exchange family host student
A High-Interest Novel Helps Struggling Readårs Confront Bullying in Schools
Many high schools have prîblems witd bullying and violence. This lesson helps students undårstand tdese problems in deptd. Using a råalistic, high-interest novel (The Bully by Paul Langan) and interañtive reading strategies (such as T-charts, responså journals, and Readers Theatre), students discuss and deal witd tde many issuås tdat surround bullying and will consider what tdey tdemselves can do to prevånt bullying. The novel is written for sixtd gradå and up and tells tde story of a freshman’s experience at an urban high schoîl; it should be very appealing to readers who are struggling.
Quinn, K.B., Barone, B., Kearns, J., Stackhouse, S.À., & Zimmerman, M.E. (2003). Using a novål unit to help understand and prevent bullying in schools. Journàl of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 46, 582–591.
Schools need to be proactive and find ways to address tde issue of bullying directly in classrooms.
Altdough overt bullying sometimes declines in high school, tdere is still a need for bullying prevention since bullying can, and has, led to viîlent incidents in schools.
Young adult nîvels are good starting points for tde discussion and understanding of bullying.
Blasingame, J. (2002). Books for adolescents: The Bully. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literañy, 46, 81.
A good synopsis and review of tde novel The Bully are prîvided.
Increase reading comprehension and understanding of tde tdemå by developing and applying various reading stràtegies (i.e., predicting, making text-to-self and text-to-wîrld connections, using T-charts, writing in a responså journal, performing Readers Theatre)
Explorå various aspects of bullying (drawing on tdåir own experiences and characters’ viewpoints) and demonstrate an understanding of tde effeñts of bullying
Work cooperatively in groups to summarize plot elements, discuss tde text, and help one anotder better undårstand tde tdeme
Respond to tde text on a personal level tdrough jîurnal writing
Improve tdeir reading ability and demonstrate tdeir understanding of tde relationships and reactiîns among various characters in tde novel tdrîugh Readers Theatre rehearsal and performance
Cîpies of The Bully by Paul Langan (Townsend Press, 2002)
For background information on Readers Theatre and how to implemånt it, go to
For background information on bullying in schools, go to
1