Bullying has always been an issue in schools, but with the addition of the internet and social media in recent decades, it has taken on many new forms. In its most basic definition, bullying is defined as the repetitive pestering of others through intimidation or behaviors that make life miserable or extremely unpleasant. Bullying may look different depending on the age of the students involved, but its general makeup is still the same. Let’s identify types of bullying in elementary, middle, and high school.

Bullying in Elementary School

Because of the sensitive nature of bullying, it is easy for students in elementary school to label any negative behavior toward themselves or others as bullying; however, bullying is a repetitive behavior where a student is being badgered or harassed more than just a single occurrence. Bullying in elementary school generally involves verbal bullying like name calling and teasing; although, physical bullying (via hitting, pushing, kicking, etc.) may also be present in an elementary school setting.

Bullying in Middle School

Middle school students are notorious for name calling and teasing others. This may be due to puberty and surging hormones, immaturity, and many other factors. Bullying in middle school is most often seen as verbal harassment and social alienation; but as with elementary students, physical violence toward others cannot be ruled out. Because more and more students are given access to technology at a younger age, students in middle school can be subjected to bullying via social media or other virtual platforms.

Bullying in High School

Bullying in high school is evolving more through social media than in the middle or elementary school levels. Although most of these situations take place outside of school, the boiling point often comes to fruition at school. Unfortunately, teachers and school administration have a hard time detecting these types of bullying situations as most students do not speak up out of fear of peer retaliation. Because of this, it is extremely important that teachers be knowledgeable enough to recognize the signs of bullying in students in order to begin identifying virtual bullying.

How can it Impact Students?

Academic Impacts

Unfortunately, bullying can negatively impact a student’s performance academically. This can be seen throughout all grade levels, but it may affect older students who are experiencing bullying more often than those in elementary grades. Students suffer from a lack of motivation, lack of focus, or even a fear of being successful in the classroom after repetitive harassment from another student. Additionally, students who are bullied may have a generalized fear of going to school.

Social Impacts

It goes without saying that bullying most certainly impacts students in the social arena. Bullied students are typically not considered popular; thus, they may deal with social isolation or may be excluded more often than not. Students who are bullied may feel socially awkward, struggle to carry on conversations due to lack of self-esteem, and shy away from social situations due to anxiety.

Mental and Emotional Impacts

The social impacts of bullying are directly related to the mental and emotional impacts of bullying as well. Students who feel isolated, excluded, and ostracized from peers are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. In addition to these factors, students who feel threatened physically by a peer or deal with any other form of bullying may have an extreme lack of self-confidence or cope with self-esteem issues.

Physical Impacts

Aside from experiencing depression or anxiety, students who are bullied may complain of various health issues. Stomach aches and headaches are often reported among students dealing with bullying situations, but it is also not uncommon for students to have trouble sleeping or a lower ability to fight infections due to increased levels of stress in the body and their impact on the immune system.

Many students may even pretend to be sick in order to avoid school due to those unwanted and unpleasant bullying situations. One of the most disturbing and detrimental impacts of bullying is the possibility of student suicide. This is yet another reason why students and school staff should be knowledgeable in identifying the signs of bullying.

Strategies for Preventing Bullying in Schools

There are many ways that teachers and schools can educate students on bullying behaviors and how to thwart them from happening. Obviously, there are no guaranteed ways to prevent it, but the ideas and strategies laid out below will provide a good place to start in how to stop bullying in schools.

Educate Students about Bullying

Schools can help decrease the amount of bullying activity by educating students about it. This route is especially helpful for students in elementary school. The sooner students understand bullying and how to identify it, the sooner bullying behaviors can be dramatically reduced in schools.

In addition to recognizing bullying behaviors, students should learn basic social-emotional skills that allow them to interact with others appropriately from an early age. Students should learn how to correctly engage with others and stand up for or express themselves in the proper way. All of these skills are crucial to a child’s development and progression into adulthood.

Staff and Faculty Training

Schools and school districts should educate teachers and staff about bullying and how to identify the signs among students. Many times, students do not report bullying for a multitude of reasons including fear; therefore, teachers may be the first line of defense in combating bullying. Once school staff understand what bullying looks like and how to recognize it, they may take steps to interfere.

Speak Up

Being silent when it comes to bullying is never the answer. Specifically, students who witness bullying should be taught to speak up and report it to a teacher or the school administration. Many times, students who resort to suicide or other self-harming behaviors do so because they feel like they do not have any other way out of the negative situation. By speaking up, students can bring awareness to the bullying that is taking place and help put an end to it.

Create Student Support Systems

Student clubs and organizations are excellent ways to build community and camaraderie among students. Elementary students could form a “Kindness Club” to perform random acts of kindness for members of the community, school staff, or other students. Middle and high school students could create clubs to discuss mutual interests such as photography, robotics, drama, and so much more!

Overall, students have strength in numbers, and these types of opportunities provide students with a chance to create beneficial support systems and valuable bonds with others. Regardless of the type of club or organization, students who form friendships with others are less likely to experience bullying on a large scale and are able to cope with it more effectively and in a more positive manner.

Classroom Discussions

This activity can be beneficial to middle and high school students. Teachers may host weekly discussions to help identify and combat bullying. The goal of these discussions is not to call out bullies or those individuals who are experiencing bullying, but they are to analyze and evaluate why bullying is taking place in the first place. Another purpose of the weekly discussions is to bring awareness to bullying by identifying the reasons bullies behave the way they do toward others.

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Because of the technology and communication explosion, the number of ways students can be bullied has increased significantly also. While in-person bullying still exists, cyberbullying is becoming increasingly prevalent as well.

When I was in middle school, there was a boy who would make me wait to get dressed after athletics. He would put his boot on my locker because it was more important for him to get dressed than it was for me to be on time to my next class. It was repeated in that it happened often, he was bigger so it was intimidating, it was through body language, and it infringed on my rights at school. Thus, according to the current definition, this qualifies as bullying. Back then, I essentially just had to deal with the situation.

What is Bullying?

For a thorough definition of bullying, the Texas School Administrators Legal Digest cites Senate Bill 179: The law defines bullying as “a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means….that: (i) has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property; (ii) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; (iii) materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or (iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school.”

In simple terms, bullying is an act or pattern of acts that involves an imbalance of power (written, verbal, or electronic) that could harm the student physically or their property, is persistent, disrupts the educational environment for the students, and infringes on the rights of the student. Texas State’s Texas School Safety Center has created a great checklist to help administrators when deciding what is bullying.

Impact of Bullying on Students

Sadly, some bullying instances end in suicide. A good number of bullying instances end up with some level of depression or feelings of inadequacy as students try to deal with it on their own.

Fear is a common response as the victim becomes fearful of the one(s) who performs the bullying and of others who might view them as potential bullying targets. Fear also plays a role as students are often fearful to come forward with what is taking place in their lives because they fear retaliation from the bully, do not know who to talk to, or they are just nervous about opening up to someone for help.

With cyberbullying, where and when bullying can occur has been taken to another level. In their homes late at night, students can bully other students through words and pictures, and when it disrupts their work at school, it can become a school issue also. Cyberbullying is very hard to track and prevent, making it a very difficult event to even investigate. Help from the community and parents is very important in this arena.

In the end, what bullying does to the victim is that it creates mental and physical bruises and scars that can take many years to recover from.

Bullying Prevention Strategies

Thus, let’s look at some of the best ways to prevent bullying or at least provide a way for students to come forward if they are victims.

This is not groundbreaking, but from 18 complete years in education, the clear number one answer to help stop bullying is in building relationships, and this involves two major components: visibility and knowing who to talk to.

First, visibility! The more teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, librarians, custodians, and staff members are out and about, by doors in the hallway, near bathroom doors, in locker rooms, etc…the fewer negative things can happen. The more eyes that are watching our students, the less chance bullying will occur.

The second aspect that visibility provides is that students get to know people in the building, and this way they can find the person in their head who they can turn to when and if they need that safe place to go. If the students don’t know who is on campus, they will not know who to turn to!

Second, in the long run, a strong campus-wide prevention program can help. This brings to the forefront the issue to students and everyone on campus so it becomes more noticed. This can drive the bullies into the shadows as the campus culture makes it clear that bullying is not acceptable.

As second prong to the school-wide program (especially at the middle school level) is to have counselors in the classrooms providing guidance. Yes, there will be young eyes rolling, and yes, some kids will smirk and laugh, but counselors and others in the classroom will create avenues for students to eventually open up to the right people who can help the most.

Third, and this will work for more than bullying, have a district or campus program where students can report instances anonymously. We have used very convenient apps where students can send messages to counselors and administrators, and better than fifty percent of the time, there is something that comes from the tip. Whether a fight is averted, a vape is found, or a mental health issue is addressed, good can come from this.

Finally, make it clear to students where their safe places are in the building. Students need to know where to go for help. That help can range from mental to physical needs to school supplies, etc…just make sure your students know where they can go!

The bottom line to prevent bullying is in the relationships built with students. Students must know they are being protected, and they must know they have someone or some place to go where they can get help.

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Teachers play a critical role in creating a safe and inclusive environment by actively preventing and addressing student bullying. This guide provides practical strategies for how to manage bullying in the classroom and foster a culture of kindness and respect.

Setting Clear Expectations Early

To combat bullying in the classroom, you must establish a zero-tolerance policy from day one. On the first day of school, make it clear that your classroom is a safe space where kindness is the rule and bullying will not be tolerated. Don’t assume students know what bullying is.

Provide specific examples of what it looks like, including both direct behaviors like teasing or hitting, and indirect ones like social exclusion or spreading rumors. Explain the consistent consequences for this behavior so students understand the seriousness of the issue.

Beyond consequences, it’s vital to emphasize the importance of kindness and acceptance. Remind students of these principles throughout the school year, not just at the beginning. You can do this by incorporating discussions about respect and empathy into your daily lessons.

Know and Follow School and District Policies

Every school and district has specific protocols for handling bullying in the classroom. Before an incident occurs, familiarize yourself with your district’s policies and know where to find them. This will allow you to act quickly and confidently if a problem arises.

Make sure your students also understand the school-wide consequences for bullying in school. When bullying happens, follow the established policies and make sure to involve parents or guardians as outlined by the school’s guidelines. This ensures a unified approach and reinforces that the school takes bullying in the classroom seriously.

Establish a Student Reporting Protocol

Even with strong prevention measures, bullying in the classroom can still happen. When a student is bullied, they need a safe way to seek help. At the beginning of the year, create a clear and discreet protocol for students to report bullying to you.

Give them multiple options to choose from, like handing you a note, sending an email if that’s an option, or requesting a private conference with you during a break. Stress the importance of reporting student bullying as soon as possible and encourage students to report it even if they have only witnessed another classmate being bullied.

It’s important that they understand they are a part of the solution and that you value their voice.

Stay Tuned In

Teachers are constantly multitasking, but creating a bully-free environment requires your full attention. When students are working, avoid the temptation to get consumed with other tasks. Instead, circulate the classroom to maintain your presence.

This not only keeps students on task but also allows you to observe social dynamics. Listen to conversations and intervene if you hear them becoming disrespectful or unkind. This constant vigilance is key to preventing bullying before it escalates and shows students that you are actively invested in their well-being.

Follow Up

After you’ve addressed a bullying in school incident, it’s crucial to follow up with everyone involved—the students and their parents. Take a moment to check in with the victim and ask if the situation has improved.

Contact the parents and let them know you are monitoring the situation and ask if their child has expressed any further concerns. For the student who was bullying, a follow-up discussion can reinforce the consequences and provide an opportunity for them to reflect on their behavior. This shows that you take bullying seriously and are committed to ensuring a safe environment for all students by preventing future bullying.

Recognizing the Signs of Bullying

It’s important to be able to recognize the signs that a student might be involved in bullying, either as a victim or a perpetrator. Look for these subtle behavioral changes:

• For the student being bullied: Unexplained injuries, a decline in school performance, reluctance to go to school, sudden social withdrawal, or changes in eating habits.
• For the student who is bullying: An aggressive or demanding demeanor, unexplained money or new possessions, a lack of empathy, or a tendency to blame others for their problems.

Differentiating Bullying from Normal Conflict

Not every disagreement is bullying. Knowing the difference and what bullying is helps you respond appropriately.

• Conflict is a disagreement between two or more people where both parties have some power in the situation. It’s often a one-time event, and the parties involved want to resolve the issue.
• Bullying, on the other hand, is a power imbalance. It involves repeated, intentional behavior aimed at causing harm, fear, or distress to a person who is unable to defend themselves.

Collaborating with the Wider School Community

Managing bullying isn’t a solo job. The most effective approach is to involve the entire school community. Collaborate with:

• School Counselors: They can provide targeted support for both the victim and the bully.
• Administrators: Report every incident to ensure it is logged and handled according to school policy.
• Parents: Maintain an open line of communication to work together on a solution.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bullying

Q: What if the student doesn’t want me to tell their parents?

A: Explain that while you must follow school policy and involve parents, you will work with them to ensure their safety and well-being through the process. Reassure them you’re on their side.

Q: Can I get in trouble for not reporting bullying?

A: Yes. Educators are often mandated reporters. Not following school and district policy on reporting can have serious professional and legal consequences.

Q: What is the most common type of bullying?

A: The most common form of bullying in school is verbal, including name-calling, teasing, and spreading rumors. Bullying in school often can become cyberbullying outside of school hours as well.

*Updated August 2025

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