AIBU to think she needs to read the book

[Reallynoreading]

A friend of mine is a really hardworking teacher, also the parent of two high needs children. She works really hard but has surprised with with this comment I saw from them.

She are going to be teaching a book to their class soon is watching the film of the book, when asked why not read the book they posted this comment -

Sorry X, I don't really have time to read. I work till midnight doing school work Monday - Thursday and later on Saturday and Sunday. I suppose it could be my Friday night read 😊 Come to think of it, I tried when I was 15 and didn't get very far.

AIBU to think of you are teaching a book (even in primary school) you need to read it your self?

Mostly I feel it’s sad that as a teacher she doesn’t have the time built into her working week to do some basic prep for her lessons, and this is a reflection of how difficult teaching has become and shows why so many are leaving.

If she's planning a unit of work around it, yes she should read it first. She'll need to write comprehension questions, identify key vocabulary, plan a suitable sequence of work to meet the objectives in a way that has some continuity... That said, her planning is for her school to scrutinise, she probably could do without her friend doing it for her. I wouldn't say anything else.

Could she llisten to it as an audio book whilst doing household things? That way she's had the 'original text' but can get on with other things rather than having to stop to read?

YANBU, if she's teaching a book, it isn't just the basic story, it's the language and ideas, the way the story is constructed and so on and on. Plus it is highly likely the film is an abridged version of the book.

She's a teacher, so she must have brains and gone to university so she'll know this already. She either needs to suck it up and stay up and extra hour or so a few nights (so she's ahead of the class at the very least) or accept that she isn't teaching well. Also she needs to look into her time management skills. I know that teachers are very hardworking and put on, but that kind of routine isn't tenable long-term and she isn't being a good teacher - letting the kids down and it'll show and that will affect her career.

If it's primary school, but she couldn't get through it aged 15, surely it's a bit hard for them?

I'm not sure from what you've posted that she actually isn't going to read the book - it sounds like someone posted a really judgy comment (on FB?) and she wanted to shut them up. I wouldn't take it as cast iron proof that she's intending to teach the class without reading the book.

Yes, she needs the read the book she is going to teach. Does she know nothing about film adaptation? It is most unlikely to be exactly like the book.

At Primary? Do they still read it together as a class? She could make something of the fact she's not yet read it yet as a discussion point, 'I wonder what will happen with x, do you think the author is setting up y to happen.'
If this is at Secondary then she's not doing her job. As ridiculous as the other pressures she's under are, this is fundamental.

I'm always a bit sceptical when people say they don't have time to read. 20 mins a day is all it takes

Of course she should read the book...it’s a part of her job!

She's a teacher, so she must have brains and gone to university so she'll know this already. She either needs to suck it up and stay up and extra hour or so a few nights (so she's ahead of the class at the very least) or accept that she isn't teaching well.

Yep. She needs to stay up to 2am instead. That'll sort it.

That routine is surprisingly sustainable over years. If you are at a shit school it's pretty common. Most teachers these days have to compromise some pretty big things they "should" be doing just to get by.

That and a pay cut north of 15% is why many are leaving the profession.

It is unlikely to be her deliberate choice 'not to be teaching very well'. That decision was made by the democratic will of the British people. We collectively opted for no more NHS soon as well.

Silly to scapegoat individuals- either campaign for it to be different or (if you voted for it) pat yourself on the back.

She needs to work smarter not harder, there is no excuse for being up until midnight (or past) every night.

Well it goes a long way to explaining why teacher retention is so awful. But yes, you do need to read the book. I lay in bed for an hour reading on Wednesday so I could at least be halfway through my group reader. However, I am enjoying that book (as are my boys I chose it for), it’s a nightmare if you are stuck teaching a book you hate .

I'd love to know what the book is

Haha QueenOfLouisiana, War Horse is my bête noir! Bloody awful. I'm going to see the show soon and hope I can stand it.

She needs to read it.

Helena I expect you could make a fortune advising teachers... assuming you have any experience of how to manage teaching workload.

It’s a Shakespeare play.

MargaretCavendish They have posted a picture of a tv and dvd case of the film stating they are watching the film as they need to teach the book. Then someone suggested reading it and the above was her reply.

If she’s teaching it, she at least needs to stay a couple of chapters ahead of the class. That’s not difficult to do. I can’t see it would take much longer to read a primary text than watch a film.

Dear lord, yes, she needs to read it. We did a book for A level, read aloud together in class, I studied it in huge depth so I could help the kids understand it.

She’s a secondary school teacher then?

I find it very very hard to believe any secondary school English teacher wouldn’t read a play before teaching it.

Did she post the picture on social media?

It's Shakespeare??

Then of course she needs to bloody read it. Good grief.

If it's a play (rather than a novel) then watching it actually makes sense. Plays are meant to be watched whereas novels are meant to be read.

Ideally of course she should also read the play. But sadly we don't live in an ideal world!