just finished my first proper week as a TA and wanted to share...

[coldcupoftea]

Can I just say..
Teachers are bloody amazing- they work so hard, everything they do is planned, analysed and assessed to the letter, I am in awe. and having second thoughts about my plans to do a pgce in a few years now I have seen what's involved!

All the kids in my class are just lovely, and have put a smile on my face every day, even the 'challenging' ones.

I am bloody knackered!

My opinion of (some) teachers certainly went up after becoming a TA. A good teacher works bloody hard and I was amazed how much 'acting' is involved. Think performance parenting on a 30 times bigger scale! Mind you, I've met a few less than impressive teachers, too, but even they work hard, just not so effectively...

Nice to read! Just finished a 60 hour week with more work to do this weekend. All I ever seem to hear is remarks on how work-shy and lazy teachers are.

Thanks for that coldcupoftea! Hope my TAs think that about me too

Yeah, but that's from people whose only experience of teachers is their own memories of school and taking their own children to school. I just didn't realise everything that was involved. It has really put me off the PGCE route, myself. I'm just too lazy.

"performance parenting on a 30 times bigger scale" that's so true! I am amazed at their ability to just switch it on and off. And I am definitely nicking a few tricks to keep my DC under control...

I agree that a lot of parents just have no idea what goes into it, I certainly didn't.

Totally agree , I was a parent helper for a few yrs...admired the teachers and ta's so much!!
I could never be a teacher...hats off to them

I was a parent helper too for about a year and yup! I don't think I want to become a teacher anymore lol! Teachers and TAs work really hard! Like non-stop really.

that's a good idea actually
especially the parents of the disruptive children

Lovely to read. Update is in a few weeks!

I've been out of school a long old time and my first child has started reception this week. Even just four days of seeing her at the start and end of the day I've been in awe of how she handles the children, the boisterous ones, the shy ones, the ones in tears. That's without setting foot in the actual classroom.

Her being the teacher of course not my dd1

I am saving this thread for the dark days ahead on MN when all the negative comments and tutting appear as the term wears on.
Thank you coldcup and everyone else, it's nice to read something that recognises the behind the scenery effort!

Oh I bloody LOVE teachers...and TA's too. My DS is autistic with ADHD and I cannot praise his school enough. The teachers he has had have been superb and I nearly cried with relief at the end of last term when I discovered he was havi g the same teacher this year and same 1-1 LSA.
I am also a Governor and see teachers at the meetings who have been there since 8am and by the time the meeting finishes it is 10pm. Worth their weight in gold IMHO.

I used to hear readers and saw first hand one teachers beautifully complex lesson planning.

DD2 was in her class a couple of years later.

When I asked what did you do today, she always replied "nothing" or "can't remember"

I feel very sorry for teachers sometimes.

(certain secondary teachers are thoughtless pains in the neck, but that is a whole different thread).