Middle School Teaching Units

ons of kids across the country, attending school is a traumatic experience. They are the victims of bullying. Most kids are subjected to occasional teasing, but others are continually berated by their classmates, some are even beaten up. Now, an innovative new solution is helping to change all this.

The Bureau of Justice estimates that one out of every four kids in the United States is bullied. The prevalence of bullying, especially in middle school and junior high, has reached an all-time high. Parents are rightfully concerned, teachers are frustrated, and kids are scared. But there is an answer.

Jeff Smith teaches at Sable Point Elementary in Florida: “Bullying is a serious problem in schools today. It can be extremely traumatic and cause serious consequences, even leading to teen *******. As a 5th grade teacher, I see kids making the transition from carefree school kids to pre-teens every year. Some of them do it easily, but for others, it’s a real struggle.”

In an attempt to find a more effective way to empower kids against bullying, parents and educators are tossing out the dry, finger-wagging “How to” books. They, like Jeff Smith, are turning to an innovative new solution that is fun for the kids and contains self-empowerment messages they can relate tofiction.

Books such as “Kandide and the Secrets of the Mists” by Diana S. Zimmerman and the “Shredderman” series by Wendelin Van Draanen open the door to discuss bullying in a way that is grabbing kids’ attention. Shreddarman is about a nerd who triumphs over a bully by using his brains to fight brawnand wins.

“Kandide” is a fantasy adventure that is set in a world that rings true for almost every tween and teenone that’s obsessed with beauty and physical perfection, with a healthy dose of intolerance and distaste for those who do Continue Reading