How am I going to get to the end of term?!?

[CharlotteCollins]

I'm considering seeing if the doctor will sign me off with stress. I've no real reason to want to get to the end of term. I leave the school then and have a job which I'm much more suited to for September. The kids at my current school have been a nightmare all year - I don't think they're particularly bad kids but I just don't have the discipline skills to deal with them. I have been trying to fake it till I make it and I've picked myself up and tried again every time they've made me want to give up, but I feel like I have no reserves left. I've been counting down to the end of the year since October!!!

I just think it'd be better for the kids to have a stand-in teacher who might have some idea how to control them than me. I can't control them and I'm teaching them nothing.

It's only three weeks.

But I'm BU, aren't I?

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

Charlotte can I recommend numeracy ninjas, it's free, it's all website based, and it's a case of print and go.

Your age range can try it, it's engaging, and covers a tonne of skills.

Also, your SLT should be stepping in and helping with behaviour. Make it their problem every time it's a problem for you.

Can't abide management not supporting their staff.

[Alibobbob]

Hang in there, think about all those lovely presents.... Chocs, wine, mugs etc

[CharlotteCollins]

SLT don't get involved in behaviour stuff unless middle management involve them. I have to send students out to my HoD, who has very well-behaved classes but is usually so busy she seems one step from a nervous breakdown, so there are some days I just don't want to bother her.

[CharlotteCollins]

I will try that website, thank you. I've not heard of it.

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

Ah it's great! There's a 5 minute timed daily challenge, plus lots of worksheets on different key areas of number. They can earn a ninja belt.

[mineofuselessinformation]

Method Maths or Mymaths in the ICT suite if your school has a licence.
Shitloads of resources for in-class activities (TES is great). Codes / relay race / blockbuster type stuff keeps them busy, especially if they're working in teams. Mini-whiteboards are good for engagement. Change around - at least two activities per lesson.
Take no shit, but also try to have a 'fun' element - not easy when you're stressed I know.
Mistrymaths and Pixi maths have ready-to-go power points which are good.
I hope some of those are helpful.

[hideouspain]

haha presents for secondary?!

internet research is a great idea. A nice big project.

[dublingirl48653]

my Irish friends who are secondary teachers got their holidays end of may
I cant understand how everyone manages to keep going here

roll on end of july
I need to switch off and sleep
students exhausted too

[mineofuselessinformation]

Oh, I forgot - if they need sound, let them use their own headphones if they have them for ICT, but keep an eye on what they're listening to. (There is software called Netsupport which allows you to monitor what they're doing without even leaving your seat! And allows you to lock their screen if they're doing something they shouldn't.)

[noblegiraffe]

Secondary teachers don't get presents Ali!

Agree you just need to do whatever it takes to get through the next few weeks - don't bother even trying to teach them anything new.
Bribery can be your friend - anything with an edible prize is instantly more engaging. Pitting teams against each other also can help - girls vs boys is popular. Could you do anything crafty like cutting out and sticking nets of 3D solids (prizes for best dodecahedron etc)? What's your school mobile policy? Let them listen to music through headphones and they might just get on with it.

[HuckleberryGin]

Just to correct someone up post, if you are in a permanent or fixed term contract you will be paid over the summer regardless. Only day to day supply wouldn't.

[mineofuselessinformation]

And (I promise this is the last one!)
Find some stuff you'd love to do with your new groups - trial it with the groups you've got now, and make re-usable resources to take with you. (Win-win situation as far as I can see...)

[Minispringroll]

I'm at the second tough school and my second very challenging class in a year. (Had only just managed to turn my first class around when I moved schools...and now there's so little time for this one.) It's been a horrible year and I cannot wait for it to end. My class are hard work and we cannot let up yet, since the teacher before me hasn't actually taught them anything (so they are far behind and used to being allowed to do what they want).
With mine, IT-based stuff is quite useful.
Has your school got MyMaths? (Quiet in my classroom and nobody running around, hitting each other or crawling under tables.)
Alternatively, mine like any kind of games. They really enjoy Bingo at the moment (practising times tables) and they love Kahoot!
If all else fails, I put on an episode of Maths Mansion (yours might be a bit old...mine just think it's weird, but secretly they love AngleMan).
They also quite like really repetitve activities, so 10Ticks is useful. Calculated colouring occupies them for ages.

Would like to use some mini-whiteboards but I've only got about 10.

Behaviour-wise, I try to exit them, if possible. (Our SLT will remove them.) However, trying to find spaces around the school for five or six at the same time is difficult. I do, however, contact parents immediately, which has settled some of mine and they are much more careful about how much of a nuisance they are in class.

[amberdixie]

A few of my teacher friends use Pinterest - not sure if you've tried this but might give you some things to copy ideas. GL!

[CharlotteCollins]

Oh you are lovely people! Thank you for all these suggestions. My brain's gearing up again and I know that once I am confident with my lesson plan, the discipline becomes marginally more manageable.

[PreAdvent13610]

Don't let them have anything sharp or pointy, I reckon one in six bleed when we do loci, at this time of year it's probably down to one in four. Bottom set Maths is tough, could be worse, you could work at the House of Parliament.

[notagiraffe]

Can you let them watch maths-based films like 21 or Good Will Hunting or Pi?

[nonameqt]

Hi there.. I feel for you I really do!
If it's any consolation, I've just been signed off for two weeks with stress and I'm only a Teaching Assistant in a very small independent prep school! The little darlings were just really getting to me... Added to a lot of stress at home and yes, even just thinking about what to get my two children for tea brings me close to tears !! (Single working mum and all that!!)
I'd just bail out now but go in for the last day!!!
You owe it to yourself to stay mentally sane and healthy... I was on anti depressants Diet Coke, Rescue Remedy and hitting the vino at night just to get through a day!!! Not serious stuff but enough to not want to get out of bed in the morning and face the little brats!!!!!
Unless you're working in a school environment, NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW STRESSFULL and at times , how demoralising it can be!!
Take time out- my prescription! And yes , breathe...........

[CharlotteCollins]

Aw thanks, that's just what I needed to read. Single mum here too. I wasn't going to return to the thread because I feel guilty, but here's what happened today:

Went into school worrying about today's deadline which I missed by an hour or so because of home problems and generally life getting in the way. Tears returned before I even got to work, which felt ridiculous: today is an easy day and I always feel more positive in the morning. So I made an appointment to see the Head at the end of the day and explained everything. (More tears.) Said I didn't want to go off with stress but this one class had totally got on top of me. She has made arrangements to take the class away from me so that I can stay with the other groups.

So now I feel like life is manageable again, but I feel rather a failure and am trying to work out if I did the right thing.