Tattling VS. Telling

Teaching students at young ages to be helpful and not hurtful, requires a special touch.  In order for students to grasp the difference, they need some experience in learning the difference in tattling and telling.  Role playing to model desired behavior is a great tool to show students how it looks in your classroom.  I usually spend a couple weeks at the beginning of the year teaching the difference of tattling and telling using visual aids, writing, games and modeling.  When students understand the difference, they will feel empowered to know when they are being helpful.  They learn that bullying is an unwanted behavior.  Students utilize a Tattle Tale Officer Poster in our room.
I also have one at the recess area. Sometimes they just need to tell someone (or something), in order to feel better.  When a student is tattling to me, they are redirected to the poster to tell Officer McTattle in a whisper voice what is bothering them so much.  After the first couple weeks, you will find students automatically tattling to the Tattle Tale Officer.  They feel better, and you are entertained while they learn the difference of tattling and telling.  I keep the poster close enough to my desk that I can hear them to make sure it is a tattle.  If it is something they should have informed me about, I use it as a teachable moment by discussing it with the class. You can use the Tattling vs. Telling Plan below to help your students discover the difference with writing prompts, printables, discussion cards and using the Officer McTattle Poster.