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Original poster

How do you teach?

64 replies

StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 10:32

I'm thinking seriously about training to become a teacher. I have always wanted to but been put off by a)My parents (who were teachers), b)the very un-child-friendly expectations of most schools towards teachers' kids.

I'm entering my 40s, with young children and looking at Primary, particularly infants though I'd like to teach Juniors too.

My questions really are:

How do you manage the work load with a family?
Am I right that I'd never be able to go to my kids' class assemblies or parents consultations?
Do I need to up my energy levels significantly?

And:

How do you arrange childcare for your Primary aged children? I have 3 and a full-time Nanny will cost almost double my starting salary and I am at a loss to know how to arrange it during training. Any one have any ideas?

Many tia

OP posts:
Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 11:08

Guess you're all out with your kids eh?

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Philoslothy · 09/04/2014 11:50

How do you manage the work load with a family?
I have a home help, I leave for work between 6:30 and 6:45. DH is with the kinds until about 7:45 when home help arrives, she also collects children from school. I also day no a lot at work. I work until 6pm and then have family time before starting work again until about 9pm. One day a week I get home for 4pm. I suspect I have more family time than most other working parents,

Am I right that I'd never be able to go to my kids' class assemblies or parents consultations?
Most schools have consultation evenings, I use those. I have been to the odd day time school event but not many, if it falls in my PPA or gain time. Two of my children attend the school in which I teach which makes it easier.

Do I need to up my levels of energy
I guess it depends on what you are used to. I had a full on life before going I to teaching. My average day is between 12 and 15 hours.

Feelingbettertoday · 09/04/2014 11:53

Hi Star Chart - I think the people who can answer this are probably at school (teaching) or at Uni (training) right now. (Not all schools are on holiday yet) I am interested in the responses as I am in my 40's doing my first degree and hope to start my PGCE next September.

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 13:48

Thank you both.

My children's parent consultations are always held in the afternoons.

Is there flexibility in schools i.e. to cover each other in order to attend own children school plays etc. I'd be happy to do someone's marking/cover lesson planning whatever in return. Or doesn't it ever work like that?

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toomuchicecream · 09/04/2014 14:37

Flexibility depends on the school and head teacher. I had time off for 2 non-local funerals during my first term at current school. Did ppa swap when possible and left "easy" work for obliging TA to do. Head also covered half a day.

I had an au pair when I did my pgce - DS was on year 3- had au pair till he went to secondary. Need to be ruthlessly organised, use every minute of spare time and accept lots of things will not happen in term time.

toomuchicecream · 09/04/2014 14:52

You probably won't know about flexibility till you start at a school. The Head I work for will always do her best to accommodate hard working staff because she knows its worth the goodwill she gets in return. Not every school will be the same....

Sleepyhoglet · 09/04/2014 14:59

You could get a part time ppa cover job.

Noappointmentnecessary · 09/04/2014 15:04

You couldn't do this job full time. Also it depends on your boss. My boss is great and let's me go doctors/dentists etc. he is quite accommodating.

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 15:27

Why couldn't I do the job full-time Noappoint?

I assumed there would be very little available work for a part-time 40yr old NQT so assuming I'd have to be full-time. Also, I'd want to be I think. I'd like to be completely responsible for my class and their progress (Well within the structure and organisation of the school at least).

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Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 15:28

Thank you Sleepy. I don't think my idea of what I'd like to offer and get out of teaching can be extended to ppa cover (although worth thinking about), but in any case, aren't the teachers that get those roles established?

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Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 15:30

toomuchicecream Thank you. I see what you mean about the flexibility thing. I'm expecting to be employed (if I can) grateful for any job at all and know it is unlikely to be recruited to a good well-run school with a flexible head, at least to start with.

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Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 15:31

We have no space for an au pair. 3 kids in a 2 bed house Sad

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poshme · 09/04/2014 15:36

IME (10 years primary teacher) I once went to my child's school play. I couldn't go to anything else.
My boss was great, but there were no teachers to cover my class if I wasn't there. Parents' eve for my own kids I had to make an appointment on a different day when I left work early (ie at 430/5 rather than 7).
I needed before school cover 815-900 and after school cover 330-5 at least, later if meetings etc.
I loved my job but now with 3 kids I don't teach any more. Childcare was too complicated & expensive, and the paperwork was just too much in the end.

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 15:38

Would you go back into teaching poshme when the kids are older?

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Cernabbas · 09/04/2014 15:51

I'm a secondary teacher, so things are a little different for me. I am part-time, but currently coming to the end of my second maternity leave.
If I wasn't part-time I would really struggle to get any decent family time apart from in the school holidays.

As others have said, it will depend on your school and Headteacher as to flexibility. If you are seriously considering working in a school I would suggest you try working as a TA as that will not require the amount of time out of school planning and marking etc.

poshme · 09/04/2014 16:05

Will probably go back as we could do with the income.
Preferably part time but part time jobs are scarce and hard to get if you're not working in the school IME.

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 16:14

'I would suggest you try working as a TA as that will not require the amount of time out of school planning and marking etc'

Good idea, but it is the planning and marking I am most enthusiastic about - lol. Is that not usual?

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noblegiraffe · 09/04/2014 16:44

If you are not enthusiastic about spending time with other people's kids, don't do it.

Cernabbas · 09/04/2014 16:45

Lol! I admit that I do like planning how I will teach a particular topic, but there is never enough time to plan all my lessons as I would like to. As for marking - it takes a lot of time to mRk and feedback to a class of 30 (plus the depression from how few have listened to you/read the question/put more than a moment of thought into their work)

I meant that being a TA would give you a (paid) way of getting into a school and making sure it is right for you, and also good on your application for PGCE courses and teaching jobs

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 16:46

Thanks noble I am enthusiastic about the kids. It's just I want to do my very best for them and that involves careful planning and regular assessment of them and importantly my ability as a teacher to get the outcomes right?

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Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 16:50

I'm a School Parent Governor atm. And every meeting I go to I just feel desperate to get in there. Perhaps it is just because it is a good school with good and keen staff, or perhaps it is a terrible school with miserable staff who are in fear of their jobs lest they demonstrate to the Governors how happy they are!?

I have been in the school a few times now as a Governor and as a helper and I always come out desperate for a drink, the loo and some paracetamol, but I literally bounce about the morning I am due to go in again.

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Sleepyhoglet · 09/04/2014 16:56

Consider working in an independent school?

Original poster
StarChartEsq · 09/04/2014 17:01

Possibly, but I'd kind of prefer the full spectrum of kiddies. Independent would certainly help with some of the childcare issues though I imagine.

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CharlesRyder · 09/04/2014 17:10

I love my job but I think you are wearing rose tinted glasses at the moment!

elliepac · 09/04/2014 17:11

Speaking as a secondary teacher in a managerial role:-

Workload with a family:- smart use of time at school, work in lunch hours etc, pick up dc's at 5 so have hour or so after school. Time when I get in is family time and then will work later when dc's in bed. I find it manageable but have been teaching 15 years so a lot of lesson planning etc is already in place. Have learnt to lower standards re housework and am super organised so everything is ready night before. NQT year is horribly demanding so think before you apply.

Missing assemblies:- as already said this depends on the school. If it is in ppa time i have been able to go and on the odd occasion colleagues jave covered my lesson but, for example, i have never been to a sports day and my oldest is in year 6. All depends on the school. I have never missed parents evening as both school run them straight after school so i have just got the latest available appointment.

Energy levels:- you will be knackered in NQT year. You will be knackered every evening. But it is worth itSmile.

Childcare costs- this depends on where you are. I have used a childminder for before and after school care (and full time when they were littler). Childcare costs dictated when my second child was born because i couldn't afford 2 in full time care. I pay £100 a week for both dc's before and after school 8-9 and 3-5. What about after school clubs? Sometimes cheaper than childminders.

I love my job but the logistics are hard in the early years.