Is it bad to...?

[Brit]

Is it bad for me to be teaching my grade 1's and 2's to say "what ever"?

I'm trying to find a way of explaining to them that they need to relax about the little things and let things like people budding in line go. I've been saying to them that they need to take a deep breath and just say "whatever" when someone does something annoying but not hurtful. is that the right way to go about it, or am I creating a bunch of little valley girls?

My kids are VERY up in arms anytime any little thing happens. It's classic grade 1, 2 behaviour, but it's a pet peeve of mine, and I'd SO like to see them just stop being in each other's business so much!

[Boxcar]

Hmmm... Well, I think the message is a very impotant one. Good job on that. As for the phrase, I'm not sure either. I try to teach my students proper grammer and all that, but I can't really think of a better phrase for you to use. This is a comment the children are going to learn anyway. I just think that it could become an issue if they start combinding it with a certain "teenage" attitude... I suppose you could tell them to think "It is a little thing." or "Don't stress the small stuff." or "I choose to let this go."

[Liz/AK]

My Principal told me last year not to say that to my students, because in the situation that I was in, it gave the kid the idea that what he was doing was okay. So, be careful that the kids understand that you are trying to help them not get worked up over the minor stuff.
P.S. My 4th/5th graders still get worked up over the line stuff and the pencil stealing stuff. I just don't think they grow out of it, at least not until they don't have to deal with lines as often.

[teacher5]

:wowee: Dear Brit - I wouldn't use the word "whatever" as a stress release label because then they are going to start using it at other times. They are going to start sounding like and even using body language with this word that will come across negative or inappropriate. Instead I would tell them it doesn't matter where you stand on line. There are no prizes or priviliges for being second or sixth or tenth. We must walk in lines from place to place in a school in order to make room for other classes or people to walk by us. Also, in case of emergency there is a path for people to go in the other direction, too. Finally, my class president and vice president are the line leaders. We vote for these people once a month. You can't have the job more than once. So almost everybody gets a chance to be the line leader by the end of the year. We also discuss (in Sept.) what we expect from a good line leader. They will count the number of kids on the line. Politely to tell others to get in line and be quiet, too. The two line leaders must add up the total of the two lines and agree on the total before we leave the room. This system has worked real well for me in fifth grade for many years. See if you can get it to work in grade 1 and/or 2. I am sure there is a way to modify and adopt it. Good luck. Mark

[Boxcar]

We teach our kids to say "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" I've heard this phrase in a lot of schools in my area...

[Brit]

boxcar -- is that phrase itself not sometimes fit-inducing? Or are the fits you get coming anyhow at that point?

[Boxcar]

With the threes and younger fours, the fits are coming anyway. With the fives, it actually seems to make them not have a meltdown. I didn't start the phrase and don't actually say it. The children were already using it with one another when they entered my room. I think one of them brought it over from another center, and it caught on with the students. It isn't really a teacher thing I suppose. It is more a child thing. Although, I guess someone had to teach them it... My first post wasn't technically correct. We don't teach them to say. It kinda just happened. Although, I have heard my co-teachers use it... It was around before I got the kids in my room.

[hweber]

I agree that you probably shouldn't use 'whatever.' It can come off as snotty and that can lead to many other problems. My 4th graders get upset when someone cuts in line and then the eye rolling starts, which makes someone else mad, which makes more eye rolling which.....
I use the phrase, we are all going to the same place anyway. If we are going to the bathroom, sometimes I will start from the back of the line instead of the front just to mix things up a bit.

[landreth2007]

As far as getting in line goes, I've always told my students there is no prize for first...or last. A phrase I have used with a co-worker was "Be a duck" referring to water sliding off a duck's back. Just let the issue slide off if it's a small issue.

[Boxcar]

Quack! Quack! Great phrase! I like ducks...

[wig]

"Whatever" comes off sounding sarcastic. I think there are probably better phrases to teach them to use.

[Ebeth]

I like the 'duck" thing, it is kind of like saying "I am too mature to get involved with your childish behavior"!