This week, our students are learning the difference between tattling and reporting. We want to help them become confident problem-solvers who know when to handle small problems on their own and when it’s important to ask an adult for help.
🐷 Key Idea
We’re using the phrase:
“Don’t squeal unless it’s a big deal!”
This helps students remember that not every small problem needs adult intervention, but big or unsafe situations do.
What We Covered
Tattling: Sharing something small to get someone in trouble.
Example: “He’s using a red crayon instead of a blue one.”
Reporting: Speaking up when someone could be hurt, treated unfairly, or something serious happens.
Example: “She pushed someone on the playground.”
Problem-Solving Steps
We taught students a simple 4-step process:
Stop and Think – Is this a small problem or a big one?
Talk it Out – Use kind words to try and solve it yourself.
Ask for Help – See if a friend has ideas.
Tell an Adult – If it’s unsafe, unfair, or too big to handle alone.
Practice Scenarios
Students practiced thinking about situations and deciding if they should:
Solve it themselves,
Ask a friend, or
Report it to an adult.
How Parents Can Support at Home
Use the phrase “Is this a big deal or a small deal?” when your child comes to you with a problem.
Encourage them to try Steps 1–3 before coming to you.
Praise them for solving small problems on their own.
Remind them it’s always the right choice to tell an adult if someone is unsafe or hurt.
Takeaway
We want our students to be problem-solvers who think before they “squeal.” Small problems can often be solved with kind words and teamwork, but big problems should always be reported to an adult.