Telling vs. Tattling 1
"Bob keeps making a face at me." Is this an example of tattling or telling?
TATTLING - Bob isn't causing a safety issue and you could try to handle this on your own.
You are outside at recess, and Sally cut in front of you to get one the swings. Would this be tattling or telling?
This would be TATTLING because Sally didn't cause a safety issue, and you could try to solve the problem on your own.
If you are telling an adult to get someone out of trouble, usually involving a safety issue, this is called:
TELLING
You are outside at recess, and Sally cut in front of you to get one the swings. What could you do?
You could:
Say: "Sally it wasn't your turn yet, I was next in line."
Say: "Sally, the line actually started behind me."
Walk away and play something else because you know that you can't control what Sally does, and you don't want to let her control your mood at recess.
What is the color of our mailbox where you can leave a note for us?
Green
"Charlotte is whispering in line." Is this an example of tattling or telling?
TATTLING - This is not a safety issue and you can't control what Charlotte does.
You are outside at recess and you notice that a friend is running towards the road. Would this be tattling or telling?
This would be TELLING because your friend could be in danger running towards the road.
If you are telling an adult to try and get someone in trouble, because they are annoying you, or for something that doesn't involved a safety concern, this is called:
TATTLING
You are outside at recess and you notice that a friend is running towards the road. What could you do?
Since this is a safety issue, you should immediately tell an adult (in this situation, a recess aide.)
What house is Mrs. Monju in?
RESOLVE!!!
"Abigail pushed me at recess and I fell down and hurt my knee." Is this an example of tattling or telling?
TELLING - If someone has physically hurt you that is an unsafe situation, and you should always tell an adult if you or someone else is unsafe.
You are at lunch, and someone trips you and makes you drop your lunch on the floor. Would this be tattling or telling?
This would be TELLING because they purposefully tried to trip you and make you fall which is a safety concern/bullying.
If you don't try to solve the problem first and it is not a safety issue, this is called:
TATTLING
You are at lunch, and someone trips you and makes you drop your lunch on the floor. What could you do?
You should immediately go to an adult and tell them what happened.
- Your teacher has a hard time believing you when there is an actual problem that you truly need help with.
- People might call you a "tattle-tale" because you tell on everyone to try and get them into trouble, and people might not want to be your friend.
"Billie stole my pencil." Is this an example of tattling or telling?
TATTLING - There is no safety issue here and you haven't tried to solve the problem on your own first.
You are working on a project as a group, and one of the people in your group won't share the glue stick. Is this telling or tattling?
This would be TATTLING because no one is in danger, and while it is annoying, you could solve this problem on your own.
If you try to solve a problem with no safety issue on your own, and then you ask for help from an adult, this is called:
TELLING because you have done your best to solve the problem and may need additional help.
You are working on a project as a group, and one of the people in your group won't share the glue stick. What could you do?
You could:
- Ask for the glue stick nicely, and if they say no, don't get into an argument about it.
- Instead of telling on the person, ask your teacher if she has an extra glue stick you could borrow.
- Ask someone else in your group if they have a glue stick for you to borrow.
- Ask the person to glue what you need to be glued.
What is Ms. Virginia's dogs name?
Lenny
"Brandon keeps calling me names over and over and he won't stop even though I have asked him to stop." Is this an example of tattling or telling?
TELLING - Since you have asked Brandon to stop and tried to solve the problem on your own and he didn't stop, you may need help from an adult.
Marie keeps calling your friend names, but your friend hasn't said anything back to her yet. Would this be tattling or telling?
At this point, it would be TATTLING because no one has tried to stand up to Marie and attempt to solve the problem.
If you have done everything you know to do to solve a problem, and nothing has worked, who can you ask for help?
- Your teacher
- Your counselors
- Someone who lives with you (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)
Marie keeps calling your friend names, but your friend hasn't said anything back to her yet. What could you do?
BONUS - What can you say to someone being mean like Marie? Is this Bullying or not?
You could:
- Encourage your friend to stand up to Marie.
- Help your friend come up with phrases that she could say to stand up for herself.
- If you hear Marie say something mean to your friend, stand up to your friend.
BONUS - It is not yet bullying, but if it continued after someone tried to stand up to Marie then it would be bullying. Things that you can say to bullies: "I guess you were trying to be funny but it wasn't.", "Ha-Ha, that was hilarious Marie (sarcastic).", "Marie, you know that was a really mean thing to say, right?"
If we receive a note that looks like it is tattling, what do you think we do with it?
We won't come get you until it seems you have tried to solve the problem on your own and you need help problem solving.