Pick of the Day: Gum in My Hair: How to Cope with Bullying Version 2.0 (DVD)

Gum in My Hair: How to Cope with Bullying Version 2.0. DVD. 21:22 min. with tchr’s. guide. Twisted Scholar. 2012. ISBN 978-0-9837899-2-5. $69.95.
Gr 4-9–The host of this entertaining and effective program uses lighthearted humor to help kids learn about bullying—what it looks like, who are the perpetrators, and how it can be prevented. Approximately half of all kids have been bullied and the same amount of kids has bullied others. The video host, along with students who have been bullied and two experts in the field, dispel common myths and share strategies for bullying prevention. Professional recommendations cover the importance of avoiding the bully, exuding self-confidence, cultivating friendships, telling the bully to stop and drawing attention to the behavior, and telling a trusted adult. This program sends an important message that bullying is not to be tolerated in our schools and that everyone has a responsibility to prevent it. Originally produced in 2003 and used in thousands of schools, this updated version features new research about the role of bystanders and the importance of having allies, new interviews with Leslie Walker, MD, and sociologist Pepper Schwartz, and more. This program should be required viewing for every upper elementary and middle school student.–Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT