I'm a teacher (state school) AMA

[Sparkly666]

Hi :)
I recently saw an AMA from a teacher in an independent school and thought I'd offer the other side of the coin :)

I have taught most primary years (Reception to Year 6) in a variety of state schools.

Happy to answer anything from worries about DC starting school all the way to to leaving for high school, or maybe you just want to know how many glasses of wine it takes before I write THAT report!

Hope I can be of help :)

Hi!

I was wondering what expectations you have of children starting in reception; I.e. what should they be able to do before they start?

Thanks!

What do you think of supply teachers?

@Kernowsailor- The best thing is for them to be fairly self sufficient! You'd be amazed at how many parent don't send their children to school with the ability to dress themselves, use a knife and fork and even unable to use a toilet and wash their hands independently!
I wouldn't try teaching your child to read as methods vary school by school, however a little number sense wouldn't hurt. E.g. What is the number 1? how many is 1? Can you give me 1 sweet etc :)

@Vodkarevalation- supply teachers are essential! It means that I can go in courses and further my own professional development. I always plan for them and leave lessons to be carried out. These are usually stand-alone lessons rather than what I would have taught next, as anyone reading my plans won't teach a lesson the exact way I would. I've had a massive range of supplies and they do vary by ability!

:)

What do you think Y6s will struggle with the most going up to secondary?
Asking to see if it matches what we see.

Do you have families who struggle to feed and clothe their children? If so, is the school able to help them in any way?

@Maisypops- When I see them at the end of Y7, my thought every year is " you have no idea!" They finish as kings of the school, but few realise just how big of a change high school will be. Many are very shelter and I do worry about them especially those first few weeks,so overall I'd say it's social/emotional upheaval rather than the academic. Does this fit in with your view?

@Lockedout- My current school is in a very deprived area. The Deputy Head/SENCo frequently buys uniform for children who have outgrown theirs and gives it to parents for free. As a staff , we know the families that struggle and we try to make sure those children get seconds (or thirds!) at lunchtime, as for many of them it can be their only meal in a day. We also run a breakfast club free of charge to low income families (50p a day to anyone else) and again we do our best to really feed them- toast, cereal, fruit and then milk or juice too. After a party, (usually christmas) We will give leftover food to the poorest families.

:)

How long have you taught for?

And what are the main changes you've seen in the kids during this time?

Sparkly666
Pretty much.
Some of my colleagues complain that y7 are so baby-ish and lack independence. I think it's quite cruel. It's not that they can't be independent, more that they are in a big school, daunted by the change, secondary teachers seem to be much scarier to them and they want to please. I'd rather spend 6 weeks drilling independent habits and reinforcing high standards than shrug their diligence off as whining and then complain when books are messy and standards fall.

They find the social/emotional side tough and get confused who does what so they'll expect me as a tutor to know about every club and every trip and every piece of homework and I have to point out that secondary tutors aren't the same as primary was teachers. It takes time.

Same for friendship issues. Bigger environment, more failings out. They sometimes need help distinguishing between 'i have had a falling out and we have been unkind' and 'so and so is bullying me.

Can I ask how much you earn? Everyone always seems to think teaching is poorly paid!

@delphguelph - Teaching for 14 years. Its such a cliche but honestly attitudes and manners! Many more children seem to have a very entitled attitude and even more have zero resilience. Even my brightest struggle to get stuck into a maths problem as they just can't cope if the way to work something out isn't 'simple'. I think that the modern culture of instant gratification is playing a huge role :(

I wouldn't try teaching your child to read as methods vary school by school

However, the NC states that only phonics should be used - there shouldn't be variation.

RedBlu
It will depend on the role in school.

Teaching isn't badly paid by any stretch of the imagination but if you compare what a good science graduate could get in industry vs teaching then there is a discrepancy.

It will also depend what extra roles you tale on. My leadership points bump my salary up by a not insignificant amount

@Redblu Roughly 38,000 but it took a long time to get there! It's closer to 22,000 for a newly qualified teacher-which isn't much when you think about the years at university to qualify!

@feenie- I meant the method for phonics, letters and sounds, jolly phonics, read write Inc. etc. It's easier to let home do home and school do teaching IMHO :)

The method is the same for all those schemes - the only difference might be a slight change in the order of teaching the sounds. There's absolutely no reason not to learn those at home if a child is ready to.