Tattling is normal in young children. Elementary students tattle as they focus on learning rules and learning right from wrong. A child is tattling when he or she complains to an adult about another child's actions. Tattling usually involves a situation in which someone is breaking a rule, is planning to do something against the rules, or behaving in a way the child views as wrong or unacceptable.
Children tattle for a variety of reasons:
* To get attention
* To get someone in trouble
* To make themselves look good
* To feel more powerful
* To express annoyance or frustration against another child
* To get someone to stop doing something that is annoying to another or others
* To prove they know the rules
* To make sure the rules apply to everyone and are equally enforced
* To get an adult to solve the problem
Children struggle with tattling because they lack effective tools and tactics. Children must be able to discern between a situation that they can handle (a kid size problem) vs a more serious problem that needs adult assistance. We also have to teach children strategies to resolve problems.
KINDERGARTEN
Students will listen to the story, A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue, by Julia Cook. Counselors LOVE Julia Cook books! During our circle time, we will also address what tattling is and what tattling is not. After reading the book, students will have the opportunity to apply what they learned about tattling and reporting by coloring "clouds" a certain color based on if the scenario is tattling or reporting.
| FIRST GRADE We will begin our lesson by haviing student to think of things they usually tell their teacher. We will then decide if the situation is tattling or reporting. Armadillo Tattletale is a great book for first grade students. The book is beautifully illustrated. It is a story about an armadillo who tells huge tells to other animals and the animals do not appreciate this at all. We talk about how we not only tattletale to our teacher, but we can also tattletale to our friends. This makes our friends not want to be our friend anymore. Students complete a cut and paste activity (to the left) to wrap up our lesson. |
SECOND GRADE
Students will listen to Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal, in which they learn about kid size problems and adult/teacher size problems (the BIG DEAL issues). Kid size problems can be handled by students. Big size problems need help from an adult.
Students will listen to Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal, in which they learn about kid size problems and adult/teacher size problems (the BIG DEAL issues). Kid size problems can be handled by students. Big size problems need help from an adult.
After reading the book, students will work together in groups to determine if the scenarios given to them are (1) Big Deal Problems or Kid Size Problems and (2) decide on a way to handle the scenario. Students will present their scenarios and solution(s) to the class.