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Mumsnet users discuss phrases that teachers always say

418 replies

EllieMumsnet · 20/04/2018 12:13

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With National Teacher Day coming up on the 8th May MNHQ would love to know the phrases you remember your teachers always saying….also if you are currently a teacher please share the phrases you most commonly use during your classes.

Do you have strong memory of one of your teachers always using the ‘I’m not angry just disappointed’ line? Perhaps whenever your teacher was annoyed at someone they would say ‘It’s your own time your wasting’? Or maybe as a teacher you’re becoming known for saying one phrase in particular?

Whatever phrases you remember your teachers always saying, comment on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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OP posts:
Flatwhite32 · 20/04/2018 21:13

Child has very very minor injury (e.g. barely visible cut) and points it out to teacher.

Teacher - "Put a wet paper towel on it."

It can confirm that it works every time!

Wellmeetontheledge · 20/04/2018 21:16

Heads down, thumbs up!

Acopyofacopy · 20/04/2018 21:21

What do you mean can you have a 'fun' lesson, all my lessons are fun

^ this. And “Have you read the task?”.

drspouse · 20/04/2018 21:33

@elephantoverthehill you for teaching them to say RIGHT!

caringcarer · 20/04/2018 21:38

Quiet please whilst I take the register. This is something I always said in every lesson I ever taught.

Enhance13 · 20/04/2018 21:44

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elephantoverthehill · 20/04/2018 22:15

Right, ok drspouse Grin.

DarkPeakScouter · 20/04/2018 22:17

Is that a good decision? What would be a better one?

elephantoverthehill · 20/04/2018 22:30

And even worse than me is the guy who teaches in the floor above me (sort of mezzanine arrangement) always starts his lessons with " Right, ok, so"

wanderings · 20/04/2018 23:09

Here are some I remember, mostly from primary school:

"...or you'll find yourself in deep water - hot!"

"Everyone grow a bit taller." (The head encouraging children to sit up in assembly)

"Everyone point to your bottom. Now, everybody, say to yourself: 'sit on your bottom!'." (Once said when children were being restless during story time)

"If your best friend said put your hand in the fire, would you do it?"

"Two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve... Hurry up, or you'll be locked in!" This was the teacher counting us out of the classroom, before locking it. I'm not sure what the locking was for; I suppose so we didn't murder each other with scissors (we had sharp ones in those days).

"Stop breaking my playground." (dinner lady when dealing with scraped knees)

(having rung the bell to stop playtime) "There have been too many accidents. Carry on."

"You will miss your play." This was the threat of choice. One teacher would add "and I'll miss my cup of coffee."

"Get back to where you were!" (Said to anyone who moved after the bell was rung to stop playtime. This was sometimes followed by "you will miss your next play".)

wanderings · 20/04/2018 23:20

Actually I could fill a whole post with things the head of my junior school used to say in assembly.

"Whose watch is that?" when watches which bleeped on the hour were fashionable. The head banned them on the spot when a chorus of them sounded once in assembly.

"Have a good weekend... but make sure other people have a good weekend!" Said in every Friday assembly.

"You didn't sing a word."

"Have you ever seen anyone with a face like thunder? Well you're going to now!" This was followed by a long rant about things being stuffed down toilets, and the cost of repairing them.

"You've all been sitting still for a long time, your bottoms are all numb. You can fidget for one minute, until the second hand on the clock gets round to the eight."

"I'll take my nose off to say this." This was on red nose day, while giving us the sage advice not to keep our red noses on if they were interfering in the day's work. Another year it was "anyone who hasn't got a red nose will have one painted on!"

DontDrinkDontSmoke · 20/04/2018 23:27

“I take it you have enough for everyone in class?”

When catching a pupil eating in class.

Trumpdump · 21/04/2018 00:53

"If you cheat, you're only cheating yourself"

EasterRobin · 21/04/2018 02:46

Whenever anyone asked if they "could" go to the toilet instead of "may" they go to the toilet they would get the response "I don't know. Can you?"

Quietvoiceplease · 21/04/2018 04:06

From primary school I remember:
"Why didn't you go at playtime?" (in response to a request to go to the toilet)
"Why are you out of your seat again?" (the big pencil sharpener with the handle at the side of the classroom was my go-to when bored)

dinosaurfeet · 21/04/2018 05:36

"What part of shut up do you not understand?"
Said with a smile rather than a frown so it worked.

Elliepurplestar · 21/04/2018 06:45

One of my teacher would say ‘right now...’ at the start of a sentence, in a broad welsh accent rolling the R

Flatwhite32 · 21/04/2018 07:27

@Quietvoiceplease I said both of those things yesterday 🙈.

newyearoldme · 21/04/2018 07:40

"You waste my time, I'll waste yours"

"May your exam results reflect the effort you put in to revise"

"All four legs on the floor"

"So you can bring a phone to school but not have a pen?"

"No you'll have to wait to the end of the lesson like everyone else"

"Make sure you write your name on every sheet of paper."

"If it's not named I won't mark it"

"That bell is for me not for you"

"Right - outside and we're lining up again in silence until we get the message"

"Planners, books, pencil cases out. Date and title underlined. Go"

UrbiEtOrbi · 21/04/2018 07:45

My English teacher couldn't even praise me for coming top of the year in an exam. He said it was " only because the competition from my peers wasn't fierce".

newyearoldme · 21/04/2018 07:50

Read the task. Follow the instructions.

READ the task. FOLLOW the INSTRUCTIONS

READ THE TASK!!!

etc with increasing levels of frustration.

Plus: I'll just wait for you all to be quiet and you can give me that time back at break.

wanderings · 21/04/2018 07:52

"Chairs up, coats on." Said at the end of most primary school days.

"Heels in your shoes, please." For indoor PE, we always got changed in the classroom, then put shoes on bare feet to walk to the gym. Some children would trample down the backs of their shoes for this, instead of putting them on properly.

voyager50 · 21/04/2018 07:58

'If no one admits to it you'll all be punished' - I would hate that as I was one of the 'goody-goody's !!

Frogletmamma · 21/04/2018 08:03

Seriously between the ages of 11 and 18 I got 'she is gaining confidence in French' on my report. Thats all. Just how much confidence did I need!.

ClashCityRocker · 21/04/2018 08:14

My school reports in secondary school always started with: 'Clash is very bright but....'

In primary 'Clash needs to learn to show her best self at school'..... Still not sure what that means

My favourite, from year eight, said 'Clash has a very strong sense of social injustice and this can lead her to getting over-involved in situations that do not pertain to her. If ever there is a social revolution in this country, I would imagine she would be at the forefront!'