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Original poster

Any TEACHERS with that back to school feeling??

96 replies

noonar · 21/08/2006 11:51

I have been teaching primary for 10 years, 4 of which have been p/t , since the arrival of dd 1 and 2 (now aged 2 and 4). At this time of year I always dread going back and really resent the time I have to spend planning and sorting out the classroom. I think it could be time for a change. I love my job, but the 'out of hours' workload is disproportionately high compared to the 2 days I'm paid for. I've got to carry on working p/t, for sanity's sake, rather than financial reasons. I also think that if I left teaching I'd regret it, longterm.

Hhmm, what should I do?

Anyone else with similar experiences?

OP posts:
Whizzz · 21/08/2006 13:37

I am starting a job as a Secondary TA after the hols ! I am very excited & a teeny bit scared as it's completely different to what I did before ! Glad of any wise words !

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 13:40

Get a pencil case and fill it with the cheapest pen/pencils/ rubbers etc )I do this but not all teachers do). They kids you will be supporting may have poor organisational skills, if you can lend them a pen etc it makes them feel better, reduces stress etc. I have worked with TAs that do this....diamonds all!

Get a copy of the lesson plans up front if you can from the teachers. That way you can help to highlight any potential flashpoints for the students you are supporting.

Gets some nice wine for the end of the first week to treat yourself! I bet you will have a great time

possumhead · 21/08/2006 13:41

Hi all,
I'm returning to work in September (2weeks!!) since having dd in January. I am not going back to current post, but am going to a 0.6 job at the school where i began my teaching career!
Beginning to get quite nervous about it all really, as would love to stay at home with dd.
She goes to the childminder next Tues for the 1st time , so that i can go into school and get things organised!!

LucyCat · 21/08/2006 13:42

or you could just go to IKEA and nick all their little pencils shhh don't tell

rustybear · 21/08/2006 13:42

Will you be supporting one particular child? do you know much about them?

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 13:44

damnit Lucy, you spotted me!

I have a blue Ikea box full of el cheapo pens etc. I can't be arsed to give the kids a hard time over pens etc, much easier all round for me to lend them one. I just wish the little buggers wouldn't nick them!

twinsetandpearls · 21/08/2006 13:44

I buy bumper packs of pens as none of our kids have them , Ihave never taught in a school quite liketi before. Noone ever has a school bag they just arrive empty handed for lessons.

I have a classroom this year, was quite excited but it is tiny and next door to the music room so I will hear badly played keyboards and percussion all day. But at least it is freshly painted for me.

Whizzz · 21/08/2006 13:44

Thanks MB a great tip - I really don't know what to expect as my only school classroom experience was as a volunteer at DSs primary school!

twinsetandpearls · 21/08/2006 13:45

Instead of a pencil case I ahve a cheap tool box for pens etc.

Whizzz · 21/08/2006 13:46

Rusty - no - its across all years & all subjects. I will have a timetable & move about as I am needed. The school is all on one level so it has a higher proportion of SEN pupils than average. I am trying to read up as much as I can !

cece · 21/08/2006 13:48

I'm starting a new job this term, in new Local Authority and very different catchment to my last school. Only one and half days but think it will be good! or at least I hope it will be.

pointydog · 21/08/2006 13:50

I'm new to mumsnet and new to primary teaching after a career change.

I've spent all summer panicking as I didn't have a job to go back to (not been in that situation for over 15 years!). However, was recently offered a one year contract and I'm supposed to hear today which school, year group and start date.

Now I'm really panicking as I haven't been able to do any planning whatsoever as I don't know the year group and schools are back so I coud start tomorrow! Takes me ages to plan.

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 13:51

Wizzz, it is such a simple thing and yet it can make everyone's life so much easier. All the best Tas I have worked with do it, it sort of gets the kids 'on side' IYSWIM, they can get down to work asap which is often vital.

Another good one is to get the kids to write the title of the lesson and the date as soon as they sit down, helps to get them settled and also helps to organise their work (which can be an issue for some kids) Oh and get a mini stapler to stick in work sheets.....if kids have literacy probelms the teacher may use a lot of work sheets to cut down on the writing, a good idea but bugger all help if the sheets get lost! If you can help a child to have a well organised book it helps to raise their sence of self worth

pointydog · 21/08/2006 13:55

And when I do hear, I'll have no time at all to be on mn

rustybear · 21/08/2006 13:58

A couple of ideas (I only have primary experience)but many SEN children find it difficult to get information from the board, and also in remembering information given verbally - our kids have a wipe clean board (just a laminated a4 sheet) to list key vocabulary & lesson objectives, so they are 'within reach' iyswim. Also if any of your kids have asd, you may want to be aware of any sensory distractions - eg hum from computers/whiteboard projector, smells if they are near kitchens - this kind of thing can completely ruin their concentration.

Original poster
noonar · 21/08/2006 13:59

where are you living, pointydog? wondering if it's scotland, if the schools are back already.

OP posts:
Littlefish · 21/08/2006 14:02

Great ideas rustybear. Post-it notes work well too. If you can help the children you are supporting, to record key information on them about the order of the task, they can then work through the post-it notes in order.

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 14:04

it can also help if you have their IEP targets on a card to prompt them, or a sticky label in the inside front cover of their books

pointydog · 21/08/2006 15:10

Yes, noonar, Scotland!

Whizzz · 21/08/2006 15:28

Wow - cheers all ! Off to the shops tomorrow to stock up my pencil case

twinsetandpearls · 21/08/2006 17:22

don't buy the big packs of pens from tescos though they never work, if there is one thing bound to piss a kid of more than not having a pen it is not hvaing a pen being lent one and they finding out it doesn't work.

Learn from my mistakes!

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 17:24

I made that mistake too!

Have also had kids complain that the pen isn't 'nice enolugh'!

twinsetandpearls · 21/08/2006 17:25

I get that as well

"Not these shit pens again miss"

Blandmum · 21/08/2006 17:26

Do we teach in the same school?????

I alawys opoint to my face and ask 'Does this look as if it cares?' Which usualy gets a laugh

twinsetandpearls · 21/08/2006 17:30

Do yours come with no school bags? Ours arrive with nothing, no books, no pens pencils anything?

I thought my school was alone in this but maybe not.

In the last week of term when they were complaining about the pens one of the kids said
"Lay off her she only teaches part time and has a kid to support so she can't afford better pens"

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