"Mrs.Thomasssss He stuck his tongue out at meee!!!"
I know we've all heard that before. But why does it happen?
Understanding Tattling:
Tattling or tattle-telling is common among pre-k, kindergarten, and first-grade students. Researchers from Queen's University Belfast observed 354 instances of tattling in preschoolers during a month-long study.
But why do students tattle? Here are some insights:- Dominant children tend to tattle more frequently.
- Tattling correlates with relational aggression.
- Toddlers don’t gossip, but they do run to adults to report on peers.
- By age 8 or 9, gossip typically replaces tattling.
Strategies to Address Tattling:
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Problem-Solving Skills:
- Teach students how to handle situations independently. Create a T-Chart with scenarios that should be reported versus those they can handle themselves.
- Role-play different reporting and tattling scenarios to reinforce understanding.
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Classroom Discussions:
- Discuss the difference between tattling and reporting as a class. Tattling aims to get someone in trouble, while reporting seeks to help someone out of trouble. Grab some resources with the link below.
- Encourage students to report significant events that threaten safety.
Examples:
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Scenario 1: Tattling
- Student A: “Mrs. Smith, Sarah took an extra cookie!”
- Response: “Thank you for sharing, but this is a tattle. Let’s focus on our own choices.”
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Scenario 2: Reporting
- Student B: “Mrs. Smith, Jake fell and hurt his knee on the playground.”
- Response: “Thank you for reporting. Let’s go check on Jake and make sure he’s okay.”
Remember, addressing tattling helps students develop social-emotional skills while maintaining a productive classroom environment. 🌟
Are you ready to combat the tattling vs telling catastrophe? Grab your tattling pack below.