Some trainee questions?

[sweetnsuga123]

Hi all,

I am a PGCE secondary trainee I started in September just have a few questions that Ive struggled with recently if anyone could help.

I gave a child a detention for missed homework deadline twice and when I spoke to her today she said its because her parents are separated and they live far away so she struggles with organisation etc. is it still right to punish them or give them detentions if thats the issue? I felt bad for punishing her but maybe I'm too empathetic?

Secondly a girl was misbehaving awfully today and I disciplined her. How do you deal with the anger and emotion that you feel? Sounds ridiculous but I haven't stopped thinking about it all day and how rude she was and could I have dealt with it better etc

I know these are a grey area and differ from school to school but just wondering what you usually do?

Thanks

For the first situation I would check with the form tutor/Head of Year/ other class teachers that this is actually the case and if it is check if it's other subjects as well then possibly the HOY needs to intervene. I would let the pupil know I was going to do this as well.

For the second situation, let it go (in terms of spending a lot of time thinking about it), perhaps write up a reflection that you can use towards your standards then next lesson clean slate. If it continues next lesson the. Phone home straight away.

Also -keep your mentor and head of Department in the loop with both of these situations.

Hi OP.

What was the second girl doing? How did you discipline her?
This will eventually become commonplace , sadly,and you will develop a thicker hide! Teachers who survive at the chalkface are like rhinos!!

If the girl is struggling with organisation then the school should have some sort of homework club where she’ll be able to complete it after school. Otherwise you could offer to have her complete it in your classroom at lunchtime (not a detention, just a space for homework). It’s understanding her issues while she still understands that the homework must get done.

For the second one, you get used to it. Eventually you could have a kid tell you to fuck off and your only feeling will be irritation at the paperwork.

Hi- I'm an NQT, so I'm about a year ahead of you.

With the homework issue, I'd be led by the usual class teacher. Do they believe this student has a reason why they can't do homework? If not, then you need to work with the student to find a solution- but equally give them sanctions so that they realise the homework isn't optional.

My PoV on homework is that I try to set homework I think will be valuable and worthwhile, but not a brilliant use of classtime- e.g. learn the key words, practice this skill we've learned in class, etc. I also offer support (as does the school) to any student who wants/needs it. I do make one off exceptions for students- but I wouldn't make an ongoing exception except in very extreme circumstances (e.g. seriously ill parent, homelessness etc.) and even then, I'd try to work with the student to find a solution as well.

With the misbehaving, I think you have to try to take all of the emotion out of it on your end. The misbehaviour isn't personal, although kids don't like change and may resent you for being new, or try to test your boundaries. However, equally, it might be about something nothing to do with you! If you carry every incident with you and obsess over it, then I think it will really wear you down.

Definitely reflect on things and learn from them, but often there's no perfect way to deal with the situation. I try to always be firm and consistent, and usually (but not always) I will aim to de-escalate the situation and appear totally calm (even if I don't feel it). I always tell my students they have a blank slate the next time they come into my room- and often I even look for something to praise the next lesson if at all possible!

I think, unfortunately, if you really let behaviour get to you, you won't last long in teaching.

With the detention give the girl a space and time to complete it in school. Ie lunch time or homework club.

I no longer feel anger (and rarely emotion) when children are rude. Instead I stay cool and calm and follow the school policy. As a PP said, let it go! The students rudeness isn't personal to you, and your response to them should not be personal or emotional.