To hate teaching

[Fireflyfly]

Any fellow teachers on here just feeling absolutely burnt out and wondering why you chose this career ??

Im on a long term supply ( meaning I don’t plan but have all other responsibilities) . The school itself is lovely …. But , I am just worn out .

I spend the day feeling like I’m just shouting all the time . Behaviour is not challenging in terms of major issues , but it’s CONSTANT talking - that is too much for a learning environment , I’m constantly shouting ! All the time . I never wanted to be this type of teacher . I work through lunch , marking , and still don’t leave until around 1645 . The to do list never ends. Everything is on a strict timetable so I’m rushing to get lessons completed , when the class are virtually incapable of doing anything independently. I have an amazing TA who is just as worn out as me and the other 2 teachers of the other classes in the year group are the same ( if not more as they are planning and resourcing ! ) - so I know it’s not me and I’ve been told this year group as a whole are very challenging .

Im mentally and physically drained. I look worse than ever as I have no time or desire to do anything for myself , I’m in pain as I’m on my feet all day and leaning over tiny desks , I don’t have a car right now so I then have a commute . I get home and I have to vacuum ( have a dog so has to be done daily ) , then I’m sorting things for the next day , doing dinners . It’s 715pm and I’ve just stopped and about to make my own dinner . I have never known a job like this . My mind is racing , I feel like the whole day is full speed , my throat is horse from shouting ( that’s mainly just to be heard ! ) , I’m snappy with my children , snappy with my husband .

I didn’t think it would be like this , it’s the hardest job I’ve ever done. I’m still an ECT - my first permanent job was harder and I left as I almost had a breakdown . I went into day to day supply then took a long term for financial security . I’ve been offered a job with this school for September but I can’t face it , I don’t want to go back to day to day ( I have to work part time in the holidays if I do ) but I don’t think I can live like this long term .

I’ve applied for roles out of teaching and I’m awaiting outcomes but I’m worrying about not having the holidays with my own children .

I feel trapped and wish I had never gone into teaching . I trained for 5 years and i hate it and don’t want to be a failure but I don’t know how I could do this forever .

Good god I wish we didn’t! Ours is every piece of work.

If you are feeling like this on your second year it doesn't sound like the right career for you. Could you try a different school to see if it gets any better?

I work in an SEMH sch for kids who have struggled in mainstream due to behaviour, or are in care so moved out of their local area.

Behaviour is tough, but there’s less of them and more staff. We’re not ruled by academic progress. We have a therapeutic, trauma formed approach.

It can be stressful during the working day, but I take NOTHING home.

It sounds like the children have got behavioural issues. Talking constantly can be so disruptive when you are trying to teach. The days could be so lovely for both you and the children if they listen and behave. It sounds like your focus is more crowd control than actual teaching and that’s not fair. There are schools out there where behaviour is not bad (you can get an insight into what the school behaviour is like by reading their inspection report when you apply for the jobs). You have worked hard to become a teacher so why don’t you apply for other teaching jobs and see how it goes? Then, if teaching is definitely not for you, you can leave and find another career. It is not a rash decision to make because once you leave the profession it is very hard to return if you change your mind and if a lot of time has passed.

It would be beneficial to everyone if say its maths. Whole class marking then they can see their own mistakes.
Peer marking for grammar and punctuation. If you train them in 3 they will be excellent in 6.

Have you got incentives? Class reward jar for extra break or something fun? A reason to be quieter? We have to do lots of lining up quietly, going back if one person talks etc. Mine are year 6 and the behaviour is awful. But as others have said experience is your friend. Chatting to people who are more experienced will help.
I also got a stamp for those things I do have to mark. I look at it, correct ant glaringly obvious mistakes, and just stamp a 'checked by Mrs talk'.
Quick wins are everything. If it's at the end of your to do list, it's probably not worth being on there.
Good luck x

You have said that the school are all about teacher well being but I would strongly disagree. You must take your lunch and finish on time. It seems the marking policy is way over the top and it's just pointless the children are soo not reading these comments. Speak to your union. Speak with SLT and ask for support. Get someone in to observe this noisy class and suggest some strategies or look at the school wide behaviour policy.

If you’re thinking of leaving the profession already, that’s a sign you are not being guided and supported. I also have questions about whether your school has a whole school behaviour policy or whether it’s just left up to teachers to do their own thing.

Sounds like you need to install some routines for periods of silence, listening and focus. If you’re struggling as an introvert with the constant chatter that escalates to shouting, then so will all the introvert children, those with special needs too. I disagree with the poster here who suggests schools are only places for extroverts.

A chatty class that does not listen to the teacher. This needs to be nipped in the bud. There’s a risk they will not listen and instead mess about when you’re on a trip and someone could get hurt. As an ECT you are entitled to support with behaviour management. Do you get support? Are leaders a visible presence?

The ‘teacher wait’ is an important routine to perfect. It’s where you signal attention and then wait for everyone to completely stop and focus on you. Many teachers give up, or don’t do this at all, thinking that if they wait then they’ll wait forever. Children need to be taught and then have no-blurred-lines practice of this. When they’re silent, say thank you. If they try to finish your sentences, stop and do the stare thing at the children talking over you. If half the class aren’t listening when you’re giving instructions, and you just carry on, then you’re actually teaching them to routinely ignore adults. Learning to behave is an education in itself. Put the fractions on hold for 10 mins and do this very important thing.

A silent writing/maths practice rule: agree with the class the first 5 mins talk is ok. Then, 10 mins silent practice. Be firm with this. It’s just ten mins, but many of the children (and their parents) will thank you for this respite.

There are plenty of other practical things you can do. Feel free to ask questions. What are the moments of the day which cause most noise and unsettled behaviour? Is it when they come in from break by any chance?

Oh no, don’t say that!
I’ve been a primary teacher for 5 years and am 52 and really really cannot do this anymore.
just reading that I might be trapped has given me heart palpitations!

I never sit down until 8pm. When the kids were smaller it was 9. I am not a teacher.

That is insane!. That sounds very power trippy.
What use do they get from this? This is just overworking people! My head would throw a fit if I told her I indepth marked every piece of work.

I’m a ‘supply’ or ‘sub teacher here in Aus. I hate it too and I can’t wait until I can stop.

@Talk5 it is insane isn't it? But to be honest, every primary school I know are the same. When we go to cross school writing moderations they all have the same mad marking policies. I do think this is more prevalent in primary. Last night I had 150 books to mark...150! Had to bring them all home (3 boxes) as we had a staff meeting until 5. I was marking books until 10pm - knackering!!

It can't be left 'for another day' either...because of the 'drop ins' 😢 (and the incremental load of the following day's marking if you do leave it for a day 🙁!)

I'm 60 years old...not sure how much longer I can do this.

Do you all realise you’re responding to a thread from June? The OP said she’d been offered a role for September but had turned it down, so presumably she’s doing something else by now.

@Mumhelp2 - maybe start your own thread if you need support. Your question will get lost with people replying to the OP.

@Fireflyfly - any update? Are you still teaching?