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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Think i'm a rubbish teacher

64 replies

Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:17

Well i'm actually a Cover Supervisor, though qualified as a teacher.
I'm full-time at one school, and I earn not much more than the minumum wage.

I accepted this as a trade off for not having to do any work outside of school and being able to leave at 3pm.

The kids either cheer when they see i'm their cover or groan and say' For fuck's sake'.

They just ignore me and have zero respect. A certain number of classes are great and get on with the work, and are polite, but it's a battle with many.

I think being a young female doesn't help either, I also look young for my age and I am naturally shy/quiet.

When I try to discipline the class,some of them just laugh at me. SLT are supportive and come into the room but the kids start talking the minute they leave.

I don't think I should only have to earn respect, kids should respect their teacher regardless of who it is.

Cover work is usually very uninspiring 'Do Page 5',so I try to make it more interactive but the behaviour is so bad that it's hard.

I really have no idea why the school hired me, i'm rubbish. I don't know how to build good relationships with the kids.

The TAs in the lesson actually take over sometimes. I don't ask them to, they just take it upon themselves.

It's not worth it for 17k. Does anybody else feel like this ? I'm just rubbish and the kids walk all over me. I use the behaviour system but it doesn't turn them into renowned characters, they end up hating you even more because you phoned their parents or gave them a detention.

I am now looking for a non-teaching job with at least 20k salary, but it's difficult at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:20

I will walk into a room of 32 noisy students and getting them all silent is a nightmare. I almost lost my voice recently, I hate having to shout over them but they just carry on talking otherwise, even the "good" students.

I will be stood at the front trying to give instructions and they will just ignore me and talk.
Kids tell me they can't concentrate as it's too noisy, and i've been there nearly a year now.
Don't have any friends there which doesn't help either. No staff are horrible to me, they are all polite but nobody really seems interested, it's my fault too for not making initial effort as it's too late now.

OP posts:
Tema1987 · 05/11/2020 15:22

The best way to have a great relationship with your kids is to put them under your bed.

Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:22

Sorry i'm not quite sure what you mean ? Haha

OP posts:
Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:23

Want to add that I also reward good behaviour, but the big classes are so noisy that it's very hard to have large discussions.

OP posts:
BrumBoo · 05/11/2020 15:25

Haven't you posted about this several times before?

Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:27

I haven't posted before no

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 05/11/2020 15:28

Did you not have any training in behaviour management during your pgce? You should not be talking over the students. Your TAs should not be taking over the lesson because that’s totally undermining your role as the teacher.

You say SLT are supportive. What sanctions are you using when the children aren’t behaving properly? Are you following through every time?

If you’re a cover supervisor and not just daily supply, it should get easier as the kids know you are someone who enforces the behaviour policy.

I don't think I should only have to earn respect, kids should respect their teacher regardless of who it is.

They always test boundaries, whatever school you’re in from the best to the worst. Having effective systems with a supportive slt is the most important thing.

bitheby · 05/11/2020 15:28

Can you ask for a mentor? I doubt you're as bad as you think you are but when confidence is low it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Perhaps the Head of Year or whoever you report to can buddy you up with someone to give you some practical tips.

whoami24601 · 05/11/2020 15:29

Are you primary or secondary? Don't shout to get them quiet. Stand at the front and quietly look at your watch. Every minute draw a tally on the board. Eventually someone will ask why - 'that's how many minutes of break/pe/ ict/ other fun thing you're going to miss because you made me wait. And do it! I was a HLTA in upper KS2 and have lots of unorthodox ways to get kids to behave! Let me know if you want any more tips!

Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:31

Yes I did, but it doesn't seem to work sadly. They just don't respect me.
You're right the TAs shouldn't do that, I just can't be bothered, they probably know i'm rubbish so that's why they do it.
It should,the kids know i'm there permanently but doesn't seem to have helped.
Just looking forward to a non-teaching role.
The school also have this weekly staff rewards ceremonies and I have not been nominated even once, let alone won anything.
Sick of them raving about how much they love Miss whoever and why isn't she in, she normally does X in the lesson etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:33

Thanks, secondary, i've tried standing and saying nothing but they literally just carry on talking ! They just really don't seem to like me. There are a small number of students who are always polite and friendly and do their work, they are happy to see me.
I have observed several teachers and tbh I can't see them doing anything amazing yet the classes sit mainly in silence.
I don't think I can turn around my rep at the school, it's too late.

OP posts:
AhoyMeFarties · 05/11/2020 15:34

I think you are right to look for another job

PurpleDaisies · 05/11/2020 15:34

Thanks, secondary, i've tried standing and saying nothing but they literally just carry on talking.

What happened next? Did the ones who were talking get any sort of sanction?

Surely the school must have a behaviour policy to follow.

PurpleDaisies · 05/11/2020 15:36

I have observed several teachers and tbh I can't see them doing anything amazing yet the classes sit mainly in silence.

That is because over time they have established that those are the rules on their class room and the students know that the consequences for not following them will happen.

Joswis · 05/11/2020 15:36

Your age won't help, neither will being seen as 'just' cover.

Eventually they will get used to you, but being cover, will take a lot longer. You also have to stop blaming yourself for some of them being shits.

I've had some horrific classes where the only way to get any respect is to be full-on harsh, all the time. I hate doing it, but it does work. With some, it's a bit of a compromise. But you won't know how to be persuasive / friendly / jokey with them until you've had them a few times. And it won't work with all of them.

Are you sure supply work wouldn't pay more? You still get to walk away at 3pm with no homework. You'd also get to know which schools to avoid. I was with a good national agency for a year. There was loads of work available. Cover supervisor is the same job as supply teacher.

Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:37

They do get behaviour points and detentions but they're just the same the next lesson.
One girl said to me 'Let's be friends' and another one yesterday said 'Ooh you better not be ringing my Mum hey !' and this was one of the 'quiet' girls.
They have absolutely no respect for me and see my lessons as a chance to do nothing for an hour. I've had so many chats with them, SLT coming in etc. Yet nothing, i'm done.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zena389 · 05/11/2020 15:42

Thanks, just thought after a year they would be by now. Yeah indeed there are some who are awful for every teacher and who get daily detention but yeah.. It's just not for me.

OP posts:
AwaAnBileYerHeid · 05/11/2020 15:55

Could you perhaps ask for some feedback from the TAs? As in is there anything that they notice that you could perhaps be doing differently.

Starlight39 · 05/11/2020 15:59

It sounds like you're on the same salary as a TA but expected to do the job of a teacher (but harder discipline wise as you're "just" cover so can't build the same relationships as if you were the main teacher of a subject/class). Can you move to being a TA so that you are working alongside a teacher who will do more of the discipline side of things? Or move into adult learning or an online language tuition job eg to Chinese students? (not sure how feasible those moves are as I'm not in teaching but just suggestions).

flaviaritt · 05/11/2020 16:00

This isn’t you. This is the culture of your school. They are moaning and groaning because you are following up their poor behaviour. And they are continuing with it because SLT aren’t providing enough escalation through the behaviour policy for repeated examples of the same poor behaviour.

fabulousathome · 05/11/2020 16:04

In normal times I would say how about doing private tutoring? There will be many wanting it after lockdown I imagine and working one to one should suit you.

Musmerian · 05/11/2020 16:07

Cover Supervisor is the job from hell. I’m an experienced teacher and would never do it. My younger sister did it and had a nervous breakdown. Honestly don’t do it. All the good bits of teaching are the relationship with your classes and the teaching of your subject. If you are young, female and inexperienced then it’s worse. I’m not sure anyone can really help- either leave or get a proper teaching job where you have a chance to build relationships with staff and students.

MarjorytheTrashHeap · 05/11/2020 16:14

Behaviour management is much harder as a cover teacher than as a regular teacher so don't beat yourself up. You don't have regular classes that you can build a relationship with or set out a regular routine with. There is also a general lack of respect for cover supervisors compared to being a regular teacher. As you said, cover work is often uninspiring. I work with much younger children so don't have many useful strategies but I wouldn't worry about making it fun, just have the expectation that the work is completed. Perhaps discuss with SLT an incentive you can give for those who get on and complete their task.

Otherwise, cover superviser rôles seem fairly plentiful so you could look for a school that is well known for good behaviour and that has a very secure behaviour system in place that supports cover teachers.

Amijustagrump · 05/11/2020 16:16

I'm a teaching who got told I'm shit today. That's the job..

Are you using appropriate sanctions? Are you being fair and consistent? Are you being overly friendly as they hate that? Are you rolling over when they do things wrong?

I'm only 23 myself and can still get a class of tough year 11s silent. Maybe you need to speak to member of SLT about some behaviour management training?

flaviaritt · 05/11/2020 16:19

I'm a teaching who got told I'm shit today. That's the job..

Please don’t tell other professionals this. It’s not helpful for people to have such low standards.

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