Does it sound like I may not be cut out to be a teacher after all?

[SandyBeachandtheDeckchairs]

So just to recap at the end of my first full term of teaching my y3 class

1. Assessments show that my class have not made the progress that they should have
2. My behaviour is poor and I find myself shouting to be heard - children don't listen to me
3. My planning is improving a lot, but because of behaviour, never get half of the work on the plan actually done
4. Our singing of our class song in the Christmas show has been judged as 'requiring improvement'

Head is happy with my progress this term because I have improved, (imagine how shite I was to start with!) but I feel like I am doing really badly. I feel that if I had a TA or at least someone to be with me in class, I would have someone to check in with, but am on my own most of the time so feel like I am not really learning how to improve. Other NQT's in the school are from Schools Direct and trained in the school so at least they have observed the required standard of teaching. UGH!!! I sometime imagine how my mentor defends me to our head - I think the only thing I actually have going for me is that parents like me, and I get on well with everyone in the school. Does it sound like I should rethink this whole teaching idea?

Sandy You sound like a great teacher who clearly cares a lot about your class. Keep going - this part of the year really is the lowest point. Truly it is. I've been teaching 13 years and it never gets any easier. The tiredness is bonecrushing.

My DD is in a tricky Y3 class. Her teacher (of 20 odd years experience) has done away with the carpet and put the desks in a horseshoe with centre table for those who require more support.
I teach secondary so I'm not much help but I agree with the sound advice of never talk over them, ever. Don't engage in fussiness or 'he said, she said' and def send them out with any old task to do if they continue to want to disrupt. It unseats them and sends a clear message to the others.

You’ve had loads of great advice here so I won’t add much but I would say that it’s a great idea to use your NQT time to observe as many other teachers as possible. Once you’re no longer an NQT, opportunities to observe will be thin on the ground and yet it’s such a great way to learn and pick up tips.

I find a call/ response type thing works with year 3. There are loads of different ones but something like teacher claps and say “one, two, three” children all reply “eyes on me”. Then everyone is quiet and looking at you. They may need to practise it so they all stop - don’t allow anyone to reply but then carry on chatting. Also I often blu tak a few good news notes on the whiteboard and tell the children that I’m going to be looking for children to give them to at the end of the morning or whatever. It reminds me to really focus on the positive.

Secret student as mentioned above works a treat, even Year 6s love it!

I take my hat off to all of you teachers, I really do. You all deserve a medal. It is so demanding.

I wish you all a jolly and peaceful Christmas break.

Thank you for taking on this challenging task on behalf of the future generation.

You said you'd like to observe your partner teacherbut that it wouldn't happen. What do you do with your 10% NQT time? Could you use this time to do some observations?

rainbow she has a student at the mo, so mostly student teaching.

I am feeling much better and have implemented some of your suggestions already- lots of praise, no tolerance for interruptions, and work to do during time out. Made a big difference! Thanks everyone

See, you are cut out for teaching!

Great news!

My first year teaching l was making a plan for an alternate career come the Summer holidays. But suddenly it clicked and over 30 years later l am still teaching. I grew to love it.
Agree witth a lot of praise and encouragement but no sweets as they will hound you for them. Stickers marbles etc.
Dont panic if nothing changes this week as pre Christmas is mad but in the New Year get off to a good start.
Dont give up and as for the comment on your singing group l could say a lot but it would all be very rude!! Let it over your head.

Glad you had a good day today OP, I did too :)

Pleased to hear that. It’ll be easier after Christmas too, once you and the children are rested. Everyone’s running on empty at the moment.

that's a great update OP :)

Behaviour management is something that they don't really teach enough, and placement is different because you have your mentor teacher in the room and the students are already aware of the rules. It's only when you are standing in front of 30 little faces that it all becomes real.

Make sure your expectations are absolutely clear. At my school, we do no actual teaching for the first two weeks of a new school year, it's all about setting expectations and teaching the routines of the classroom. Be very clear with what you expect - I even draw up a workbook with exactly how I want their book to look when it comes up to me for every activity, and leave it up on the board for them to refer to, so they have no excuse for theirs looking any different.

Don't accept anything less than what your expectations are. One day we spent 30 minutes just walking in and out of the classroom until they got it right. Another day we spent the whole lesson just getting our books out and sitting down to work - they talked - so back to the floor, let's start again - over and over until it is right. Once it becomes boring to do the same thing over and over, they're more likely to just get on with it.

Don't yell, quiet is more effective. I don't even have a response for them '123 eyes on me' etc, I just put my hand up, and start counting down on my fingers. It's amazing how quickly they actually start looking for it.

Sounds like you’re doing great and making improvements that work for you.
I’ve been teaching a veeeeeeeerrry long time. Despite this, I make daily/ weekly changes in something or other. Not for any SLT or OFSTED purposes, but because it needs doing. Small things like how I interact with a particular child, reducing prompts to increase independence, verbal feedback, lunchtime routine. I don’t mean I change these completely, by the way, it’s just a small change in what I do.

midnite I had been told to do all of those things in the first two weeks, and did them too, but not probably in the best way. I thought that getting to know the children was a bit more important so focused on helping them to feel happy and settled. BIG MISTAKE. I regret every day not getting those routines really bedded in at the beginning, and next term, I will be trying to shut the pandora's box that I opened. I approached my class as a mother with 30 individual children to raise, rather than as a class to be managed by a teacher, and I regret it now.
That said implementing the suggestions from people on here as really helped, so I am ever optimistic!
Thanks everyone again

Behaviour management is one of the easiest things to fix so you'll be fine once you master it. Believe it or not your class want you to be stricter - that's why they're acting out. They're searching for boundaries. If they don't find them, they'll keep looking. They'll get worse and worse til you sort it.

I find myself shouting to be heard - children don't listen to me

This is the first thing that stood out to me. Never talk over the children. Every time you do, you're reinforcing bad behaviour. I've seen many strategies to deal with this - a bell, a countdown, even just standing and looking at your watch. All these things must be followed up with immediate sanctions. Praise the students who are displaying appropriate behaviours. Always be quiet, always be calm, and expect them to do as they are asked immediately. Talk only when they are all listening.

You're going to have to send a few out really soon. Don't worry about whether they have work in the short term - improving their behaviour will improve their learning in the long term so it's worth it. Send them out with no argument. If they try to argue just calmly repeat your request until they leave. If they won't leave then escalate calmly to the next level.

YY Sandy I got that impression from your posts that you were approaching as a mother rather than as a teacher. I think this is quite natural when you've had DC before you teach and it's important to realise that it's a very different ask!

I am working it out and as I am not particularly authoritative as a parent either it's a real challenge for me.

Used to teach in a school and I was crap the first year. You basically learn a lot by trial and error. I reckon in a years time you'll be very different. Your head obviously believes in you so hold on to that, learn from your mistakes and good luck!

Raise your concerns with your mentor/HOD and request some peer observations from experienced teachers.