NQT and don't know where to start!

[DietCokeOverload]

I start my probation year (Scotland) in a week and the fear has officially set in.

I feel like I've never been in a classroom before, I am absolutely crapping it.

I went into school on Friday. My classroom fuck fuck fuck has been deep cleaned and all the tables have been pushed back, and all the paper is down. I don't know where the paper/staple guns are so I think I'll need to wait until more people come in.

I've got a register. Should I make desk plates? It's P3 (Y2). I've made peg labels.

Don’t worry, I bet loads of teachers will be in next week and will be able to show you backing paper and staple guns. You can even help each other to put paper up - it’s much easier with two pairs of hands.
Perhaps have a look in another classroom to see how they’ve put their tables out. Copy them or experiment with your own way.
I wouldn’t normally put names on tables. It’s not easy to swap them around plus sticky tape makes a mess. What I would do is decide on my table layout and make group cards. Do you want to use mixed ability tables for all subjects or do your want to organise by ability? For my class of thirty, we have five groups of six for maths, English and other lessons. We are doing mixed ability for all lessons next year.
Another thing is do the children have individual drawers? You could make labels for these too.
Also, look at resources in your classroom. Is it sorted well or could you organise it/ label it better?
Don’t panic. You’ll be fine! I’ve been teaching 20 years and every time I go back after the summer I think I’ve forgotten how to do it!

Also are you in a one form entry school or do you have a more experienced teacher to work alongside?

I am not sure about ability tables etc. I am fairly sure there the school will have a policy? Plus I only spoke to the teacher about my class briefly, so not entirely sure of their groupings.

Yes, there were drawers under their desks, and I will have a partner next door. I'm hoping to see her next week at some point.

Thank you x

Please don’t panic. I always feel like I’m winging it until at least Christmas and I’ve been teaching 13 years.
Have a think about what activities you’ll do with them on the first few days. Loads and loads of ideas on TES have more than you think you’ll need up your sleeve.
Classroom wise label what you can, decide whether you want a classroom plan for the first few days or to let them sit where they wish for a bit. If it’s a seating plan make it and stick it up.
Visual timetable is a good idea - I often get children to make their own symbols then laminate and collect and use them through the year each day.
Display wise think about something you can do the first few days which can be moved straight into display. A welcome to your class board perhaps. Portraits etc always useful. Your school may have expectations for this so do check with an experienced teacher when you spot one.
Good luck! Best job in the world. Honest.

Your partner teacher will help you with everything.
You could have a sneaky look next door. She may have got most things ready at the end of last term.
You could make a sign for your door, e.g. ‘welcome to x class’

I use small pieces of velcro to attach name labels to desks so I can move them around easily. If you want to get organised this week, you could make name labels and peg labels, labels for equipment drawers if necessary, a visual timetable and possibly task boards and cards. A welcome sign, helpers' chart, birthday chart or calendar and banners from Twinkl or similar to create a potential Maths/Numeracy wall, Art and Literacy wall might also make your walls look less bare. Also lolly sticks with pupils' names can be useful.

No, the whole school was deep-cleaned so nothing is set out (I did have a wee look ).

I was going to try and avoid taking out a Twinkl membership but I think it will be handy.

Remember it doesn't all have to be done at once though. Once you've decided (maybe with your pupils' input) on your first topic, you can start a topic display and wall. In the first few days, self portraits are good and the All About Me bunting from tpet is great for P3 and can look really colourful when backed on bright paper and strung across the classroom. Start a short class novel too and you can do some character drawing and writing around that for your Literacy wall. There is no need to panic at all. Just breathe!

Thank you. That sounds doable.

Trying to remember to breathe!

I wasted so much time in the summer of my NOT year doing labels etc then had to change everything once kids started. Your partner teacher will support you and show you where everything is and classroom expectations. I would concentrate more on planning some lessons for first few days to get to know your class. Enjoy 😁

I do remember feeling the same, with the fear and everything, at the start of my NQT! Just remember that you don't have to be perfect on the first day or even the first month etc etc - your best will get you through. Plus, all the other staff know how you are feeling and will be looking out for you and prepared to help. Plus, you know more than the kids - never forget that!! Best of luck x

The "fuck I have no idea how to do this" feeling never really goes away. It pops up most Sunday nights throughout the school term (I currently have it in abundance since I'm going back into the classroom after 6 years out) - that one is just par for the course of teaching really.

Realistically the school are going to expect you to be asking where stuff is for a good few months yet. That's par for the course with being the new person, no matter how many years qualified you are, in any school building.

I'd plan to go in, get the tables where you want them and just take the time to have a good look through the classroom cupboards and drawers as an initial plan. Once other staff wander in (there'll invariably be someone or other in since I think you're nearer to going back than England are where we're all still in "not thinking about school" mode) you can start asking about display paper and what have you. Allow yourself the "oh fuck this is real and this is my classroom" standing there in a mix of panic and glee moment.

Thank you for all the advice. I went in today and pushed my tables into four groups, had a good rummage through all the cupboards and I feel so much better. The previous teacher also left me all her plans for the same age group so I've got that home for a read over.

The lady on the other side of me, (not my partner) was in and we papered together. She was lovely so I'm glad I have a nice neighbour.

The fear is very much alive and kicking but it looks like a classroom now!

I've always found that I go through stages going into a new school situation - there's the blind panic and information overload process > the faffing about with aesthetics process > then I'll suddenly get my head around it all and get on with it but intermittently loop back to aesthetic procrastination season as well.

Biggest thing I would say that you might not have considered - get in your mind for day 1 what you want in place in terms of routines for the kids to do at those "faffing about potential" times of the day - so coming in on a morning, transitioning into breaktimes etc, and how you're handling things like water bottles, loo requests (I'll say it quietly in the hopes the piss troll stays pissed off, getting ready for hometime etc... it's just one of those things that does bear a little bit of thinking about to start to "train" them into how you want to do things from the start so it becomes automatic (also handy to leave that somewhere for supply teachers - with my supply hat on because otherwise you get the "Miss X always lets us..." crap classes love to try to pull - when you bloody well know that Miss X does not always let you stage an impromptu conga around the classroom under the guise of wake and shake on a morning... it's amazing the things kids have tried to claim they're "always" allowed to do over the years)