Odd Socks Day is designed to be fun! It’s an opportunity for children to express themselves and appreciate individuality and uniqueness! Schools across the country are holding Odd Socks Days as part of Anti-Bullying Week (13th-17th November). I’m looking forward to going to one of my Patron of Reading schools, Summerville Primary School in Salford, tomorrow, where we will be reading and writing poems on an anti-bullying theme.
If you are looking for ideas on how to use poetry for anti-bullying lessons, I listed some resources in a previous post here.
While we are on socks, here’s one of my poems that is from Brilliant and will also be in my new children’s poetry book due to be published soon.
Orange Socks
Orange socks
Orange socks
I’ve seen a girl wearing orange socks
Not blue not black
Not violet not pink
Orange socks
They make me think
of red hot days
the sun up above
when you don’t need your scarf
you don’t need your gloves
Orange socks
Orange socks
Who’s that girl wearing orange socks?
Not brown not grey
Not yellow not green
But the orangiest orange
that I’ve ever seen
Orange socks
I like the style
Orange socks
They make me smile
Orange socks
Orange socks
Glad I saw that girl in those orange socks
13th-17th November 2017 is Anti-Bullying Week #AntiBullyingWeek #AllDifferentAllEqual
Poetry is a great way to get young people thinking and talking about the issues and feelings linked to bullying and friendship in a positive and fun way. I’m looking forward to doing poetry workshops at Summerville Primary School in Salford on Thursday 16th November as part of our Patron of Reading relationship. We’ll be reading and writing some poems on this theme.
Anti-Bullying Resources
There are loads of great resources for lessons and activities in school on the theme of anti-bullying for this special week and throughout the year here: http://www.actionwork.com/bullyingresources.html
I’ve listed more resources at the bottom of this post.
A Poem
Below is a poem of mine from “Brilliant” that was also included in an anthology of poems compiled by Brian Moses, “Best of Enemies, Best of Friends” (2011). Even though right on topic, that book is hard to get hold of now. There is a new book due to come out January 2018, “The Same Inside: Poems about Empathy and Friendship” by Liz Brownlee, Roger Stevens and Matt Goodfellow.
I wish I was a robot
When robots are fighting
they don’t feel pain.
They bash one another
again and again.
They clang when they clash
They rattle and crunch.
Have head-on collisions
and don’t stop for lunch.
I wish I was like them
then I’d suffer no pain
when punched and kicked
and punched again.
If I was a robot
I could cope with a lot.
If I was a robot.
But, sadly, I’m not.
The Effect Of Poetry
When children are being bullied they cannot always put their feelings into words. Reading and writing poetry helps them to articulate those feelings. It can help by making them realise that others have felt the same way too. It also can help bullies to have more empathy to change their behaviour.
Even where there are no issues of bullying in your school, focussing on positive messages of what being a good friend is all about is also a great thing to do. Here is a popular poem of mine, “Best Friends”, in video format:
Odd Socks Day: Monday 13th November
As part of Anti-Bullying Week, on the first day, (Monday 13th November) the organisers are asking schools across the country to hold an ‘Odd Socks Day for Anti-Bullying Week’.
Aimed at early years and primary school children, the day encourages young children to wear odd socks for the day, celebrating their uniqueness. Odd Socks Day is designed to be fun! It’s an opportunity for children to express themselves and appreciate individuality. There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes. All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks to school, it couldn’t be simpler!
Other Poetry Resources on Bullying and Friendship Theme
A downloadable poem by Brian Moses about friendship taken from “Best of Enemies, Best of Friends”. Also included: information about bullying, teaching notes, class discussion activities and worksheets to use in English and PSHE. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/bullying-and-friendship-6085881 (requires logon to download)
Bernard Young Poet 