I know, I was a victim many times growing up (like us all, I'm sure.) My mom used to tell me to ignore them, it didn't work. I remember in high school once when I was in 9th grade or so that some kid kept poking me with his pencil in my neck as I sat in front of him randomly from time to time throughout the semester. But he was a jock type and I was intimidated by him, and ignored him like my momma said. Until he poked me hard enough where the pencil lead broke off and stuck in my neck. He started giggling and that set me off. I got up out of my desk, grabbed him by the throat and told him to never do something as stupid as that again. Luckily I had a peer help me out, a chick next to him told him if I didn't take care of it next time, she would, and if he wanted, they could settle it now. The kid sort of slumped in his chair and probably felt pretty stupid. He never expected a chick to challenge him (a mighty football player or whatever he was) to a fight (in which he could have won easily), but he was dumbfounded on how to respond. I never had an issue from the kid again. Moral of the story, ignoring is sometimes the worst thing to do because the bully will perceive it as weakness and will continue.
If I ran to the teacher, that would be tattling, and would also prove to the bully that I was weak and he is likely to continue. Sometimes the best method of dealing with bullies is to confront them, and deal with whatever the consequences may be. I learned that in school (eventually, it took awhile) but sometimes if you just stand up to them, they step down. I think it was 10th grade, maybe 11th, some kid shoved my head into the drinking fountain when I was drinking. I immediately just turned around and got into his face and said "If you want to fight, then lets fight..." and he said "I was just playing with you man..." But I ended up being friends with him later and throughout the rest of high school, and many years after (until he got married and disappeared.) Funny how that happens.