to be scared of 9 yr olds?

[Flojo1979]

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!!

'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!'

Get on the school VLE and read the relevant policies, including all the safeguarding ones. Get in early and read the fire plan on the classroom wall and check you know the correct exit.
You need to be a bit less wibblesome and a bit more empowered if you are going to be an asset in class rather than someone the teacher needs to be looking after as well.
Gentle intro is fine, but you need to hit the ground running in school, as you can see, parents will be one of your main challenges.

You need to know all of your tables by the end of Y4.

All your times tables with a 5 second recall by year 5!

Do you get on well with the class teacher?

Only met class teacher for 3 mins at end of interview and shes off tomorrow. Cant really get in early as need to drop my 2 off first. But i will swot up on curriculum, cant access VLE without password.

You'll be fine, OP, but they can sniff weakness like vampires smell blood, so just KNOW in yourself that you're the boss so you can exude the same message.
-Owner of a yr5 Madam.

"i'm used to supported little ones using number lines and grid, I'm sure by yr 5 they have moved on alot"

My DD1 has just started in year 5 and she still uses a number line occasionally, her first bit of homework required her to use one, plus she is far from knowing all of her times tables. To be fair she is behind with Maths but not exceptionally.

My DD falls out with her friends regually and has a habit of back chatting but is also keen to please still and if you show her attention she laps it up.

You will be fine Flo. It will probably be a bit overwhelming for a couple of days then it will feel like you have always been with the class.

I was 22 when I taught my first A level Psychology lesson and the students were 18 and some 19! I remember being terrified and my hand was shaking when I took the register! After the 3rd or 4th lesson all was fine. I can now happily start off an exam with 150 pupils and 10 members if staff in the hall and not even break a sweat.

Good luck

Good grief, this is primary maths, it's not rocket science- there is nothing there that you cannot get to grips with.My DS is nine, he's lovely he has a cracking sense of humour and just enjoys interaction with adults, he needs to know the boundaries and will happily work within them, needs a rocket up his butt when working and needs telling when his cheekiness over-steps the mark! It's a great age enjoy your job the kids will love you if you are kind.

They will def not be cleverer than you. I trained as a teacher (still have flashbacks!) and worried about the sixth formers but actually most of them were not firing on all cylinders.

Best of luck!

Also at age 9, there's still quite a lot of crying etc, they might look tough talking to their mates but they are still rather little really.

Oh, stop it you will be fine. Have a look on on the class room door for the fire drill thingy....that will tell you what to do. By Y% they should know what to do if there is a fire drill, so follow them.

And don't fret about times tables. My DSs high school maths teacher told me he'd never bothered learning his times tables, he just had a bit of a think and worked them out as he went along. You can probably do that in less than 5 secs.

Y5s still like stickers on their jumper when they achieve. They still need reinsurance when they have fallen over on they play ground or their friend says they don't want to play with them.

Aw, I've got a yr 5 boy, and they are still lovely. Swot up on Dr Who, Moshi Monsters and X factor and you'll be fine.

They'll talk your heads off though if they are anything like DS and his pals.

Thanx for all your support, wk 1 went really well and I was fine, they r sooo sweet. Didnt struggle with maths but french?!......need to swot on that, i can say hello and count to 10, yr 5 where counting to 40 and saying allsorts of sentences!! I just muddled through copying the teacher!

Glad you were fine

The maths and Literacy tests they give for TA positions ensure you could work up to level 7 ish usually (C @GCSE level).

I know what you mean about learning it differently - my teacher friend also says she's having to teach differently to how she learnt BUT that makes her a better teacher because she can empathise with her pupils somewhat! Usually the TA sits while the teacher gives input so you'll get a demo of her technique for solving maths problems before you support the pupils.

Good luck - any new job is scary and it's pretty normal to worry about not being able to do it - you got the position though so your employers obviously think you can.