing

 
Solidarity Walk or March

 
Four Corners

 
Breakout Box: Canadian Initiatives: Students Making a Difference Against Bullying

 
Pledges

 
Stop Standing By and Start Standing Up!

 
Breakout Box: Minnesota Twins

 
Peer Mentoring

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
8. Prevention Through Assessment: Taking the Pulse of Your School and Students
Survey Your Students

 
Breakout Box: Talking Points: How to Conduct Research Among Your Students

 
Sampling

 
Breakout Box: Use Data to Guide Your Climate Improvement Efforts

 
Survey Development

 
Survey Administration

 
Breakout Box: Assessment Leads to Better Understanding

 
Don’t Forget About the Adults!

 
Focus Groups

 
Breakout Box: Sample Focus Group Questions

 
Confidentiality, Consent, and Ethical Issues

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
Appendix A: Our Survey Questions

 
Appendix B: Psychometric Properties for Cyberbullying Scale

 
 
9. Effective Prevention Requires Effective Response
Can Schools Respond to Behaviors That Occur Away From Campus?

 
Just Say No to “Zero Tolerance”: Utilize Informal Responses When Appropriate

 
Natural and Logical Consequences

 
Breakout Box: What Schools Should Do When Made Aware of a Cyberbullying Incident

 
When Can Educators Search the Contents of Student Cell Phones?

 
Special Considerations When Responding to Sexting Incidents

 
Breakout Box: What Schools Should Do When Made Aware of a Sexting Incident

 
Policy Issues

 
Cyberbullying

 
Breakout Box: Elements of a Cyberbullying Policy

 
Sexting

 
Breakout Box: Elements of a School Sexting Policy

 
When to Get Law Enforcement Involved

 
Educate Students About the Consequences Before the Behavior

 
Breakout Box: One School’s Response to Social Networking Drama

 
A Call for Education and Outreach

 
Summary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Index

"Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin remind us early on that, contrary to most media hype, most young people use their ubiquitous technologies safety and responsibly the majority of the time. Then, they discuss how a positive school climate is fundamental for all of learning and teaching. They share innovative, pragmatic strategies to enhance climate and thereby foster a better social environment— which will reduce behavioral problems offline and online among youth. This very readable, very user-friendly book should be considered mandatory for all preservice teacher education programs and be used as a guide for planning ongoing inservice training as schools prepare to better meet the needs of their 21st century students."

Mike Donlin, Cyberbullying and Digital Safety Consultant

"This book shared valuable information about social networks and texting that increased my awareness of their prevalence and potential legal consequences of student misuse."

Carol S. Cash, Assistant Professor
Virginia Tech University

"This book will help administrators lead their schools to form and keep policies that reduce or eliminate cyberbullying."

Brigitte Tennis, Headmistress
Stella Schola Middle School, Redmond, WA
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ISBN: 9781412997836
£25.99

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