tattletales

I teach 4th grade and never really had this problem ever till now. I have a girl in my class that is a real tattletale. She has to tell me every little thing someone does or she gets annoyed at the other kids for minor things. I dont want her thinking she cant come to me or that I dont want to be bothered..nor do I want her coming to be about every little thing. Any methods you ahve tried would be appreviated.

Re: tattletales

I'm still trying to figure this out myself. I have a boy in my class (5th grade) who is the same way--but he's on the "spectrum", so he really just lacks the social tact to know what to say and what not to say.

I would take her aside and just have a talk about the types of things that she should be reporting to you, and the types of things that she's old enough to handle herself. Use some of her past scenarios, and talk through how she handled it, and how she could have handled it a little bit better. For kids this age, I've found that to put it in an alternative perspective, they usually get it.

Hope this helps some!!

Re: tattletales

Give her a tattle box. Cut a hole in the top of a shoe box, leave some strips of paper beside it, and make a rule. If someone isn't hurt write it down for me. You can look at them later to see if there is something important in there, and eventually they get sick of having to write things down.

Re: tattletales

This is what I say:

"Are you trying to get someone in trouble, or out of danger?"

It makes them stop and think. Usually the answer is the former, not the latter.

ETA to fix a dreaded typo.

Message edited 10/27/2007 10:40:31 PM.

Re: tattletales

I have a boy who does this all day long this year- he is new to the school and I assume he did this before too

I tell him at least once a day that he is only to tell me what another student is doing if they are hurt or are doing something TO him.... otherwise take care of yourself and keep learning.

He has gotten down to about 1-2 tattles a day now (used to be around 7)