Is it Tattling or Telling? The Tattling Turtle Learns a Lesson

In this class, students will meet The Tattling Turtle, a puppet who learns a lesson about the difference between tattling and telling. Tattling is a challenging behavior that young children frequently exhibit until they begin to understand the difference between tattling and telling. Tattling occurs when someone talks to an adult about a peer's harmless behavior with the intent of getting the other person in trouble (e.g., a peer threw her half eaten snack bar in the garbage).  Telling, on the other hand, is important as it occurs when someone reports behavior or a situation to an adult in order to seek help for another person (e.g., a peer tripped on the playground and has a bleeding knee).  When children get into the habit of tattling, it can cause conflict between peers and interfere with learning time.  This class will help children understand the difference between tattling and telling so they can be more prepared to be respectful learners and develop more positive relationships with peers.  Throughout the class, we will use social stories to identify key differences between telling and tattling and students will have the opportunity to play a game to practice applying their learning.