DS aged 14 doing work experience in his old primary school. Teacher's help or inconvenience ?

[shergarsrevenge]

He's doing a weeks work experience in April. How could he genuinely help the teachers he is assigned to and not be a hinderance ? Obviously he will be well versed in brew making before he goes . He's a quiet sensible lad, not one for messing around.

My daughter did this and mainly helped at play time, with art classes and reading, she loved it, no mobile allowed and not allowed to be alone with the children obviously, she came home with loads of artwork the little ones had drawn her, and a stick from one of the Childrens garden given as a present, she treasures that stick!

That sounds great. DS loves drawing so would like to get involved with the creative stuff.

Model good listening, behaviour....show agency to get involved and follow teacher's instructions. My ds did this and enjoyed it.

If he's ever struggling for things to do then tidy up, sharpen pencils, ir just model good listening behaviour (so looking attentively at staff member, laughing at jokes, keeping a watchful eye on children and point in the direction of the teacher if they're talking or messing around when they shouldn't be).

He may well be asked to listen to children read, do some photocopying, fetch things from the art cupboard etc. The kids will probably love it if he joins in at break time too. It would be a good idea to check with the teacher what they want him to do during lessons (e.g. whether to sit next to a particular child)

Main things to tell him before he goes...

-You're there as an 'young adult/ role-model (sometimes 14yos can slip back into behaving like primary school kids, especially if they are put with the yr5/6's.

-If the teacher gives you any jobs, just assume they want you to do them every day without being asked.

-Look for things that need doing

• Look at what the teacher/ TA are doing and copy. So if they're tidying- you tidy, they're waiting for the class to be quiet- you stop talking and do the same thing.

-Do have fun playing with the children, but don't incite chaos

I worked with someone whose teenager went on work experience at a school and I remember the teachers didn't want her or didn't allow her to go in the staffroom, so just to be prepared for that. I guess it was because although she was there on work exp, to the staff she was still a pupil and they may not have felt they could talk freely or relax and let their hair down if she was there.
The mum I worked with was very annoyed about it, but I could see both sides.

I would love someone to come into my class and sit next to the weaker but quieter well behaved kids and give them some proper attention for once 😊

(Sorry I can't remember if she wasn't allowed into the staff room or if it was just discouraged)

@OnceuponaRainbow18

I would love someone to come into my class and sit next to the weaker but quieter well behaved kids and give them some proper attention for once 😊

Me too! A second TA would be my dream.

I did this for work experience week at that age (not in my former primary school though).
I had to listen to children read, help small groups with their work (within the classroom with the teacher present), set up equipment for PE, cut out and mount drawings for wall displays and that sort of thing. I was obviously quite good at it as the primary school contacted my school to ask if they could 'borrow me' the following week as an extra pair of hands on a school trip to the zoo. Put me off teaching for life!

My son did this for work experience at a primary he hadn't attended.
He had a great time , he actually said the teachers left him to it at times as the little kids were having such a good time -breaks /lunchtime - i think they stood chatting while he played with the kids.
He didn't become a teacher but he enjoyed work /ex immensely , had good feedback and got the impression that he had been a help .

Kids just love having an older kid in with them! I did this at his age too.

@Papergirl1968

(Sorry I can't remember if she wasn't allowed into the staff room or if it was just discouraged)

Where did they expect him to go?

Oh thanks this is so helpful !

My DD did her year 10 work experience at a primary school, though we deliberately arranged it for one where she hadn't been a pupil. She enjoyed it and certainly gained insight. As others have said, she did things like listening to individual children read, helping with playtime and lunchtime supervision, lots of tidying up, putting up art displays and so on. She was invited back for their end of year party which was really nice, so I think that the teacher must have appreciated her efforts.

Not sure Lockdownbear. There's not really anywhere to sit at lunchtime at the average primary if not the staffroom. Home maybe if it was close by, I guess.

Where did they expect him to go? it's very normal for members of staff to be in classrooms at break / lunchtime so presumably there. Sometimes teaching students aren't even allowed in staffrooms, mainly due to lack of space (not that I agree with this).

Gosh I’d totally forgotten about work experience! Sorry slight side track but does any know how it works for shy/asd kids? Dd is awaiting asd assessment, she can be very socially anxious and her social skills aren’t great - can come across as rude 😔. She’s very bright and at the moment wants a career in art or design.

I did this (albeit 20 years ago). I was with the reception kids and read with them, played with/supervised them at breaks, helped with class work, got snack time bits and pieces ready and helped to set things out and tidy away. I really enjoyed it. The kids also loved having someone young in the room and there were arguments over who was allowed to sit next to me

A 14 year old cannot be in the staffroom because of confidential information about students. Would you like it if a teenager knew the ins and outs of your family circumstances or the behavioural difficulties your child was having?
I actually think work experience should be something different. It is not as if a primary school environment is new to your ds. Yes, he can help the kids with drawing and listen to kids read etc. It really isn't the kind of job where a 14 year old can be given much responsibility on their own.

I did my school placement in a primary school too, does he know how to work a photocopier? There's a LOT of that. And playing, I'm not gonna lie, I think I had as much fun as the kids just playing

@TheCanyon I’ve just asked him that and he didn’t have a clue

My DS did work experience at his junior school. He mainly listened to students reading and he did an awful lot of photocopying.
He also helped with PE and weeding the schools vegetable patch.

I did school work experience at 15, I wanted to be a geography teacher. Got sent to a primary school, went in Mon and Tues got a call from my school to say they were changing my work experience and I spent the next few days in my secondary school library sorting out books. Was told by the careers officer the primary school didn’t want me as I was “not making an impact”… every time I walk past that school I still hate it. Stuck up fuckers. I’m still bloody bitter