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Posted on October 2, 2012 3:43 pm
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atuLyD
atuLyD
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Extreme Scenarios
I was in a school where there was a bomb threat and the students were chaotic and upset. At first the teachers thought it was a fire drill and had no idea it was a bomb threat until we were evacuated to the high school across the street to sit in the football stands. What could I have done to help the students not to worry and not be so upset? What could have we done in the football stand to help pass the time until we got the all clear since we were in the stands for about two hours?
 
     
     
 
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Solution 1
Posted October 5, 2012 9:44 am

amaJud
amaJud
Reps: 114
I agree with every else. The school should have some kind of code word or procedure they have in place for a bomb threat that seems odd they didn't. As for what you should do, I would tell the students this is just like a fire drill only a little bigger. I would calm them down by telling them the reason we are going to the high school is to be sure we are safe, not to put us in more danger. I would probably play a game of "I spy" with my students to calm them down. When people are in a state of panic their minds are not working properly and I think this game will give the students the chance to calm down. I would treat the rest of the two hours as a review session, asking students to spell out their spelling words, giving them math facts to practice, and review what we are doing in writing. Keeping the students busy is the best solution to keeping them calm.
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Jenna Herberson
Jenna Herberson
Reps: 200
Having a code word that the teachers know would make them aware of the situation without alarming the students.
  Posted on: February 24, 2018 7:08 am

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Solution 2
Posted October 2, 2012 9:53 pm

Courtney Morra
Courtney Morra
Reps: 118
Generally schools have their own evacuation plans and they are usually practiced on a monthly bases. If I were you and I was in a school that had no procedures I would create one with my class. Eventually these students are going to move on to a higher grade or to a different classroom and show other students how to behave. Sometimes you cannot control a whole school at one time. There is bound to be chaos.
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Solution 3
Posted October 2, 2012 3:49 pm

NeDema
NeDema
Reps: 113
Bomb threats should be treated just like fire drills. They should of prepared the students for both scenarios by discussing the possible situation. They should be aware that they are perfectly safe at the bleachers and that the proper authorities are there to keep them safe. Students could be devided by grades and the administration should have a plan in place which could include some sort of activity or game that is preplanned to keep the kids level of anxiety low.
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Solution 4
Posted February 18, 2013 4:53 pm

Latasha Chong
Latasha Chong
Reps: 46
I would explain the situation to the students and inform them that very will be all right. I would try to distract the students from being upset by playing a game. The game could be I spy or something that does not require moving around.
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erugyn
erugyn
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Good solution.
  Posted on: October 18, 2014 8:11 pm

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Solution 5
Posted October 3, 2012 1:43 pm

Kym Toner
Kym Toner
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In situations that are likely for students to panic, it is very important for teachers to maintain their composure and set an example of how students should act. This day in age, it is very easy to 'freak out' and become nervous about the unknown, even as adults. However, as teachers, we need to show our students the importance of staying calm and keeping a level head in unfamiliar situations.
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hujupu
hujupu
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Keeping the students calm and orderly is key. It is important that the students get out of the school quickly and with some much chaos this can be difficult. The school should have procedures to follow and the teachers should be aware of these procedures. There should also be some kind of code so that the teachers know what the evacuation is for.
  Posted on: February 28, 2013 10:59 pm

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Solution 6
Posted October 4, 2012 5:43 pm

uremev
uremev
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This should be very similar to a fire drill for the students, so it should be something they are familiar with. To help pass the time in the stands for two hours can be difficult. I would recommend some type of game that keeps the kids seated. Being in the stands should allow for a little more noise, so you wouldn't have to pick a game that is silent. This type of situation is how we really find out how creative we can be as teachers.
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Solution 7
Posted October 5, 2012 9:15 pm

David Corrigan
David Corrigan
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This actually occurred in my second internship. The first bomb scare we had was chaotic. The heat was also a factor. We were outside for a few hours. The next day we created a plan for future bomb scares. We created a bag with a few deck of cards and other small games to pass the time for the next time. There was another bomb scare the next week and it went much better.
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Solution 8
Posted October 13, 2012 5:31 pm

vemybu
vemybu
Reps: 119
First of all, you have to remain calm. Students will certainly pick up on your vibes and if you are freaking out, so will you students. Explain to them that there is a situation and depending on their age, you could explain what is happening. It is also useful to allow students to ask questions so they can be put at ease. Have group games planned before the school year starts that you can play to help pass the time and ease the tension.
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Solution 9
Posted October 13, 2012 5:25 pm

ynudaq
ynudaq
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There should be a school wide procedure for a bomb threat. I think explaining to the kids that everything is ok and the school just needs to be checked for safety reasons would help them to calm down. When sitting in the stands you could give the students fun worksheets, or bring out another type of activity to keep the students occupied.
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Solution 10
Posted October 14, 2012 7:44 pm

JemyWe
JemyWe
Reps: 132
I would want the students to know everything that I could tell them. I would tell them that everything is going to be fine and the fire department is working in the school. As far as helping the time go by, I would somehow plan an activity or game that the students could play. If there was a test coming up you could also review for that test in a game form. This would be fun and also a learning experience for your class.
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Solution 11
Posted October 16, 2012 9:16 am

NaZyde
NaZyde
Reps: 115
I would remind the students that they were evacuated into an area that is safe. The school has prearranged areas that are safe for students. It is hard to plan anything for a bomb threat, because a teacher will never know when it is going to happen. I would suggest playing word games, or "I spy".
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Solution 12
Posted October 2, 2012 3:48 pm

uNaBeZ
uNaBeZ
Reps: 131
I think your school should have a specific code such as "Code Sunshine" if something were to happen of that nature. The teachers need to know exactly what is going on and the procedure to follow to ensure the safety of everyone. To help pass time, the teachers could have seperated the students into their classes and conducted SOME type of educational activity. Whether it be fact sheets, work sheets, played an education activity, or even getting to know your students better by engaging in conversation. Something should have been done so the students' time was not wasted.
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Solution 13
Posted March 2, 2013 5:26 pm

ebuquv
ebuquv
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I think the most important thing is to always remain calm. Even if you feel panicked don't allow the students to see this because they will react in the same manner and more than likely worse. Get the students out of harms way, possibly telling them that it is fire drill to reduce their anxiety. Once their were safe, the time could have been passed by singing songs or playing a game such as a spelling bee.
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