8yrs old lying and stealing

[MDJ30]

My 8 year old daughter is lynig and stealing at school.  This has been going on for a few monthes now.  The first time she took a book off a class mate.  I made her return the book and write a apology letter to her friend.  I explained to her that lying and stealing is wrong and that you could get in serious trouble for it.  Then last week I get a call at work telling me she has took books from the teacher and stealing off her desk and giving it to other children, And tht she was caught taking a cell phone and putting in another childs desk.  The teacher took her to the office and let the principal talk to her.  When she got home she got grounded from her things, and gave her a spanking.  I also went to school the following day and had a talk with her teacher and took her breaks away.  I talk to her all the time about how it is wrong and tell her that people go to jail every day for stealing tring to get her to realize that it is wrong.  But I don't think I'm getting threw to her.  Today she came home with a cell phone she said her friend gave it to her.  She has lied so much I don't believe her.  I know she is a good kid and she makes straight A's in school. The teacher said said the only problem with her is her lying and stealing.  What am I to do?  Nothing seems to work.  I Need help.

[margypops]

Perhaps instead of all this punishing ,it would be good to find out why she is doing this..She is upset and by spanking , grounding, telling her she could go to jail, taking breaks away, as she had been taken to the office to speak to the principal perhaps she had had enough punishment , This could be causing her anxiety, is there a counsellor at the school may she could be speak to . Try the other tack, focus on her positive side and praise her when you see her doing something right,