Kids love to tell stories– things they’ve been told, seen, overheard, imagined, and more. Essentially, if they can think it, they’re ready to tell it. This often turns into full-blown tattling, and tattling can spread through classrooms and an entire school more quickly than the stomach flu!
Let’s finally put a stop to all the tattling at school! Read on for practical tips about teaching students the difference between tattling and reporting. I’ll share my favorite resources and books to use in your counseling sessions, too!
The Difference Between Tattling and Reporting
The difference between tattling and reporting has to do with the size of the problem and the motive behind telling the grown-up:
Tattling is when a child tells a small problem to an adult to get someone INTO trouble.
Reporting is telling a grown-up a big problem to get someone OUT of trouble or to keep others safe.
Size of the Problem
The first step in teaching students the difference between tattling and reporting is teaching them about size of the problem (the difference between small problems and big problems).
Small Problems
Small problems are those little issues we encounter each day that bug us, but are really no big deal. Things like “she touched my shoe”, “he is unzipping his pencil case”, or “they’re talking during independent computer time” are examples of small problems.
Telling an adult about small problems usually only leads to other kids getting into trouble.
Big Problems
Big problems are often issues of safety and should be told to an adult to keep others OUT of trouble and/or to keep others safe.
Examples include:
- Sharon hit Sam because she didn’t want to share.
- Erik is running with his scissors.
- Calesee fell off the monkey bars and is crying.
Motive
Encourage students to pause and consider if what they’re going to say will get someone into or out of trouble, or keep them from danger.
Talk about how determining the cause for telling is related to being a good friend and citizen, positive social skills, and a sign of healthy social-emotional skills.
As kids learn to distinguish the difference between tattling and reporting, teachers will experience better classroom management and see a decrease in negative student behaviors!
Why Teach Tattling vs Reporting?
Not only is teaching tattling vs reporting important for better classroom and school environments, but teaching this difference can increase students’ problem-solving skills and promote better personal and classroom safety.
Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving is a skill that kids will use for life. Being a problem-solver is a sign of independence.
As kids learn to process the difference between tattling and reporting, they will begin to see that they can solve small problems on their own (or ignore them!).
Explain to students that big problems require them to tell a grown-up— and this is okay!
This skill of problem-solving transfers into many other aspects of life as a child will decide to make better choices at home, on teams, in clubs, and in future workplaces.
Personal and Classroom Safety
It’s important to teach kids how to stand up for their own personal safety and keep others safe as well.
When anyone’s safety is at question, students should always make a report to an adult. Ensure that students know that safety is of upmost importance!
Examples of Safety Issues to Report:
- A child is touching another child in a private place.
- A child punches, hits, slaps, or bites another student.
- A student is hurt (no matter if an accident or on purpose).
How to Teach Tattling vs Reporting
Use Made-for-You Resources
This Tattling vs reporting resource is pre-made for you with everything you need to teach this important social emotional skill to individual students or a large group.
In this interactive lesson, students learn the definition of tattling, the definition of reporting (telling), and examples of each one. Students also learn why reporting is important, tips for reporting, and things to think about before telling a grown-up. My favorite part of this lesson is the sorting game that let’s students decide if 30 scenario cards show a tattling or a reporting behavior!
Use Books
Story books are a phenomenal way to teach this concept to kids in a way that students can easily connect to.
Check out these favorites when teaching tattling vs reporting in your classroom: (Amazon Affiliate Links)
- “Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal” by Jeanie Franz Ransom
- “A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue” by Julia Cook
- “Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle” by Ashley Bartley
“Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal” by Jeanie Franz Ransom
Mrs. McNeal’s class is full of 19 tattletales. These piglets are always tattling on each other, and no one trusts each other or is very happy at all. Mrs. McNeal teaches her piglets about their feelings and encourages them to problem-solve together instead of always running to tattle to her.
This humorous picture book gives elementary students clear guidelines to know when to solve their own problems together and when to tell a grown-up. Helpful sections for parents and teachers are also included in this book.
“A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue” by Julia Cook
Renowned author, Julia Cook, writes this book to help kids learn the difference between tattling and telling.
Josh tattles so much. His classmates call him “Josh the Tattler”. One night, he wakes up to discover that his tongue is now very long, bright yellow, and covered in purple polka dots. More than that, it’s super itchy! He has a bad case of Tattle Tongue! Will he learn his lesson?
You can use this book in sessions with super-tattlers to teach them more about “The Tattle Rules”. It’s great to recommend to classroom teachers and parents, too!
“Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle” by Ashley Bartley
Written by a school counselor and mom, Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle is a great book to add to your classroom library!
Diamond Rattle loves to slither up to her teacher’s desk to tattle on all her classmates. But, all this tattling has hurt her friendships. Her classmates start to avoid her, and Diamond Rattle finds herself sitting alone at lunch. Diamond’s teacher, Miss Crow, teaches her how to be a problem-solver and mind her own business. Diamond learns the difference between tattling and reporting.
The five components to social-emotional learning are addressed in this book, and companion lessons are also available– making it even better!
Teaching tattling vs. reporting to students at your school may feel like a daunting task, but it is so worth it! Remember, you’re more than equipped to do this!
I’d love to hear your favorite ideas and strategies for teaching this important SEL concept to your students! Leave me a comment below!
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