The Method

The CirclePoint Method describes a comprehensive set of integrated mechanisms that were tested in a K-8 school in the Boston Public School District in the United States and were found to be highly effective at preventing and resolving bullying issues. The mechanisms were relatively easy to implement and saved educators significant time compared to traditional practices of reporting, investigations, parent engagement, and punitive consequences. More importantly, the sustained use of these mechanisms created a school environment where bullying behaviors became less accepted by students over time.

The CirclePoint Method can form the core of a whole-school bullying prevention program. The program is easy to implement and can be self-directed. The mechanisms serve as the foundation. Once educators understand the core principles of bullying behavior, they can begin to implement the mechanisms. The mechanisms provide tools for both administrators and teachers. Over time, as the mechanisms are practiced, they will become second nature. Once educators are comfortable using the mechanisms, the student education and parent support components can be implemented. Student education can be provided through the student guide, found on the Materials page, while parents can be directed to the Parents page of this site.

Mechanism 1: Key Terms and Language

Mechanism 2: Staff Education

Education on bullying for all stakeholders—educators, students, and parents—is critical to successfully preventing and resolving bullying issues. In order to be applied effectively, the integrated mechanisms of the Method require an accurate understanding of bullying, free from the myths and misconceptions that traditionally characterize the topic. The education components for the Method are a guide for educators, a guide and handout for students, and the PARENTS page of this website. Please see MATERIALS for more information.

Mechanism 3: Constructive Consequences

Constructive Consequences is a way of resolving bullying problems by leveraging the same drivers of aggression to get it to stop. The mechanism involves having a discussion with an aggressor to make him aware that he is causing harm; giving him an opportunity to stop in order to avoid a consequence; letting him know that the adults who are with him and the target will be watching to ensure the behavior stops; and applying a consequence if the aggression continues. The consequence consists of a separation from peers during the times when the aggression against the target has occurred. The aggressor will perceive the separation as having a negative effect on social status, which will motivate the aggressor to change his behavior toward the target.

Mechanism 4: Chain of Custody Awareness

Chain of Custody Awareness is the communication of a bullying issue to all adults who are with a target during the school day and, optionally, at home, in order to monitor the behavior of the aggressor toward the target to ensure bullying has stopped. Any instances of aggression are documented and reported. The heightened monitoring ends when the bullying issue is confirmed to be resolved, usually after a few days. Both the aggressor and target are aware that adults are monitoring them so that the aggressor has an incentive to stop the behavior and the target feels safe. The mechanism is used in tandem with Constructive Consequences.

Mechanism 5: Target Support – The Five-Step Framework

Target Support consists of the Five-Step Framework, a discussion outline used to guide support conversations with targets. The framework is designed to help the target heal, educate the target on bullying, and empower the target to take effective action to get the bullying to stop. The framework is informal, meaning that discussions that do not cover all five steps can still be helpful to the target. The number of steps used in the discussion will depend on target need and the circumstances of the bullying issue.

Mechanism 6: Removal of Barriers to Reporting

Barriers to reporting prevent targets from coming forward to seek help with a bullying problem. The Removal of Barriers to Reporting mechanism is a collection of steps that schools can take to eliminate these barriers so bullied students will proactively self-identify and students aware of bullying issues involving peers will notify educators. This mechanism should help surface bullying issues early, before targets suffer significant harm and when issues can be most easily resolved, and ensures that educators are aware of most, if not all, of the bullying issues occurring at any one time.

Mechanism 7: Antibullying Announcement

The Antibullying Announcement is a periodic announcement about bullying that lets students know that adults do not condone bullying behaviors, makes students aware that adults need help in identifying bullying problems, and explains how adults will handle bullying problems when students come forward. This mechanism helps remove a barrier to reporting by providing students with assurances that asking adults for help will not make the problem worse. Periodic delivery is needed to reach those students who are newly involved in a bullying issue.

Mechanism 8: Classroom Strategies

Educators who are with the same group of students on a regular basis (e.g., classroom teachers) occupy a unique position as they know best their students’ social structures and interpersonal dynamics. These educators can use a variety of proactive and reactive Classroom Strategies to influence individual students and groups of students to positively change the culture around aggression; identify those suffering harm and intervene; and provide support to targets.

Mechanism 9: Student Education and Empowerment

Student Education and Empowerment is critical to success. Students who understand what bullying is, why peers do it, and what they can do to get it to stop can avoid the harm caused by aggression and resolve issues on their own. This mechanism includes bystander activation and empowerment so that students learn low-risk and risk-free ways of helping bullied peers without the risk of becoming targets themselves.

Mechanism 10: Parent Education and Empowerment

Parents need to work in partnership with their children and educators on resolving bullying problems. Parent Education and Engagement is important as it ensures that parents’ understanding of bullying is accurate and aligned with educators. The PARENTS page of this website provides the parent education component. Due to differences in the understanding of bullying that parents invariably have, educators need to take care in how they engage with parents and the language they use when trying to resolve a bullying issue.

The mechanisms above are described in detail in The CirclePoint Method: Practical and Integration Mechanisms for Preventing and Resolving Bullying Issues in Schools, a guide for educators. For more information on this guide, please see the Materials page.