Advice for Academic Achievement

Wisconsin Connections Academy Principal Michelle Mueller Offers Advice for Academic Achievement

No matter where or how your student learns, these tips are keys to success!

At school, student achievement is always a defining goal, but student safety is also paramount.

“Keeping kids safe” has a new meaning in this Internet age, and educators and parents alike need to know what to look for and where to turn in the event of Internet safety issues.

October is National Anti-Cyberbullying Awareness and Bullying Prevention Month, and it seems appropriate to focus on ways to keep students safe online. No matter if a student learns virtually with Wisconsin Connections Academy, the state’s K-12 tuition-free online public school, or in a
brick-and-mortar school, the Internet is a part of education and day-to-day life; knowing how to stay safe while using it is vital to a student’s personal and academic success.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Bullies aren’t only on the playground – With the growth of online communications and various types of technology, cyberbullies use email, text messaging, comment boards and other online forums to harass others.
  

• No news isn’t always good news – Oftentimes, it is difficult for students to come forward and discuss their bullying situations even with close friends, parents and teachers, so it’s important to keep an open dialogue.
  

• Know where your students are without being overbearing – Whether going to an afterschool program or visiting a new website, students can be targeted by bullying anywhere. By actively monitoring where they are spending time online, it is possible to connect a student’s attitudes with an activity and be aware of behavioral changes.
  

• Encourage personal boundaries – Students of all ages succumb to peer pressure or cross the line at some point in their lives. By talking with students about setting personal boundaries, they can understand how important it is to receive help when it is needed and also recognize how their negative actions can affect others.
  

If a student gets into a situation where they are being bullied or you suspect they themselves are the bully:

• Communicate immediately – Students should have a trusted adult that they can come to in a time of need. By offering open lines of communication with students, they can feel comfortable to come to you. If a student shares an Internet safety issue with you, it is important for the adult to reach out to school faculty and staff to address the bullying immediately.
  

• Document details – Whether it means printing out an email or having a student draft up a description of what happened, it is important to have a detailed account of potential bullying incidents. This process helps the school and the affected students understand the situation and have a clear depiction of what occurred.
  

Finally, here are some tips for good online etiquette:

Display good manners – Treat others the way you would like to be treated. It is that simple, and we should urge friends and family to do this every day.

Think twice before you write/speak – It doesn’t matter if it is online, through texting or to someone’s face, words carry meaning and negative words can be damaging. Consider the effects that will result from negative words for both the bullied and the bully.

Any student can become victim to bullying or cyber-harm. We must work together to ensure that our students are being taught to treat people with respect and to always come forward if they feel they are being mistreated.

If you are looking for more tips on how to prevent and handle bullying, visit iSafe.org.

Check back next month to see what new advice for academic achievement Wisconsin Connections Academy and I have in store!

If you think virtual learning might be a right fit for your student, visit
www.connectionsacademy.com/wisconsin.