TeachersFirst: Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Resources

TeachersFirst's Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Resources

This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students manage the tough issues of bullying and cyberbullying. Whether you plan a special unit or lesson on this topic for Bullying Prevention Week or select from these resources on an as-needed basis, you will find useful ideas and strategies for students and adults to work together to erase bullying from your class and school culture. Be sure to share these resources with parents and your parent organization via your class or school web page.

37 record(s) found - search again

Bullying Grade K to 8 - BBC- permalink -

This site addresses the important issue of bullying. It includes an interactive video, reports, information guides, quizzes, polls, and more. This site also talks about the less frequently discussed forms of bullying - such as cyber bullying, girls bullying girls, cellular phone bullying and other less "traditional" forms of bullying (which unfortunately are becoming more common). FLASH is required for some of the activities.
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In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to talk to your class about bullying. Perhaps you can even use this discussion to prompt a journal entry, skit, or other personal response on the topic of bullying and how to handle it. Provide this link for parents to read at home with their students. Parents need to know what could be going on in their students' lives and how to help.

Pacer Kids Against Bullying Grade 2 to 6 - National Center for Bully Prevention- permalink -

This interactive site, geared toward the elementary school-aged child, highlights the signs and repercussions of bullying. Your students can play games or watch webisodes to learn about this hot topic. Your students may want to enter the continuously-running essay contest at any time of the year. For Bully Prevention Awareness Week, this fun site is your one-stop place for information.

Note: At the time of this review, some links were “under construction.” This site requires Real Player. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
On your interactive whiteboard or projector, show the webisodes of bullying scenarios to spark conversations about this problem. After watching the webisodes, divide your class into small groups to create their own real-life anti-bullying ‘webisode’ to perform for the class. For Awareness Week, create your own poster contest against bullying

Protect Your Child from Cyberbullying Grade 3 to 12 - PTA- permalink -

As if traditional bullying were not enough, we know have cyberbullying! This web page offers a great explanation and examples of cyberbullying. It also lists strategies by which to help children who are being cyberbullied. Do not forget to visit the link provided that helps to locate cyberbullies and their web pages.
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In the Classroom:
Include this link on your on classroom web page or share the information at conferences with parents. As an Internet safety activity, teach about the cyberbullying, then have students create pamphlets based on cyberbullying information to send home to parents. Or have them create posters to hang around school about cyberbullying, using terminology you teach from the web site.

Students will need you to present the information, since the site is directed toward parents, not students. Use scenarios such as those described in the article to spark discussion.

Cyberbullying in the Digital Age Grade 3 to 12 - CyberBullyHelp.com- permalink -

This site contains all of the information that educators and parents need to know about cyber bullying. It contains resources, publications, lessons and links to help teach students about cyber-bullying.
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In the Classroom:
Share this link on your class web page and/or in a parent newsletter to help parents learn about cyber bullying. Assign students Olivia's Letter lesson as a homework assignment. Using the ABC's of cyber bullying, have students work in cooperative groups and create their own cyber bullying ABC book using information from the site. Challenge students to create an online book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Though the curriculum needs to be purchased, the site does include a scope and sequence for the cyber bullying curriculum. It is a great place to start if you are thinking of implementing a cyber-bullying curriculum. Use the downloadable PowerPoint slides for a parent information night. You can also listen to an interview with the books authors.

Bullying and Cyber-Bulling Prevention Resources Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- permalink -

In the Classroom:
Use the resources in this collection if ever in need of help concerning bullying online or in the classroom. Be sure to pass this one along to parents, counselors or peers if bullying is ever a concern or issue.

Kids Against Bullying Grade 1 to 6 - National Center for Bullying Prevention- permalink -

This site provides a good introduction to what bullying is and tips on how to respond to acts of bullying. The Parents and Professionals section includes lesson ideas and downloadable handouts for parents. This site requires Real Player, Flash and Acrobat reader. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. An html version is available if you don’t have Flash.
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In the Classroom:
Use this site as an “activator” to introduce a unit or lesson using a projector. You will need headphones or speakers for the audio portions of this site. Include this site on your teacher web page for parents to access as a reference or discussion starters. Get parent permission before posting any student work on this sharing site.

Stop Bullying Now Grade 2 to 8 - US Department of Health- permalink -

Your one-stop place for bullying resources, whether it is cyberbullying or face to face, this site is loaded with twelve games, webisodes, online polls, interviews, and more. The webisodes specifically would be a great way to show students the varying types of bullying, and how to recognize it in school or at home. Click on the “What Adults Can Do” link on the left to access the “Materials for Educators” link. Download TFK Extra (Time for Kids) webisodes to print out for classroom reading. Teacher guides are also available. View the extensive Tip Sheets for adults. The site is primarily geared towards Elementary students as Middle Schoolers most likely will not be attracted to the cartoon approach this site takes, but it would benefit an Elementary classroom.

A Spanish version of this entire site is available with a click from the Home page. Flash and Adobe Acrobat are required, get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Pass out appropriate Tip Sheets to parents in a newsletter, on your class website, teacher blog, or during Open House. Generate discussion on bullying by addressing it on your blog. This site has enough Tip Sheets and resources for an entire school year. For fun, divide your class into small groups to create their own webisodes against bullying.

Steps to Bully Proof Your Child Grade 1 to 9 - - permalink -

Always a difficult subject, bullies can ruin your child’s upper elementary school day. Bullies often manage to operate without adults’ awareness. Here are six straightforward strategies to help your child deal with bullies.
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Girls Bullying Girls Grade 4 to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies- permalink -

This article for parents discusses the aggressions of girls (in particularly bullying other girls). Topics include an explanation of relational aggressions, reasons why girls bully other girls, what the consequences of the bullying can be, how parents can help and resources.
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In the Classroom:
This article may be a useful reference for some of your parents. Share the link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter or note sent home.

Report a Bully Grade K to 12 - - permalink -

This simple site allows a school to sign up ( free) for a confidential bully reporting system. Students, teachers, parents can click to report a bully and turn in a report confidentially so school administration can look into the incident. Though there is the potential for bogus reports, this site would likely work well with elementary students or even middle schoolers IF you explained it to them in advance and spoke specifically about the consequences of false reports. The benefit is that the service allows students to report an incident without fear that a bully might "see them in the office."
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In the Classroom:
Teachers and principals will like the written record the system generates by emailing the report to the designated contact.

Bullies Grade K to 5 - PBS Kids- permalink -

At this website, students will find information, videos, surveys and more all about bullies! Some of the topics include, "What is a Bully?", "How to Handle It", "Are You a Bully" and more. Some of the activities require FLASH.
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In the Classroom:
Try an interactive whiteboard to include your entire class on this important subject. Teachers can find lesson plans and other class activities by clicking on the "Parents and Teachers" link. The lesson plan requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Bully Awareness Week (Canada) Grade K to 12 - Bill Belsey- permalink -

This Canadian site provides a week’s worth of lessons to teach your students about bullying. It doesn’t matter when your particular school highlights this important topic, you can use these valuable lessons and tools any time of the year. Please be aware that the statistics at this site are Canadian, however; the USA stats can be found via the internet with ease. Click on the left hand menu on each day of the week for a healthy stash of activities to use. From surveys to books to school-wide activity suggestions, be sure to save this site in your favorites. Music, videos, and more also await you at the Resources link.

QuickTime, Flash, and Adobe Acrobat are required for music and videos. You can get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Teachers, encourage your school to set aside a week to highlight this concern at your school. If your school doesn’t promote it, you can do your part by having an anti-bullying campaign in your own classroom by using the simple suggestions at this site.

Bullies and Victims Grade K to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies- permalink -

This article provides information to parents about bullies and their victims. Topics include signs of bullying, signs of victimization, what parents can do, research and resources. This is a very insightful article.
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In the Classroom:
This article may be a useful reference for some of your parents. Share the link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter or note sent home.

Wired Kids! Grade K to 12 - Parry Aftab, Esq- permalink -

This site contains all of the information that educators and parents need to know about keeping kids safe online. It contains games, resources, publications and links to help teach students about internet safety and cyber bullying. Click on the link for parents, tweens, kids, educators, or teens. The site challenges students to learn about the rules of cyber world and find their inner superhero. This site provides wonderful information to educators on a variety of “cyber” topics. For students to fully use this site, they must register (via snail mail). However, many of the informational links are available online with no registration required. Please note the link to their safe search engine was broken at the time of this review, but there were links to other safe search engines. In addition, the site of the week seems to be from 2005. Even so, there is a lot of useful information available at this site for students, teachers, and parents.
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In the Classroom:
Share this link on your class web page and/or in a parent newsletter to help parents learn about internet safety and cyber bullying. Educators use the site as a place to gather information to create a cyber-bullying curriculum. Have your students visit the kids or tweens section and have them read the articles written by real kids. After reading have your students choose a topic and write their own article. Have them publish the articles to a blog or use a Web 2.0 tool like Bookemon reviewed here to create an online book. Have students take the quiz to find out if they've ever been cyber bullied.

Scared of Cyber-Bullies? Grade 1 to 12 - CBS News- permalink -

School bullying has taken a high-tech twist. This CBS article, with accompanying video and interactive features, describes this alarming trend and provides information for parents and teachers on how to protect children and teens from cyber crime.
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In the Classroom:
Though short, this article provides teachers and parents with an awareness as to the extent that cyber bullying can go. Discuss with students the consequences of online-bullying, and use this article to show the effects it can have on it's victims.Encourage students to bring the article home to parents, or take the middle man out and post it on a teacher wiki or webpage to allow parents instance access. This would be an appropriate prerequisite before a project that requires virtual interaction, such as googledocs, (reviewed here), or any other online classroom resource.

Bullying - How to Help the Victim Grade 1 to 5 - Boys Town- permalink -

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In the Classroom:
Tips for parents on strategies to counter bullying.

CyberBullying Grade 2 to 12 - Bill Belsey- permalink -

This portal site is loaded with links, information, and resources to use in your classroom to teach about this timely issue. Although it is a Canadian affiliated site, information applies to all youth around the world. Highlights of this site include fact sheets, examples, resources, and more. Especially take note of the first fact sheet in the “What Can Be Done” section, which shows you how to be a sleuth in figuring out who is doing the anonymous cyberbullying. Fact sheets require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
This is a great site for computer teachers (and regular education teachers) to share with their students and parents. Please review the “What Can Be Done” section with students. Cut and paste, then laminate the rules into small posters to be hung near all computers. Create a notebook of cyberbullying facts, and include the fact sheets at this site. Be sure to share the link with parents and your PTO/PTA, as well.

Eight Forty-Eight: Cyber Bullying Grade 3 to 12 - Chicago Public Radio- permalink -

This article, available in both audio recording and print on the web page, shares a parent's experience discovering that her daughter has been the victim of cyberbullying. The article is written from an adult perspective, but the facts and feelings it reveals are very real to anyone. Parents with children as young as elementary grades should be aware of things they should watch for, say, and do to help their children. Teachers should read it to understand the nature of the problem, as well.
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In the Classroom:
Share this article with parents in a newsletter or school web page so they, too, can be involved in talking with their children about cyberbullying. Use it as a discussion starter for a parent organization meeting or possibly in a group of middle school students to open the conversation about their experiences and how different they are from what their parents were familiar with as children. Both parents and children would benefit from open dialog on the subject as part of a consistent effort for Internet safety in your school and homes.

Bullying Online Grade 1 to 12 - - permalink -

This British site offers a very complete resource, and its foreign origin may offer a slightly different spin from that encountered on American sites. Teachers and parents alike should find the content useful, and there is a deep well of content submitted by students. American users should note that both the legal situation and the school rules in Britain can differ from that in the US in some significant respects.
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Internet Safety Zone Resources Grade K to 12 - Cyberspace Research Unit- permalink -

This website offers tons of information on the dangers of the internet and how to keep children safe when they are there. Resources found here are great for educators and parents alike. The site also provides PDF documents on numerous “non” internet topics: hate at school, suicide, eating disorders, sexual abuse, cellular phones, bullying, and more. There are also multimedia presentations (all related to Internet Safety).
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In the Classroom:
Use this for your own background information on internet safety (or the other topics provided at this site) or for your students. Create lessons on internet safety for computer and communications classes. Show Power Points from the website to students to begin technology discussion about the uses of the internet. You or your school could also print out or electronically share fact sheets from this resource with parents. This is a great resource to list on your class website for parents to explore together with their students. Guidance counselors (and teachers) may want to save this site in their favorites.

Have cooperative learning groups explore one of the Internet Safety guides or presentations to learn more about specific topics. Then have the groups create multimedia presentations sharing their findings. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here.

Back To School Grade K to 8 - BBC- permalink -

Although this site was created to help students in Britain prepare for "Back To School," many of the tips and activities are useful to students from all over the world. This site provides interactive quizzes, informative guides, and numerous features. The guide section provides a lot of details about very useful subjects including bullies, school uniforms, exam stress, dyslexia, creativity and other subjects. The Press Packs section is written by a student for students' use and includes topics such as being the new kid in school and organic lunches.
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In the Classroom:
Include a link to this website on your "Welcome Back" newsletter. Parents are sure to appreciate the informative subjects, links and activities.

Cybersmart Curriculum Grade K to 12 - McGraw – Hill- permalink -

This site boasts activities designed to help educators utilize technology and internet resources in the class room. The site provides lessons and web-activities about technology and the internet for grades K-12. The activities are all standards based. The topics include cyberbullying, web 2.0 tools, K-12 scope and sequence chart, safety and security online, and others!
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In the Classroom:
If you are teaching your students about Internet safety, cyberbullying, Web 2.0 terminology, and more, be sure to check out this site. If you are looking for a full "ready to go" lesson plan or a quick activity to use, you will find something here.

D.A.R.E Grade K to 12 - Drug Abuse Resistance Education- permalink -

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program has a colorful new "cool" website that cleverly teaches students how to resist peer pressure, abstain from drugs, violence, and gangs. Fun features such as Lucky Kat TV provide cartoons and videos about Internet safety, confronting bullies, and the correct use of prescription drugs. There are opportunities to share photos, poems, and videos and engage in interactive activities. Follow the adult link for more in-depth information meant for parents and caregivers.
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In the Classroom:
Classes that are participating in the D.A.R.E program may want to bookmark this site on the computers in the learning station and use it as a center. Turn a podium style lecture into a more active learning experience. Project activities such as "D.A.R.E. Squares" onto an interactive whiteboard or projector and enjoy learning about the dangers of using prescription drugs that belong to others. Many of the site features will work as great starting points for individual or group projects. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Even if your school does not have a D.A.R.E. program in place, this site will support content taught during red ribbon week or health class. Share this link on your class web page and/or in a parent newsletter for those who are dealing with these challenges.

Wired Safety Grade 1 to 12 - Parry Aftab- permalink -

No filtering will ever protect our students completely online. It is important to teach them to protect themselves, as well. Wired Safety is a compilation site about internet safety concerns and includes information for parents, teachers, librarians, and children. PDF printables for parents in Spanish and English make the information easy to share. A special Hot Topics section keeps the site up to date with subjects such as cyberbullying, MySpace, child pornography etc. A collection of lesson plans under the educator link offer resources and ideas for the classroom.
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In the Classroom:
Some portions, such as the cyberbullying "quiz" are easy for students to complete on their own (on laptops or in a lab) and follow up with a discussion. Take some time to explore the various areas of this site so you'll know where to look when questions come up and can address internet safety every time you use computers at school, rather than as a separate "lesson." Share the printables with parents at open house or conferences.

Girls Health Grade 4 to 12 - The Department of Health and Human Services- permalink -

The goal of Girls Health is to "promote healthy, positive behaviors in girls between the ages of 10 and 16." The site addresses issues all young teenage girls face. It provides constructive advice on a number of health issues such as; body changes, nutrition, relationships, bullying, Internet safety, drugs, alcohol, and smoking. There are separate sections for educators and parents that include additional links and materials free to download. In 2008, Girls Health won the Aesculapius (Greek god of healing) Award of Excellence.
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In the Classroom:
Girls Health's "Body" page is a great resource to support a reproductive health class. Make sure your guidance counselor knows about this site. Project this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Demonstrate how to navigate the site and then ask students to research various content areas in small groups or independently. Students can find the definition to key terms in the text by following their direct link to the glossary. Use the Drugs, Alcohol, and Smoking as a reliable source during Red Ribbon Week. Use this site as an anticipatory set or “activator” to introduce a unit on drugs. Ask the class to take an on-line quiz to determine what students already know about drugs and what misconceptions they may have. This site is an excellent resource to have students’ access during Red Ribbon week. They can create a multimedia presentation to define various drugs and reveal the harmful effects they have on the body. Consider having students create a drug prevention booklet with PocketMod (reviewed here) from the information they learn.

Power To Learn Grade K to 12 - Cablevision- permalink -

Find great resources on Power To Learn. Check out the Internet Smarts section for Interactive Case studies, Online Resources, and materials to help teachers/students/parents with digital safety. Teachers and Parents can find information on how to use these materials with students. Find interactives about cyber-bullying, illegal musical downloads, wireless internet, social networking sites, misinformation, and more!
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In the Classroom:
Use the case studies to open discussion about Internet Safety and making good choices online. Encourage students to discuss other examples not offered on this site. Create a school wide campaign that enlightens and informs others about how to be safe digitally. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create interactive online posters ("glogs") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Involve parents and the community in creating a safe digital environment for all. Be sure to share this link on your class website.

PS4K Grade 3 to 12 - Mark C. Bird- permalink -

Poems and Stories for Kids, created by poet Mark C. Bird, offers collections of poems that speak to kids and focus on relevant themes like holidays, family, being picked last, and bullies. While Bird's poetry speaks to kids, you will want to be selective in using his poems due to some sensitive issues. Students can also send in their own work and blog with Mark Bird.
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In the Classroom:
Select one or two poems to share with students using an interactive whiteboard or document camera. After discussing the poems, have students come up with questions for the poet. Post the questions on the blog. Or have students create an online poetry poster using Glogster EDU, reviewed here and list their questions. Leave the URL to your poster on his blog. It is sure to get his attention!

transl8it! Grade 3 to 12 - Translate it!- permalink -

Impress your class when you give them a taste of their own lingo. Stay informed about what your students are writing. Just key ( or paste) in your regular text (in ENGLISH) or your SMS (short message service) , TXT, emoticon, smiley, slang, or chat room lingo and let this site translate it. The site can translate “lingo” to English or English to “lingo.” Since we always cry that regular English is going down the tubes, reverse the trend by giving students a dose of their short-cut text English and have them re-write it into normal English. Teach grammar skills by coming in the back door…this time the back door is the door most frequently entered by our youth. Want to give it a try? Translate this: dEr claS, I knO U typ wds dat L%k lIk DIS wen Im not l%kin. It iz important 4 U 2 knO how 2 wrte propR eng. n employer wiL eva hire U f U wrte lIk DIS. pls transl8 DIS pargrph in2 propR eng. U wiL earn a gud grade f U do. --yor Tcha

What’s the translation? Dear class, I know you type words that look like this when I'm not looking. It is important for you to know how to write proper English. No employer will ever hire you if you write like this. Please translate this paragraph into proper English. You will earn a good grade if you do. -Your teacher

Translations are not always perfect, but you will get “the gist.” Parents will also appreciate this site as a tool to help them understand their children’s writings. There are some minor advertisements at this website. There is also a place to "log-in." Registration is free but is not required to use this site.
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In the Classroom:
Teachers (or administrators), you may need this translator to decode SMS/TXT text lingo used by your students when you cannot decipher it. You may also have concerns about your students’ online behavior and need some assistance monitoring for bullying or risky behavior. Just type (or paste) in the message and click on the ‘transl8it’ button. Presto…it’s English again.

Use this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector during the first day of school to introduce yourself to the class using “their” language (and your expectations to use proper English). Be sure to share it on your teacher web page as a tool for parents, as well.

Newsround - BBC News for Kids Grade 3 to 8 - BBC- permalink -

This highly-participatory, attractive world news site for kids lets children select all the normal news features like tv/movies, music, weather, sports, animals, sci/tech etc. Students can join the Press Pack and submit their own photos and comments. Under Newsroom, kids have the options of submitting a report they’ve researched and written; it will be displayed on the website! They can also ask for a certain topic to be investigated. Topic suggestions can be found here too. Personal advice columns are totally cyber with one current topic, bullying, available in video webchat format. A message board with current comments runs across the top of the site like a ticker tape. Other interactive features include student voting, blogs, and games. Besides features for students, video clips, quizzes, and educational games comprise some of the offerings for teachers . Requires the RealPlayer G2 Plug in to watch the Newsround videos.
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In the Classroom:
Note: the site is British, so spelling and topics have a UK slant! Make sure you have parent permission for students to post work to the site, and keep their identities safe by using pseudonyms or initials. Encourage those with Internet access to visit the site with mom and dad to talk about current events together (include the link on your teacher web page). If you are familiar with RSS feeds, this would be a good choice for a first feed.

Back to School Tips Grade K to 8 - American Academy of Pediatrics- permalink -

Parents of elementary and middle school students will be delighted with this helpful collection of ideas for successfully entering a new school year. Backpack safety, study habits, bullying, television use, and homework and study habits are just a few of the topics discussed.
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In the Classroom:
If you have a summer newsletter, be sure to highlight this website. List this website on your class website during the summer months for parents to view during the break.

E-learning for kids Grade K to 6 - e-learning for kids- permalink -

Check out this site offering FREE learning courses to students in science, language arts, English language, math, health and life skills, and computer skills. Choose from a wide variety of different learning experiences in the subject areas for earning in a fun and engaging way. Each subject area has countless interactives ready to go! Detailed instructions are provided for each activity. You can control sound easily from the screen.
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In the Classroom:
Use these "courses" as reinforcement of concepts, to uncover misconceptions, and to explore interesting topics. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Create learning centers focuses on the specific content of the activities. Have cooperative learning groups (or individual students) explore specific topics and report back to the class. For example, have each group view the activities for a specific body part (blood, brain, hearing, immune system, heart and circulation, skeleton, skin, teeth, and more) and create a multimedia presentation. Have cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Provide this link on your class website for families to explore together.

Teaching Tolerance Grade K to 12 - Southern Poverty Law Center- permalink -

Teaching Tolerance is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center and seeks to provide educators with tools to reduce prejudice of all kinds. You might already be familiar with this group's "Mix it Up" initiative which seeks to get middle school and high school students to sit with someone new for one day during lunch at the cafeteria. This site contains lesson plans, links for teachers, parents, teens, and kids, current topics related to prejudice, an on-line version of the Teaching Tolerance magazine, an order form for free curriculum materials, and links to other resources.

The teacher’s link offers classroom activities (many interactive) that tie in with the lesson plans. There is also a link to receive FREE kits and handbooks! The “Parents” link offers activities and ideas for ages 2-17! There are online activities, recommended books, “talking points” for parents, and more. The “For Teens” link includes a wealth of resources: video clips, lessons, 10 steps to take action, downloadable posters, essays, and true stories. The Kid’s link offers “read,” “Explore,” and “Play” options for elementary (and younger middle school) students. A “sign up” box appears when you first enter the site, click on the X to remove the box.
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In the Classroom:
Of course, the obvious uses for this site include preparing for Black History Month or Women's History Month, consult this site for more than that! Don’t just visit the Teacher’s link, but check out the kids and teens links for videos and interactive that you can share on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If you are unsure of how to approach a touchy subject with your students--either a subject from the news like the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rules, or something that is happening in your school or community, this site can provide resources for you and your students. Subscribe to Tolerance.org's emailed newsletter, or order one of the curriculum kits; the newest one is Viva la Causa about Cesar Chavez and the struggle for justice for farmworkers in the 1960s. This is a great addition to your school’s bully program! Take advantage of the free lesson plans, class activities, interactive, and book recommendations. This is definitely one to list on your class website!

Pikikids Grade K to 9 - pikikids.com- permalink -

Teachers First Edge Review: For slightly adventurous technology users. Looking for a kid-friendly comic strip generator? Use this easy to navigate site to create comic strips (free) and even t-shirts and other items that can be purchased. Use photos from your computer or the Internet (ethically obtained, of course). Add captions, word bubbles, icons, hats, glasses, and more to customize the pictures. Alter the pictures by stretching, cropping, framing, and even coloring to make a unique creation. Once finished, other users can comment and rate it. Share using a social networking site or embed in a wiki, blog, or site. Note that ads do appear on the site and students should be cautioned about these.
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In the Classroom:
Skills required: Users must be able to find and upload local computer pictures or find suitable pictures on the Internet. It is wise to use your own pictures or those pictures online that are copyright free. Follow the very easy to use tools and directions on the site. Click create to begin and create a login. Though an email is required you can begin using without any problems. Follow the screens to complete the customizing of your comic strip.

Safety/security: Students should be taught the basics of commenting and what is considered appropriate. All creations appear in a gallery and can be commented on by others. The home page of this site includes changing “featured” content contributed by the general public and may not be suitable for the classroom (however, no instances of such has been found by this reviewer.) You may want to send students here via a direct link to the log-in page instead. This site allows outsiders to comment on and rate your projects. Many school policies prohibit such interaction, so be sure to check your school policy. You will want to discuss these features in the context of Internet Safety or establish specific written class rules and consequences for interacting with outsiders. Students must have individual accounts (email required). Check your school policies about accessing/sharing student email on school computers. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how. Consider creating a class account that all students log in to and use. Create specific titles that students remember are theirs. All projects are public. Check your school policy for posting student work online and explain to parents that only those who know the URL can find the projects. Written permission is always a good idea.

In the classroom: Instead of writing boring summaries, why not summarize through a comic strip? Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year. That book will become the most read classroom book of all in an elementary classroom. Use comics to show sequencing of events. When studying about characterization, create dialog to show (not tell) about a character. Another idea - why not use the comic strips for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying). Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or draw the pictures) than use the actual words. World language and ESL/ELL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternate to traditional written assessments. Use to outline steps in a science experiment. Reinforce vocabulary by having students create strips with characters using the new words.

PBS Kids Internet License Grade 1 to 5 - PBS Kids GO- permalink -

This simple site introduces your students to key internet-related terminology and safety issues. To get started, have students type their name (first name only) into the text box and click “drive.” Next, simply click on one of the items in the circular web (i.e. privacy policy, be nice, meeting people, downloading, c is for cookies, passwords, and several others).. Answer the question by clicking in the circle. The correct answer is displayed as well as a definition of that term or process. In the same fashion, click on all the other terms. When finished, a gender-correct license will be ‘issued.’ Simply print out the license for your student to show they ‘know’ safety features and terms of the internet.
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In the Classroom:
At the beginning of the year, make this an introductory computer-use lesson for elementary students. Introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students navigate the site on individual computers or set-up a learning station.

Set a classroom goal for 100% of the students to gain a license. Post the licenses on a bulletin board that highlights internet safety. Invite your computer lab teacher to address internet safety before passing out the ‘licenses.’ See if students can come up with additional internet safety guidelines.

NS Teens: Making Safer Online Choices Grade 5 to 12 - National Center for Missing and Exploited Children- permalink -

If you teach teens, then you need to remind them continually of internet safety and protocol. This cool, upbeat site is fully loaded with teen-friendly music, videos, comic strips, and more, all communicating the need for internet responsibility. If you want general internet safety information, visit the sister site to NSTeens, NetSmartz Workshop: (reviewed here). ESL and ELL teachers will love the Spanish version of this site (including Spanish downloads). This site requires Flash.
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In the Classroom:
Teachers, you will find plenty of resources for teaching net safety to teens when you click on ‘teaching materials’ at the bottom left of the homepage (this takes you to the sister site – NetSmartz Workshop). Videos, fact sheets, lesson plans and activities await you there.

Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to share the video clips or comics. Have students create their own internet safety videos and share them using a tool such as YouTube or TeacherTube (explained here). List this site on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. You will also want to share it with parents.

Comic Creator Grade 2 to 12 - ReadWriteThink.org- permalink -

Your students will create professional-looking comics in minutes using this Comic Creator site. No log-in is required. Just type in the prompted information, such as the name of comic character, author, caption, and of course, the dialog that goes into the speech bubble. The ‘creator’ chooses the number of panels, type of characters, style of speech bubble, and various props. Two actions are needed: clicking and dragging the items to go into the comic strip, and typing dialog into the bubbles. Then, presto….a genuine comic appears, ready for printing. The tool DOES support accent marks pasted from Word. (Unfortunately, there is no way to save your comic masterpieces.) This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
Instead of writing boring summaries, why not summarize through a comic strip. It’s much like storyboarding, but the drawing has been left to the Comic Creator pros. Make a class book of the comics created throughout the year. That book will become the most read classroom book of all in an elementary classroom. Use comics to show sequencing of events. When studying about characterization, create dialog to show (not tell) about a character. Another idea - why not use the comic strips for conflict resolution or other guidance issues (such as bullying). Sometimes it is easier for students to write it down (or draw the pictures) than use the actual words. World language and ESL/ELL teachers can assign students to create dialog strips as an alternate to traditional written assessments.

Cyber Angels Grade 1 to 12 - Cyber Angels- permalink -

This award-winning site focuses on Internet safety. Advertised as being the "the country's leading specialist on cyber crimes" (Boston Globe. March 10, 2000), the site offers downloadable guides of different levels for parents and students, training for schools, and a variety of information about how to protect oneself against cyber crime. There are downloadable student and parent Internet user agreements, brochures,and tip sheets. Some areas of the site are still being developed.
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In the Classroom:
As you start any class activity that uses the Internet, refer to the basics you learn from this site. Even if your school "teaches" Internet safety in another class, YOU need to reinforce it every time you have students online so they realize the universal importance of safety principles -- even with older teens.

Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Share the printables with parents at open house or conferences.