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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think teaching has become so robotic

33 replies

Consciousuncouplings · 26/01/2023 08:28

I've been doing various supply work, I don't know if this is mainly an Academy thing though. Teachers seem to have very little freedom in how they plan and deliver their lessons now, everything is so formulaic.
I was supporting in a lesson the other day, and it can't just be a regular starter anymore, it has to consist of 'last week, last month, last term, last year' so you have to faff about looking for 4 different things to do.
A lot of SLT expect lessons to be differentiated to the hilt, as if you've time to come up with 9 different versions of the lesson.
In the lesson I supported in, the teacher was almost speaking in a robotic manner, it was like a script. When a pupil was talking he said, "I will now issue you with your first correction." It's like something out of prison. Speaking in all sorts of mantras and just didn't seem natural at all.
Then there's the 'exit ticket" as if there wasn't enough to mess about with.
I just wonder if all this even helps the pupils to learn more or do better. I don't remember having it to this extreme when I was at school and we didn't suffer.

OP posts:
Original poster
Consciousuncouplings · 26/01/2023 22:21

Exactly, nobody said that teachers wouldn't have thought of testing prior knowledge themselves. Then I was told to stop whining because I dared to give an opinion on how I think teaching is atm in some places, and told I couldn't possibly understand if I've only ever done cover 😂😂 @enyemaka

OP posts:
LimeTwists · 26/01/2023 23:12

enyemaka · 26/01/2023 08:39

'last week, last month, last term, last year'
this is called a ‘retrieval task’. Research shows that it helps to ensure that students develop, build and remember key information.

Differentiation, especially post pandemic, is used to support children.

Having a clear statement for behaviour management, used across a school, is there is ensure consistency. Consistency helps children.

‘Exit tickets’ help a teacher ascertain quickly as to the knowledge picked up in lessons and what could / should be revisited in the next lesson.

Also, maybe appreciate how tough it is in schools right now instead of just complaining. We’re doing the best we can. If you only ever do cover, you don’t see the benefits of strategies like this.

I find this really patronising. I’m sure OP knows what retrieval is, what differentiation is, what a behaviour policy is and the importance of consistency. The point has flown right over your head. You can implement all of those things without being tedious box-ticking robots sticking to a script.

Someone made an interesting comment about this sort of rigid teaching being done in schools which are struggling a bit because it’s a way to ensure that SLT can say these things are definitely being implemented. I agree. In the best schools I’ve worked in, you don’t need to plan with 9 types of differentiation, recorded on a sheet for SLT as proof. The teacher adjusts before the lesson and then during the lesson as needed, using their expertise and real-time feedback.

For what it’s worth, I was an Advanced Skills teacher and also HOD at two ‘Outstanding’ schools but also worked at a school on special measures and a few RI academies. I’ve seen all sorts of teaching and leadership. The worst was the sort of stuff that you describe, OP!

Whattaboutit · 26/01/2023 23:29

It did shock me going into a school for the first time in many years how children as young as 6 or 7 are looking at PowerPoint ALL day. The screen is never off. Even PE lessons were done with screen assistance. I can tell it’s just become normal but I’m not sure it should be.

Valeriekat · 28/01/2023 11:58

enyemaka · 26/01/2023 08:39

'last week, last month, last term, last year'
this is called a ‘retrieval task’. Research shows that it helps to ensure that students develop, build and remember key information.

Differentiation, especially post pandemic, is used to support children.

Having a clear statement for behaviour management, used across a school, is there is ensure consistency. Consistency helps children.

‘Exit tickets’ help a teacher ascertain quickly as to the knowledge picked up in lessons and what could / should be revisited in the next lesson.

Also, maybe appreciate how tough it is in schools right now instead of just complaining. We’re doing the best we can. If you only ever do cover, you don’t see the benefits of strategies like this.

I expect that you are one of the SLT then!

MatronicO6 · 28/01/2023 12:10

I think this is more typical an academies. Having worked with several former academy teachers I found they had a very specific way of teaching, with very specific board formats, specific language, question points. Often found that they were given lesson plans to the follow to the point they were almost scripts.

Having always worked in schools that teach to class's needs and creating lessons from scratch, I have found teachers like this can struggle when they no longer use an academy plan.

UnicorseTime · 28/01/2023 12:59

Yes I find it scary that now teachers can train on the job in these type of academies they are literally not learning to teach, to devise a group of lessons to match a curriculum, to find resources, to tailor to the class and to use a range of strategies, to use creative ideas etc.

They have literally learnt to read a script and follow very strict guidelines.

Timeaftertim3 · 13/01/2024 22:15

enyemaka · 26/01/2023 08:39

'last week, last month, last term, last year'
this is called a ‘retrieval task’. Research shows that it helps to ensure that students develop, build and remember key information.

Differentiation, especially post pandemic, is used to support children.

Having a clear statement for behaviour management, used across a school, is there is ensure consistency. Consistency helps children.

‘Exit tickets’ help a teacher ascertain quickly as to the knowledge picked up in lessons and what could / should be revisited in the next lesson.

Also, maybe appreciate how tough it is in schools right now instead of just complaining. We’re doing the best we can. If you only ever do cover, you don’t see the benefits of strategies like this.

Robot teaching in other words

UnicorseTime · 14/01/2024 20:18

Yes. It's the way it's goi g...

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