I have been teaching first grade for 12 years and have never seen as much tattling as I have this year. Some tell on anything and everything. I have tried teaching the difference between serious issues ( which don't really come up that much ) and "silly things". Then they call out the tattletale which causes the other person to respond and an argument starts. I have asked them to wait until recess but then I had a student complain to mom that I don't listen. It's not that I don't listen but some of the things they tell on which aren't serious are a serious interruption to instruction. I teach in a failing inner city school and I have a difficult class. Many diagnosed ADHD students , one with severe depression and other issues galore. Any suggestions .......
ask the child tattling if they are trying to help or get the person in trouble? It has made a big difference in my room. I do have to say, there are times the child will say: get them in trouble
is a cute picture book that the kids seemed to enjoy, and it explains the 4 tattling rules. I just read it today and we discussed it. At the beginning of the year, the guidance counselor read another book called "Tattlin' Madeline" which the kids also enjoyed, and it worked for a little while. I have a very tattling class this year as well! Another teacher I know has her students write down their "tattles" and put them in a tattle box - I'm just concerned that if they don't know the difference between the silly and serious things - I may not see the serious things as soon as I need to!
"is someone hurt or going to get hurt?" If the answer is no, then I tell them not to say it. I got so tired of "so and so isn't reading his book", "so and so is looking at me", etc. We have the "right time to tattle" talk at least once a week- b/c I want them to let me know if someone is threatening or actually doing something that could hurt them or another child, but sometimes they are just looking to get someone in trouble.
I too have tons of tattletails this year and for silly non-important stuff. I drew a picture of a grandmotherly looking face and posted it to the wall. I told the kids I'm a teacher and not a babysitter and that was Babysitter Betty and if they felt like they needed to tattle, they could tell her. (This was after we discussed the difference of serious/non serious tattles.) When someone would come up to me to tattle, I would ask them "Do you need to tell me or Betty?" Many times they would turn right around and walk over to the wall and tell Betty! They don't care that they're talking to the wall, they just need to say whatever it is they wanted to say! I can't believe how well this worked! My co-teacher has a big picture of an ear on the wall and uses it for the same concept.
I make my students fill out a tattle report and put it in the tattle box. I then read them aloud in class, and I ask if the report was a help report or a get in trouble report. All tattle reports are anonymous.
Our Pre-K teacher made a huge ear and hung it on her wall. She told the students that when they want to tattle, they have to tell it to the ear.
I know we can not do this any more but when I was in first grade a loonnnnng time ago and I will never forget that my teacher put a "strip of paper with Tattletale printed on it and pinned it to this kid. I will never forget George. Guess what he didn't tattle any more. But of course this would not be politically correct today. But back then the teacher could teach and not worry about politics. That was the only strange thing I remember that teacher did. Other wise she was a master teacher.
HEY it solved the problem
2 things I learned from the guidance counselor's sessions with my class: First, we have a little poster that says "Don't squeal unless it's a big deal." She talked about issues that were big deals and ones that were not. When someone approaches me with a possible tattle, I remind them of that. Sometimes it wards them off.
Another thing I do is ask them if this is a kid-sized problem. If so, then kids should be able to solve it. One day last week, I asked one of my little tattlers if it was a kid sized problem. He went back to his desk and sat down. He came back up and told me that he thought about it and it was a kid sized problem. I was so proud of him for handling it! Then, he proceeds to tattle on the kid anyway!! Oh well, I guess nothing's perfect!!
Hi All!
I haven't visited ProTeacher since Christmas!!!!!
The tattling in my room has been driving me crazy, so today I told my kids that if we had a "tattle-free" day, I would reward them with an extra recess tomorrow. They made it until just after lunch, and the kids were upset with the two tattlers that came my way. I know they will earn their recess before the week is out. I'm always surprised when simple things work.
After they are able to write a few words, I start telling them, "Write a tattle paper." I look at it when they put it on my desk and decide if I need to get involved. If not, when there is a moment, I tell the tattler and he tattlee (is that a word?) to talk about it and tell me how they solved it. It has cut down on a lot of tattling, because they really don't want to take the time writing. And if they do, I don't mind letting them take the time to talk about it. It also gives me a written record of problems in case I need to involve administrators or parents.
I have also told them we can talk about it at recess. They do NOT want to do that! They want to play.
04-30-2008, 04:30 PM
Simple View
