Scenario 5
You set up blogs for your class so that they may journal about their learning in class and dialogue with one another. All blogs are private and only students with a password may see what is on the site. Although it is a choice to monitor all comments between students, you choose not to as your email inbox would be flooded with daily conversation. Instead, you visit the blogs periodically and ask students to tell you about any potential problems. Partway into the first quarter, you receive this email.
Dear Miss Ross,
My daughter, Ally McDonald, has been participating on your blog site and she enjoys the work very much, but lately another student has been leaving her mean comments. They aren’t terrible or slanderous; they are more like underhanded nasty statements disguised as reasonable comments. For example, in the book you are currently reading, Logan jumped into the water to save Ben and Ally commented on this. This student then said, “You are so insightful, Ally. I’m sure no one could have guessed that would happen. I wish I was as smart as you.” Could you please look into this and let me know how you can help diffuse the situation? Ally is quite upset by it.
Dear Mrs. Patton,
Thank you for communicating this dialogue to me and I am sorry that Ally is upset with this matter. Ally is delightful student and she is working hard on her dialogue with the book.
Before the students were allowed to blog, students individually viewed a website on cyber bullying, and were forced to answer a set of questions, ranging from what it is, and how it is prevented. We came together as a class and talked about the questions they were to answer. I will do a refresher with the class on cyber bullying, and make sure nobody is cyber bulling anybody else on our blog. I plan to also talk to the individual who is responsible for the comment and make sure they understand what they did is wrong and considered cyber bullying.
Thanks again for communicating this matter to me and I will do all within my power fix the problem. I have included below the website that talks about cyber bullying, so you can view what the students have learned. Please contact me with any questions and concerns.
www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/
Thank you,
Miss Ross
This is the one I picked too. I think this could be a real issue in schools and we have to have a plan in place to deal with such matters. Great and appropriate response!
ReplyDeleteI find it very important that you provided compliments towards Ally in your class, and you showed your support to the family. This started the letter out in a positive way. I also liked how you provided information on how your classroom has addressed cyberbullying in lessons. Also, you informed the parent that cyberbullying will be taught again to remind the students of appropriate behavior. I liked that you included a link for the parents. I wish I would have thought to include a link with further information for the parents of my letter. Very good response!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tiffany. It very well is becoming an issue in our classrooms. Having a plan in place, makes things consistent.
ReplyDelete