When to Speak Up, When to Let It Go

Over the past few weeks, the Kindergarten class has been engaging in thoughtful conversations and activities designed to help them understand an important social-emotional skill: knowing when to report a problem to a teacher and when it’s best to “let it go.”

The journey began with a classroom discussion about how the word “tattling” is often used to describe someone telling a teacher about a peer’s behavior. But terms like “tattletale” carry a negative tone, and at Saklan, teachers want students to feel safe and supported when seeking help. So, the kindergartners and Riva decided together to use the word “reporting” instead—a more neutral and empowering term that acknowledges that asking for help is never a bad thing.

However, the class also recognized that not all situations require adult intervention. Some students were beginning to feel like they were being “policed” by their classmates, prompting the need for clear guidelines around what situations are appropriate to report.

Together, the class created a simple, helpful framework:

• If someone’s body or feelings are hurt, always report it to a teacher.
• If there’s a conflict but no one is hurt, try to handle it on your own (and ask for help with conflict resolution if needed).
• If someone is simply making a mistake, let it go.

Students practiced applying this framework by discussing different scenarios and categorizing them as “report it,” “handle it,” or “let it go.” The thoughtful conversations that followed showed how seriously kindergartners took their role in creating a safe and kind classroom community.

To make the guidelines even more accessible, especially for younger students and non-readers, students illustrated different examples to accompany the categories. These illustrations were compiled into a chart, now displayed in the classroom. If a student ever feels uncertain about whether they should report something, they can refer to the chart to help make the decision themselves.

This exercise not only supported the class in developing self-awareness and empathy but also reinforced problem-solving and communication skills that will serve them well beyond kindergarten.

#SocialEmotionalLearning