To think I am not at all cut out for teaching

[Cinammonroll123]

I’ve been doing some Cover Supervisor work which is different I suppose.
It’s absolute chaos. The kids like me, but respect me, certainly not.
I follow the behaviour policy but don’t know the pupils and just find it harder.
The lessons I’ve had have been a struggle to get the class to be quiet, the majority of them will do the work but even though I keep insisting on quiet or silence, it never lasts.
I have had teachers from next door coming in to complain about the noise and it’s embarrassing, I just feel like an idiot.
Teaching seems to have some sort of competitiveness about it, about who’s the strictest, who the pupils like the most etc.
I don’t like the way that it’s almost like following a script, every lesson has to follow the exact same formula and the same activities, there’s no room for flexibility.

Having to use certain language too, it’s all about being a ‘positive role model’ and setting the right example.

In the school I’ve been at, the entire class has to give a round of applause every single time someone answers a question, which just takes forever.

I agreed to be a long-term supply teacher but I know it’s not for me. It’s for January, I don’t want to let my agency down but I would much rather do TA work, I don’t think I’m cut out for this at all. Do you think it would be too late to explain to them that I no longer want to do it?

@Fritilleries

No. Plenty of qualified and eager trainees out there.

Ha Ha

There are no teachers out there at all.
Good luck finding one for January

I was a cover supervisor before I was a teacher and it was by far the hardest job I’ve ever done. Teaching is easy compared to controlling a room of kids you don’t know and they don’t know!!!

I don’t know if you personally are suited to teaching, but you are doing the hardest job in a school. If the kids like you, you are doing a good job. Children do not tend to “respect” cover supervisors as they are very low down in the hierarchy…. Sorry to say!!

I always tell children off if they are being rude to a cover supervisor but the most you can hope for is to be liked and for children to do what you tell them because they like you!!!

I used to work for a supply agency and didn't like it. Being alone a different school each day with the staff expecting me to automatically know everything about the school/kids/where everything was could be incredibly difficult.

I managed to get a permanent position in a secondary school and now I love working in a school environment.

@Alltheblue

I'm also getting a vibe that you're lazy in your lesson planning as you seem to despise activities that you're required to include. Children don't respect that.

Cover shouldn't need any planning.

Although having done it for 10 years I know that finding a great lesson plan AND seating plan on the desk is like winning the lottery. The whole hour can go to shit if one kid decides they're going to fuck it up.

Cover is brutal. Even when you've been there for ages and got to know the kids, who is the class clown, who you can rely on for sensibility.

Give it a go in January. A good stint at the same school gives you chance to set out your boundaries, get to know the behaviour expectations, and who to complain to if/when the cover is shit.

Teaching isn't about teaching any more.

It is behaviour management mainly.

What about teaching adults, OP? Slightly less crowd control, and usually a slightly more engaged class.

I taught adults in high-security prison from seven years, believe me, thats when you learn crowd control but its hugely rewarding as well.

@Liverbird77

If you can possibly do so, leave and don't t look back. It is a terrible job. I hope I will never, ever have to set foot in a classroom again.

THIS

I work for the civil service now. Am much happier in every way

@sjxoxo

You said the op doesn’t owe anything to anyone
I disagree
She owes the children a good education
She’s not delivering that
But it’s a positive she has that naught
So she should leave

Were you a TA in the same school where you're now doing cover OP? We've had TAs retrain as teachers and stay in the same school and the kids have often behaved badly for them. It seems like they have it fixed in their minds that this person is a TA even if they're not. The misbehaving for anyone other than the class teacher enrages me, but it's very common.

If you want to stay in it absolutely do your NQT year. Have you been told that no one wants to take you on as an NQT? I'd have thought you'd be more desirable than someone fresh off their PGCE because you've got teaching experience abroad.

I've been a class teacher and a cover teacher. I've done cover work in a school where I worked for years and knew the kids, and I found behaviour much harder to manage than as a class teacher. IMO managing behaviour is the hardest to do in the role you're in now.

It's hard to say if you're cut out for it? Do you like teenagers? Are you passionate about teaching?

It is so hard to control rowdy classes as a substitute. I say that as a teacher who demonstrates consistently good discipline. And skills take time to learn.

So if you really want to do it, stick it out. Use this as an opportunity to trial different strategies. Get from with the other teachers who are interrupting - they are actually undermining you if they're complaining in front of the students. Ask some decent teachers for advice with specific scenarios.

If you don't really really really want to be a teacher then don't.

Yanbu to want to leave teaching.
However the school sounds batty.
Life’s too short tbh, if you’re not happy just quit!