The Twenty Fourth Republic - conditions not great and are teachers becoming modern day lepers?

[StaffAssociationRepresentative]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement. Baiters, haters, goaders and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

You can play here if you are a member of one the following groups-

-ABBA - anti bashers and baiting association
-SWAB - school workers against bashers
-SWOT - school workers opposing teacherbashers
-STARS - schoolworkers together against ranting + slurs

Do not give ‘The Every twat for Themselves mob’ the staffroom password as a number of them are operating in an alternative reality.

No DfE muppets allowed

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the toffee vodka is hidden.

If you are fed up with cakes and biscuits there is now a cheeseboard on offer

If you come with a stick to goad us then that is not allowed in the staffroom, especially if yo

Yay!

Whenshewasbad you need to read some books on behaviour management. I really like Tom Bennett (he has behaviour videos linked here if you want quick advice on different issues vimeo.com/256561799 ) he’s got a new book out www.johncattbookshop.com/running-the-room-the-teacher-s-guide-to-behaviour

Don’t buy Paul Dix. He’s dreadful. Your softly softly SLT person probably rates him, and probably gets away with it because he’s SLT.

Thanks staff

@WhenSheWasBad at ours behaviour in corridors worse but once in a room with work in front of them most year groups seem better than usual.

It’s hard getting conflicting advice. I’d say be consistent, whatever you do be consistent. Personally I’d err on the firmer side - only because usually it would get the kids out of the room allowing you to build relationships with the others which in turn can help. As an NQT, or first year in a ew school when you change schools, behaviour can be trickier as you get used to rules and routines etc... this year it’s trickier as we might not have the same ability to be in and out of rooms supporting in the same way.

I told the NQTs I’ve worked with every year when they are struggling with it to be completed distant and hang in there. Next year it will just BE different even though they don’t think they’re doing anything different. Every year they look at me like I’m talking bollocks and then next year in September tell me they now know what I mean.

Deffo be firm and be consistent. Ring home and discuss. Make positive phone calls too for those doing well - that gets back to them. One head told us to make three positive calls/emails for every negative one (ditto house points/behaviour points etc...). Takes a bit of time but is effective if you find the time/motivation to do it!

We've all had flu jabs as DH is shielding - DD and I had them from the NHS at the surgery - receptionist was a bit huffy about it but I insisted she check when she first told me DD wasn't eligible.

Behaviour definitely a thing at our place - children talking over adults, calling out, wandering our of classroom, answering back etc. Having to bite my tongue a lot when SLT wander past whispering "Thrive-y" things, when I've sat with 6 sent out of class who just can't or won't see that they are disruptive and not helping themselves or others.

I told the NQTs I’ve worked with every year when they are struggling with it to be completed distant and hang in there. Next year it will just BE different even though they don’t think they’re doing anything different

I like this MrsH generally I think I’m doing ok. My year 8s I can silence with a look. My Year 7s a few require sterner handling but generally I’m fine. My year 11s are bottom sets. I think I’m getting there with them.

It’s Year 9 that are driving me mad, I’m not alone in finding them tricky this year. About 60% of detentions are Year 9.

I’ll take nobels advice and read up on it. I’m very unconvinced by Dix. I’m happy having a pleasant chat with tricky students but not whilst they are verbally abusing me.

Behaviour an issue everywhere I think atm. Little ones used to having someone answer them every time they speak. One child called out 'Miss Goats.. Miss Goats... ' 37 times on Monday in one hour long lesson. Aaagh. I ignored them, I praised others for putting their hands up blah blah... but no good.

We have no sanctions in our school. Therapeutic stuff. Must be hard for an NQT.

Consistency, praise for those who do it right, high expectations clearly communicated (with explanation of why), classroom rules etc. It'll work eventually. Be organised too - no chance for disruptive stuff to start.

Thank you!

august you will get me into trouble witht eh scary OP on the data thread. My distrust of Spiegelhalter is a secret! Lies, damned lies and ...Spiegelhalter's statistics...

Thanks everyone. I’m just going to keep plodding on. Praise the many decent kids and ignore the less than great ones as much as possible.

Regarding feeling like a leper. Yep I’m feeling it. I’ve agreed with my mum and dad we won’t see them for the foreseeable. If they are going to catch it from anyone it will be me (or maybe my primary aged kids).

It sucks, I miss my mum and my dad.

😆piggy I apologise profusely! I went back and searched yr posts and see I was wrong (?), but someone said it, memorable because surprising. I do find him slightly naive at times though.

I got into trouble with her yesterday too....

All the best educators are scary at times, aren't they?

Haha yep!

Dix only works when it is put with harsher sanctions and a SLT that backs you and not the pupil.

Our behaviour (inner city primary) is the best it has ever been. None of us know how we have achieved this! We have a few individuals not settling due to their personal circumstances but the vast majority of classes are a joy.

I have no option not to see my Mum and Dad, which worries me. They are providing childcare for my ECV toddler who isn’t allowed back to nursery yet (medical advice). So that’s three people I have to really worry about passing the virus on to. Luckily my parents are healthy but both in their 60s.

Just marking me spot. They called us together for our full staff briefing last week to tell us it was no longer safe for us to meet together for a full staff briefing and that was our last one. A weird sort of progress

@hedgehogger1

Just marking me spot. They called us together for our full staff briefing last week to tell us it was no longer safe for us to meet together for a full staff briefing and that was our last one. A weird sort of progress

That's hilarious. And deeply worrying...

I seem to be addicted to checking work email to see if we have another positive case, and searching local news for more local school cases. I think I need to get outside and stop stewing

I feel like a complete leper. The most face to face adult interaction I have is with the man delivering my shopping

Even after Christmas in a NQT you will notice a difference.

"I seem to be addicted to checking work email to see if we have another positive case"
it's not just you, Whynot!

Not sure where completed distant came from.... am sure I typed be consistent 🤣🤣🤣 I mean be distant if you want...

Even after Christmas in a NQT you will notice a difference

I really hope that’s true dolly

I wasn't aware pneumonia jabs only needed doing once. If so, brilliant because I had it a few years ago.

Behaviour in ours is mixed. Terrible stamina for working without talking and some very impulsive behaviours.

But last year's cohort was dire so they are still a dream compared to that.

Ah no... just googled. NHS says you only need it once if you are over 65. Otherwise you MAY only need it once or every five years depending on your condition. I can't remember when I last had it but I don't think it was less than 5 years. But I think I will remain reassured that I have had it as an adult and maybe it will afford me a little extra protection.

It's not the covid that concerns me, as many die from the subsequent pneumonia you are then more likely to get. Boots do the jab but its £70.

Have just searched my own fb page and I had it done 7 years ago

@hedgehogger1

Just marking me spot. They called us together for our full staff briefing last week to tell us it was no longer safe for us to meet together for a full staff briefing and that was our last one. A weird sort of progress

All of our staff meetings and training have been online since the start of term.

It is taking the sole out of the place - so not time for a catch up with people in other departments. One guy tuned into the Hods online meeting from a train and another from his car.

@WhenSheWasBad

I second the Tom Bennett advice. I've been teaching a while and still finding stuff in the book that's useful. My behaviour management has improved massively since spending time actually reading about good strategies. Consistency is king. Model the behaviour you want to see and settle for nothing less.

Dix is a dick.