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AIBU?

to be scared of 9 yr olds?

39 replies

Flojo1979 · 09/10/2011 13:46

Hi, I start a new job tomorrow as a teaching assistant in yr 5. I've only ever worked in infants and the thought of a load of 9-10 yr olds terrifies me!
one, that they'll be cleverer than me! I havent done long divisions for 20 yrs! and two, that they'll be cocky, mouthy so n so's and run rings round me in minutes.
Pls tell me they r still sweet little darlings at this age and i'll be fine!!

OP posts:

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lec0rnsillk · 09/10/2011 13:47

don't worry they are really very sweet at that age.

worraliberty · 09/10/2011 13:49

You're terrified?

Blimey, I'd be terrified if I found out you were working with my kids if you're feeling like this.

Sorry but if that's how you feel, you're better off not taking the job and allowing someone who can cope with it to fill the role.

pranma · 09/10/2011 13:50

One of my favourite age groups-the really scary ones are Reception-its like dancing with aliens :)
Mind you most of my career was 11-16 but I have done everything from Reception to lecturing to post grads.

MollyintheMoon · 09/10/2011 13:52

Worra that's not very helpful. People are allowed to be nervous when they start a new job you know.

Flojo you will be fine.

Hulababy · 09/10/2011 13:54

My DD is 9y as are most of her friends - and they are all lovely. Still very sweet most of the time, eager to learn, eager to help and join in, keen to be seen to be trying their best.

Just been at a 9yo's birthday party this morning - DD's best friend, so a whole other group of 8/9y girls - again lovely.

Reception scare me - they are so little! I work with Y1 these days and they seem so much bigger and more able. i used to work in secondary - now, they really could be scary, lol!

gordyslovesheep · 09/10/2011 13:54

YANBU 9 year old are vile - I have one

Oakmaiden · 09/10/2011 13:55

They will be lovely, and you will be fine. It is always scary starting something new, isn't it?

Doodlez · 09/10/2011 13:56

My DS has just joined Yr 6, so Yr5 is still fresh in my mind. They were great for the most part - praise, praise, praise and more praise - they still lap it up and respond best to being noticed for the good stuff.

(Yr6 seem to turn in to bolishy buggers, too big for their primary school!)

Good luck and enjoy x

VikingBlood · 09/10/2011 13:57

I'm used to teaching 13-14 yr olds but this year I also have two classes of 10 yr olds and I really don't like it, they're still little kids and don't get my sense of humour , so if you're used to even younger ones I'd say you should be ok.

GrimmaTheNome · 09/10/2011 13:58

I'm not sure they'll have done long divisions yet either, this early in yr5 - and as its something even kids who are good at maths often struggle with a bit to start with (I think the clever ones are used to finding neat shortcuts with maths and there really ain't one with long division so they find the slog frustrating and boring!) you ought to be able to keep one step ahead

lec0rnsillk · 09/10/2011 13:58

Notalone · 09/10/2011 13:59

Worra - really not helpful.

I had a 9 year old last year and they tend to be better behaved for their teachers than at home. Most of DS's friends are lovely. Its just DS who has the attitude though that is another thread altogether. . Once you get to know the individual children you will know which approqch works for which child. Honest you will be fine! Good luck

BastardDog · 09/10/2011 13:59

Agree y5 are still reasonable beings. Y6 is when they get too big for their boots.

worraliberty · 09/10/2011 14:00

Molly My DS and his whole year group have been doing long division for the past year and are still doing it now.

I stand by what I say. If the OP feels this way, perhaps she needs more training before being put in such a position of responsibility.

Flojo1979 · 09/10/2011 14:16

Thanx, feel much better now. Think I've just got new job wobbles, I'm sure the class teacher is lovely and will be supportive.
Worra I had got the training, i guess its just putting it in to practice that scares me!

OP posts:

Doodlez · 09/10/2011 14:16

CORNY! How ya doin'? x

worraliberty · 09/10/2011 14:18

If it's 20 years since you've done long division, you do need training on that surely?

MollyintheMoon · 09/10/2011 14:37

There are different methods of teaching long division. The way it was taught 20 years ago is only one way. The teacher will talk through which methods the children can try, and tbh at this level an adult can pick it up in about 5 minutes. I really wouldn't worry, just make sure you know your times tables.

CailinDana · 09/10/2011 14:41

Ooh I love year 5, it's a great age IMO. They're old enough to be very independent, need very little handholding, ask lots of interesting questions (sometimes too many!), get interested in topics, have great personalities and sense of humour, but they're not old enough yet to be "cool" and self conscious (for the most part). They can be so incredibly sweet at that age.

As for methods of teaching, just make sure you listen carefully to the lesson and follow the way the teacher does it as much as possible. If you're really not clear then don't be afraid to ask the teacher to go through it with you after school, if she's a nice person she won't mind, in fact she'll be glad that you're showing an interest and that you're making sure you're doing it right.

Enjoy them!

blackeyedsusan · 09/10/2011 14:42

get thee up the stairs to the bathroom and practise staring in the mirror. when the silvering starts to melt off the back, you have got it about right.

Flojo1979 · 09/10/2011 14:45

Oh god times tables!

OP posts:

ImperialBlether · 09/10/2011 15:03

At the risk of getting flamed here, why are you applying for a TA job if your maths is very weak?

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valiumredhead · 09/10/2011 15:05

You'll need to know your times tables inside out and back to front! Get learning!

Flojo1979 · 09/10/2011 15:11

My maths isnt particularly weak, but like i said i'm used to supported little ones using number lines and grid, I'm sure by yr 5 they have moved on alot, I'm just a lil worried I'm not au fait with the terminology, but as others have suggested i'll just have to listen to the teacher and learn as i'm going as well.
I had to go a maths course to get the ta qual, but it was more a case of sitting the exams than up to date ways of working them out. Its not just maths i'll be learning as i'm going, it'll be the different topics too. hopefully i'll get a copy of the lesson plan so i can stay one step ahead. Just a lil worried about being thrown in the deep end with no so much as a copy of the behaviour policy or told what to do if the fire alarm goes off!

OP posts:

Flojo1979 · 09/10/2011 15:11

I know my 2 times tables!

OP posts:

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