TAs! Best bits of kit?

[margaritasbythesea]

I am about to start a new job as a TA after years out of school (having been a teacher before). I'm thinking about what I might take in my bag that would be helpful and have managed to draw up a huge list so I'd like to ask you what are the most useful things you carry with you?

Very excited!

What age will you be with?
Congratulations!!

Oh yes. Useful to know that. 11-18 but I think mostly KS3.

School should provide everything you need.

Mini white board and whiteboard pens as you can't right in their books (school should provide)
Hand sanitiser and hand cream as you'll need to use it between classes
A ton of facemasks.
A drinks bottle as you'll be talking a lot
Thermos - we aren't allowed to use the kettles etc so your own flask for tea/coffee.
Fleece lined trousers and heat tech tops because the classrooms are freezing and for duties outside.
4 in 1 colour bic pens are always useful.

Ugh, obviously that should be write in their books.

Thanks for those ideas. I thunk I'm a bit nervous aswell as excited and want to feel prepared.

The role isn't like being a teacher (I've gone in the other direction TA to teacher). Do you know if you are 1:1 or department based?

If you are based in a department you aren't familiar with or are a 1:1 then picking up the CGP revision books are quite helpful, you can prep yourself for what the students need to cover and familiarise yourself with the content. You won't be able to do this until you start though.

When I first started I took a pencil case with spare pens for students, I wouldn't bother doing this as although students never have pens they can't return them at the minute and even pre covid most forgot to and by the end of the month the pencil case was empty.
So only take things for your own use and you really shouldn't need much.

FYI you can get fleece lined work trousers and thermal smart tops from uniqlo.

I am getting the cold message strongly!

I work in year 1 and I have a small bottle of hand sanitiser hanging on my lanyard (you can get personalised ones on Etsy etc) I have sixty children potentially picking their noses, wobbling their teeth and sneezing all over me!
Also a Chilly bottle because I like my water to stay cold.
Rarely take a thermos cup in because I never get time to drink it!

Thanks for all the ideas. It's a good idea to have it on the lanyard instead of having to root around in a bag all the time.

Bought myself a folding ruler and a four colour pen today. and a new pencil case

If your school doesn’t have one then a twinkl subscription. Saves so much time and hassle and you can improvise.

Hoard a staple gun, staplers and laminating pouches. Hide them away.

I hate fleeces but a cardigan is a must.

Gin

Post it notes,
Board pens,
Highlighters.

Gloves. Lip balm. Water bottle. Hand cream. Pen. (For your use only!) tissues. Though at secondary they might not quite be the little snot boxes that primary are. And yes Twinkl subscription

I'm no help them, I work in early years

I’m in year 1 but pens, twinkl and a notepad - so much happens that frankly if I don’t write it down it’s gone.
I have a drawer with a stapler, staple gun blue tack and laminating ouches hidden away.
Post it notes by the dozen (although school provide these) I write all my observations on these and then stick them in the kids ILP (they get written up once a week in more permanent form during PPA)
And because I’m year 1, a steady supply of tissues hand gel and plasters. Seriously, these kids bleed so much!! Every playtime one of them at least has a grazed knee, elbow or finger.

Thank you very much for all the ideas. It's very helpful.

I was wondering if any of you wears a mask with a transparent bit at the mouth?

Op don't bother with twinkl etc until you start to find out if it's appropriate. There isn't a tonne of resources for secondary and being a secondary TA and a Primary TA are completely different roles.
You won't sit and plan lessons etc like you would if you were a class TA in Primary so unlikely to have time or notice to print resources off
You are likely to be moving around to different departments and not know what is being covered until you get there if you are a 1:1, if you are roviding small group support the class teacher will provide you with resources. It's valuable asking where to access the SOW for each subject and get the teacher to email you before the lesson to give you a heads up, no guarantee that this will happen and its not unusual to move around regularly and provive cover for other TAs.

Mask wise, it's compulsory to wear visors at my school and masks are optional. I tend to wear both if moving among the class and take my mask off when working with children who are hearing impaired. Your choice though, it's not a bad idea.