What happens today shows up on Facebook tomorrow. Teach your students how to handle themselves online. Encourage safe behavior, online security and discuss online bullying.
Tips for Teaching:
1. Keep your passwords safe.
2. Do not send someone you do not know any personal information or photos.
3. Do not email or text anything you would not want read out loud in the morning announcements.
4. Respect others by not sending or forwarding embarrassing stuff.
5. Never say something online that you would not say in person.
6. If you are uncomfortable with an email, text or image you see, tell your teacher or parents.
7. “Take 5″ before responding to something you encounter online or in a text.
Teachers, parents and kids can prevent cyberbullying. Together, we can explore safe ways to use technology.
1. Create a task force to assess cyberbullying in your school. Make sure students are involved in the task force.
2. Come up with an anonymous method of reporting cyberbullying.
3. Send home helpful cyberbullying prevention materials to ensure parents are aware.
Helpful cyberbullying prevention tips for parents:
Be Aware of What Your Kids are Doing Online
Talk with your kids about cyberbullying and other online issues regularly.
• Know the sites your kids visit and their online activities. Ask where they’re going, what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it with.
• Tell your kids that as a responsible parent you may review their online communications if you think there is reason for concern. Installing parental control filtering software or monitoring programs are one option for monitoring your child’s online behavior, but do not rely solely on these tools.
• Have a sense of what they do online and in texts. Learn about the sites they like. Try out the devices they use.
• Ask for their passwords, but tell them you’ll only use them in case of emergency.
• Ask to “friend” or “follow” your kids on social media sites or ask another trusted adult to do so.
• Encourage your kids to tell you immediately if they, or someone they know, is being cyberbullied. Explain that you will not take away their computers or cell phones if they confide in you about a problem they are having.
