Teacher training so far - Feeling pretty demoralised

[itreallyiswhatitis]

It feels like the system is set up so that you give someone a stick to beat you up with all the time. Constant criticism (or feedback), nothing is ever good enough, even if you pour your heart and soul and time and energy into it. It is inadequate in someway in some people's eyes, purely because it CAN always be different or it is being compared to what they would have done.

I get sent away to 'think about something and come up with a plan', then when I come up with a plan (that makes sense to me), it is pulled apart. Why not just tell me a rough idea of the direction I should go to start off with, rather than to pretend to be all 'open minded' and leave me to stab in the dark and tell me that I'm no where near.

What's the point if you give your best and it's not good enough? What's the point if it is a one way street?

Not feeling good about this today, just wanted to rant.

I hear you Whynotnow, but taking it to that level will just be political suicide.

Maybe next week will be a better week.

Don't give up, it does get better. You just need to find a good school that values you. I love being a teacher, it's hard work and tiring but I feel it's worth it. Good luck!

Sounds like your school is difficult but you need some support, perhaps address it with your uni tutor if you feel the sd coordinator might make things harder (although they are terrible at their job if you feel that would be the case). An intervention would usually be couched in terms of a moderation visit (which we have to do once a term anyway) In the course of which I would remind the mentor of the need to set smart targets, ask to see those set so far and use the paperwork to highlight areas where they are not being as supportive as they could be. Your contact with the coordinator should not be mentioned to the mentor.

As others have said this is typical of teaching and also takes no account of fact that you get better through experience and that all teachers have their own way of doing things. you will get diff feedback from diff people. there is also a target mad culture in teaching and nothing is ever good enought. it is bullshit but just smile and nod your way through it

Thanks all for the kind words. It's not just that, it's the gossipy nature of the staff room that makes my experience unpleasant, some of the teachers I work with are very professional whilst a few (whom I hardly have any direct dealings with), I can feel the frost directed at me, but I can't do anything or say anything. I don't think people know the emotional impact of what they are doing. The gossip is couched as normal and feedback.

I just have to have a clean slate for next week and not get into a negative spiral.

I'll join you with the clean slate. I know where I want to get better and will try to work on that while smiling and nodding...
It would just be so much easier if the workplace was a bit nicer. I have worked quite a few jobs, and none of them have been as unpleasant.

It's the worst time of your teaching career, literally every single thing is accounted for, noted down etc. Honestly, it's better in the job.
Your mentor has a duty to be more supportive. Make this clearer in the school- is she/he helping you achieve standards, record them, helping with behaviour strategies?
Easy to say now, but choose a school you genuinely like for NQT- this makes all the difference. Research thoroughly (online reviews, reports) before you commit to filling in an application.
It will get better and you will get through the year, breathing a massive sigh of relief at the end.
Please PM if you want any advice, I found it tough, still do sometimes (!), but genuinely like my job.

I promise promise promise you it will get better. Finishing training and getting your own job is like being set free! You can forget all the crap - the constant written reflections, the essay a and action research hanging over you, the formal written lesson plans..... and just get on with becoming the teacher that you are.

My training year was HELL. My short placement was great but my first was just as you describe - consent,y made to feel I wasn't doing it 'right' or doing 'enough' but never any explanation of what was expected.

Like you I'd had two other careers, was in my late thirties, and so prob had other commitments at home that younger trainees didn't necessarily have? I don't know.

Anyway, I got my first job at an awesome school, a large one, where I honed my behaviour management and teaching skills, and then after a year got a head of dept role which means I can choose what topics we do, which exam boards etc. It's fantastic!!

My biggest advice in teaching is to nod and smile a lot, let people know you're totally behind their new initiative, and then get on with what actually matters - planning and marking! Marking is worth researching - you can kill yourself with unsustainable amounts, but if it's not actually enabling progress then it's a waste of time. I've experimented with various approaches and have found a system that is not too onerous but also seems to help - and I have different approaches for ks3 and 4, for example (Google 'yellow box marking) and even different projects. Twitter is a godsend in this regard - do you use it? I can give suggestions for people to follow if you'd like?

You say you're in a shortage subject so you'll have your pick of schools once you're done. I promise you that if you find the right one, you can have a fntastic career!

Do you fphave a second placement coming up? Next term? That should be a bit of an eye opener too!

Best of luck x

*Honestly?

Quit now.

Just walk away.
I have worked with too many teachers who wish they had walked away and I know 12 now very happy teachers who have found something else to do.

Lots of people will berate me for saying this but there are very few supportive SLTs and schools who will value you.*

Anyone who berates you for this Calzone doesn't know the reality of what is going on and how the vast majority of teachers feel because you are spot on. I am lucky enough to work in a school where I am valued and supported but I know for a fact that is not the norm. Even so staff still are stressed and unhappy because our HT can only protect us so much from the ridiculous changes to the curriculum and assessment and constant interference from a Government who don't have a clue what they are talking about. I'm so angry and could cry for the education my own children could have had. Instead they are left with teacher shortages, unhappy teachers and constant target setting and pressure. It's despicable.

Don't give up on teaching until you have had a second placement with a new mentor. I had one mentor who absolutely hated me. Decided from the outset that I was crap and seemed more determined to prove herself right than to help me improve. Had she been my first or only mentor I would have quit.

Four years later I am in a really supportive school, in a fantastic department. I'm still improving, but I'm confident that I am a good teacher. Obviously there are things that are problematic, but nothing I can't handle.

The hardest thing about teaching for me is switching off. So I now have at least one day each week where I don't do any work at all. It means working long hours during the week, but it really is worthwhile to protect your sanity and to make time for friends and family.

such an interesting thread. I'm in my short placement too, feeling very demoralised. Also in a shortage subject. I'm going week to week atm to be honest. I'm also a career changer, and came to this because I really wanted to become a good teacher because i think it's important.

Don't know what more to say really, just that it's probably good to support each other - not in a moan fest and make yourself more miserable sort of way, but in a we'll get through this sort of a way!

I have a PGCE student who I imagine could have written this post unfortunately - have you tried asking her directly and talking to her about how you feel? I know that in my case she's been given an incredible amount of support but she needs and wants more time than we can feasibly give her and I can see her resentment when I can't give her more time. When you say gossip, who is it from and how do you know it's directed at you?