Getting Beyond Bullying and Exclusion, Pre K-5: Empowering Children in Inclusive Classrooms

When children, especially those with challenges, are not sufficiently understood and supported, they suffer intense frustration that contributes to social and academic failures. This book focuses on the vulnerabilities of youngsters to be bullied, especially those with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), Aspergers Syndrome, and gifted abilities. Getting Beyond Bullying and Exclusion, PreK-5 explains the victim dynamic, including how otherwise well-meaning adults can inadvertently facilitate development of victim personalities in children or unintentionally contribute to the development of bully personalities. The book also describes: bullying styles, including classic male models of domination and intimidation, and the relational bullying that is more characteristic of females; how some children, especially those with challenges, may be more likely to bully others to compensate for low self-esteem; how children with Aspergers Syndrome or gifted abilities and those who may enjoy greater popularity, can develop a sense of arrogance and superiority that leads to intellectual bullying, including cyber-bullying; and, methods for intervening early before a negative dynamic progresses into middle or high school and affecting change becomes more difficult.