Is it normal to make mistakes?

[followthefairytalexx]

This is probably a very silly post but... I am a PGCE trainee and I feel like I keep messing up in little ways. Overall, I'm doing well but I've been doing small things like not realising I had to mark a certain book or using too much paper in the office and people being annoyed or I should have dealt with a behaviour management issue better and I kick myself for not doing it properly.

I hate messing up or annoying people and I'm really hard on myself. Is this normal and how do I stop feeling like that? All the other teachers seem like they are perfect at everything and I don't want to let my mentor down.

That’s why you’re on a placement, to learn from other people and from your mistakes. Teaching is hard enough with other people criticising you, don’t give yourself a hard time.

Mistakes are inevitable and all part of the training process.

The key thing is that you learn from them and don't repeat mistakes previously made. That's what annoys mentors/supervisors!

It is normal for everyone to make mistakes in all walks of life, every day. Please go easier on yourself or you will find the rest of your PGCE year very hard going. If it is difficult to think "ah well, never mind" then maybe contact your local IAPT.

People shouldn’t be getting annoyed with you for those things if you were unaware of them before you did them and the behaviour management is something you are there in the school to learn.

It's human to make mistakes! I've taught for around 30 years and still make them; don't beat yourself up. The thing about teaching is that you are constantly thinking on your feet and juggling too many balls. Reflecting on things is one thing - but don't be over harsh and worry about having made mistakes. It's easy to look back and think 'I should have handled this like this or that'.

As PP have said, you'll learn the way this school/dept like things done - it's very early days and you are a trainee. Sounds like you are doing fine!

All the other teachers seem like they are perfect at everything

No, they’re not. Really not. They’ll do stuff like make a mistake in an explanation, forget to do their duty or put homework online or do a data drop or forget who a kid is at parents evening.
They’ll have bad lessons, deal with an incident poorly, shout at a class.

No teacher is perfect. You’re seeing your mistakes and totally missing theirs. Stop beating yourself up!

Of course it is normal.
It's normal for people 30 years down the line.
It's normal for people in all walks of life.
Of course everyone makes mistakes.
It is actually positive if you can let the dc know that it is okay to make mistakes and everyone does it.
Obviously when you are starting out doing something new, and are on a training programme, then you'll make more mistakes than the person who made their mistakes when they were starting out.
The important thing to do is to let your mentor or the staff you are working with know that you know you might have done something differently, and then do it better / not do it the next time

It's normal to make mistakes, but what you say about not realising is strange.

Why did you not know to mark a book? There's always that one kid who doesn't hand their book in and it ends up not being marked for weeks on end when you finally get hold of it. But surely you know you're responsible for marking all your students' books?

We've currently got a trained who only regularly marks the books for one class of his own back and it is annoying to have to tell him to stick to the policy when he clearly knows what's expected.

It's not your fault but your mentor's as they're not helping you develop or improve. X

What I’ve found is that every school has it’s weird invisible and unwritten rules and traditions that are set in stone and I always find in the first year or two it’s like trying to step around those lasers in the crystal maze!
You think you’re doing a fine job with the best intentions then someone seems all offended and you can’t figure out why.

Try to take it on the chin and maybe find a school that’s less touchy!