Mumsnet users discuss phrases that teachers always say

[EllieMumsnet]

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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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[Spitzbergen]

"Care to share that with the rest of the class"
"It's your time you're wasting not mine"

Two phrases I remember my poor science teacher saying a lot.

[Flapdoodles]

For every bump/minor scratch - I will get you a wet paper towel.

Stop waving that pencil around, you will have someone's eye out with that.

If you feel sick/hot/dizzy, take your jumper off and have a drink of water.

[halulat]

" just put a paper towel on and it will be fine" because a soggy paper towel will solve any injury!

[teachergirl2011]

I teach in BESD
My teacherisms include :-
No we don't take our sandwiches in the toilet.
If you can't say anything nice don't say it at all.
There'll be consequences.
Do you need a tissue? Using your sleeves is grim.

[teachergirl2011]

Oh and 4 chair legs on the floor please!!!

[sarat1]

If your friend told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?!

[spacecadet]

My form teacher always used to say "you prawn" when anyone misbehaved. He's the only person I've ever heard use it!!

[LadyLapsang]

Good morning girls
Good morning Miss C
Girls, you may sit

You may now turn over your papers.

An empty vessel makes most noise.

There is no substitute for hard work.

Concentrate on your studies; you have the rest of your life for boys.

Would you like to share that with the rest of the class?

Can't? Can't is not a word we use in this class.

[LightNC]

Yes, we had ‘there’s no such word as can’t’ at primary school...which got my inner pedant!

Another from a lovely primary school teacher (usually one for the fidgety boys)
‘Sit down.
On your bottom.
Bottoms are for sitting on!’

[TheWizardofWas]

Let's all develop a growth mindset.....

Whatever that is!

[wanderings]

"Put your thinking caps on."

"No you don't go straight into medical if you hurt yourself, you tell a teacher first."

"Go and see if the other classes have a spare milk. Take Sarah with you." Yes, the free school milk. At that age we were always put in pairs for small errands or "messages" round the school.

"Don't run with scissors."

"Get into twos, and hold hands. Who's going to hold the doors today?" The route from the classroom to the assembly hall and playground had several swing doors; so lots of crowd control and lining up was needed getting children through these, several times a day. One boy with the duty of holding the door used to put his hand out and say "money!" I remember asking why there were all these doors; my teacher agreed that they were a nuisance. They had labels on them saying "fire door keep shut", but I thought that meant they shouldn't be opened at all.

When the fearsome deputy head condemned a child to missing playtime, she did it with one word: "IN!!!!!". Everyone knew what that meant.

"Are the girls going to beat the boys today?" Some teachers encouraged lots of competition between them.

"Boys will be noughts, girls will be crosses." Always that way round.

When we learned about Victorian schools, we occasionally heard phrases such as
"...or you'll be strung up to ceiling in a basket."
"The cane might be brought back one day, you know."

I never heard it used for real, but I liked the saying "procrastination is the thief of time". There was a story about a girl having to write this out repeatedly, and the teacher's reaction when she saw that "procrastination" had been spelled four different ways.

[rainbowlou]

The wet paper towel miracle cure is the best..or feeling sick? sit by the open window and see how you go!
However!! I have to say I DID witness a boy swinging on his chair and splitting his head open which resulted in an ambulance coming to school, so I use that all the time!!x

[frowner]

Time to have a “brainstorm”!

[MrsMint]

Now we are going to spend the next four weeks at least looking exclusively at at the work of Maya Angelou.

[MessyHairDontCare88]

I remember my year 3 teacher always used to say 'bags of shush' to quieten down the class. Very strange phrase.

[TeaAddict235]

The bell is a message for me (the teacher) not you!

[backsackcraic]

Neatness leads to accuracy. Accuracy leads to speed!

[IndianaMoleWoman]

Where’s your tie?
Keep left!
As long as you’ve done your best that’s all that matters.

[buckeejit]

'As long as you do your best...'

[CandyCaneCaz]

My primary teacher used to ask us to "pick a window" when we did something wrong.
Terrifying woman...especially since we were two floors up

[Handbaghag]

I'm waiting for quiet.
If you don't stop talking I'm putting your name on the board
Sit down!
Stand outside.
No taking when I'm talking.
Those would be my top stock phrases when I used to teach...... USED to!.... Oh I feel so FREE!

[QuickQuickSloe]

I am a primary school teacher and I promise that I only describe a child as a "delight to teach" if they truly have been.

I am very fortunate that I have been able to write this in many reports.

Describing a child as "a lively member of the class" roughly translates as "your son/ daughter is brilliant, clever and funny and responsible for at least twenty of my grey hairs".

[K80E]

My teachers used to say "can't isn't a word" if I ever said I can't do something

[thetemptationofchocolate]

Going back a long time, one of my teachers used to say (in every lesson) 'It's not for my benefit, it's for your benefit. Don't come running to me when you fail your exams'.

[giveitfive]

Parents evening. Every year.

He's a lovely boy.....


Standard opener for generally disappointing academic summary. Nice kid..... we think he's thick.