Dear Shayna B.,

I am glad to be writing to you. I love your work.

I need help because I get bullied because of my medical problems; my classmates are so rude to me! I have ADHD, and I am sad because people keep making fun of me. For instance, earlier this past month a kid in my class walked up to me and said, “And here is Asher, everyone,” and then he started making out-of-the-ordinary movements. What do I do?

Sincerely,

Annoyed Asher

Dear Annoyed Asher,

I agree that that’s really mean of them, but have you ever tried ignoring them? I think it will help. If you pretend not to notice, then it will probably be less of a thing. But it will take a little time and not be easy.

You can also tell the teacher or better yet, confront the students directly. Tell them that you don’t like how they treat you. However, even if you do everything right they may still continue to act inappropriately. Unfortunately, you can’t change other people—only how you react to them. If they still continue to bother you, remember the chant: “I’m rubber, you’re glue. What bounces off me and sticks to you!”

Best of luck,

Shayna B.

Last week’s word scramble is … You Can Wear a Mask!

This week’s word scramble is … EB LOCO EB INKD.

You will find the answer in next week’s word scramble.

Shayna is a fourth grader and understands what kids in elementary school are going through. She is happy to help others navigate this tricky time. She can be reached at [email protected]. She is looking forward to hearing from you soon.