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Original poster

Do you make pupils miss their breaks to complete their work?

11 replies

user1483390742 · 08/12/2018 17:26

Our head has said we need to do this daily if necessary. I don't want to, as i then don't get a break or toilet run for 4 hours. I don't have a TA to cover me and the head will not be involved in supervising these children at break.
AIBU to expect a break? Is there any job apart from teaching, where you don't even have any time to have a wee?

OP posts:

GrammarTeacher · 08/12/2018 17:29

I do. But in secondary. Although I'm more likely to ask them to come back half way through lunch. I ended up with no loo break in the morning yesterday as loads of my year 11s had questions about their homework.

MilkyCuppa · 08/12/2018 17:32

Imo it’s a stupid idea as not only does the student not get a comfort break, the teacher doesn’t either. Students won’t perform well or focus without regular breaks.

GrammarTeacher · 08/12/2018 17:33

Milky that's why I prefer to use lunch time still time to get the work done and have a break. It also depends on why they haven't finished. Chatting and not getting on? Well, they've had their break.

MidniteScribbler · 09/12/2018 06:10

I generally don't keep students in to finish their work, but I'll often be staying in my classroom anyway (toilets are in the room, and I have a mini fridge and microwave behind my desk), and I'm quite happy if some kids want to stay in and work, as long as they are just getting on with it and don't need too much of my attention. They can go out when they want, but I'll usually kick them out about halfway through so that they get some outside time as well. This is a 3/4 classroom.

Clonakilty · 09/12/2018 15:44

Never. Everyone needs a break. I need tea and to do photocopying; they need to eat, chat and go to the toilet.

MaisyPops · 09/12/2018 22:41

I'm secondary and I get them back at lunch if they've not worked hard enough and it's incomplete.

If they've worked hard then I don't see the point in punishing them.

millimat · 15/12/2018 09:11

We do. Keep them in at lunchtime but like you say, I then don't get a break either. It's not effective as some of them like the extra attention.

Hawkgirl93 · 21/12/2018 14:50

Yes I do keep kids in at break and lunch. Year 6 x I just swap with TA for 10 minutes to have coffee and a wee.

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 21/12/2018 15:04

Is there any job apart from teaching, where you don't even have any time to have a wee? Healthcare and nursing? They often go hours without having a toilet break but no, your Head is being completely unreasonable. Are these primary aged pupils?

OpiningGambit · 23/12/2018 06:45

Yes (year 5) if they've been messing about/being lazy. It usually only happens a couple of times before they pull their finger out and start working IN the lesson.

I wouldn't keep them just for the sake of finishing something - in fact I've been cutting them off from more time in writing because they need to learn to get to the point a bit quicker before secondary!

I just send them to break a couple of minutes before the end and go to the loo then.

GrammarTeacher · 23/12/2018 08:26

Ooh. Yes please on getting to the point quicker. I will be spending a lot of time on that with my year 11 when they're back from mocks.

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