What to do when placement isn’t going well

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I’ve not used this before. So hey everyone. I hope someone can offer som advice here. I’ve noticed a few things around my placement that don’t sit well with me. I’ve let them go but I feel a bit fed up.

Last week I went in for 2 days to get a feel of the departments and how things work. I did stuff there I could’ve done at home. Admittedly it’s good to go in but I did nothing. I did most of my own work.

Then when I went there there was about 5 of them all in one tiny class room as the staff rooms under construction and no one had masks and my concerns were through the roof.

A lot of them didn’t really say much to me. I’m really nervous obviously so I just got on with my own work. They were mainly chatting amongst themselves. I did feel really left out.

I know I can be proactive but the conversations weren’t something I could join in on they were things that they all had in common.

Needles to say I had a big cry on the drive home. Is there anyone else out there who can give me some encouragement?

Well, schools are not exactly normal at the moment! What did you plan to do on your visit? You say " get a feel of the departments ad how things work" Did you arrange to meet the Head of Department or your mentor. What was your planned timetable for the days? If it was just to mooch, then that's fine but you should be meeting the students that are in, watching lessons taking place, speaking to the teachers, looking at planning schemes etc. You can't just turn up and assume things are going to be arranged for you, you do need to be proactive.

Sorry, posted too soon!
The five in the classroom is unfortunate but not unexpected, the staff spends their time with rooms full of students not wearing masks so many don't seem the point in wearing one with only a few others. Not necessarily right , but understandable.
As to not speaking to you, they don't know you! That will come with time!

@spanieleyes I think maybe my post wasn’t clear. We arranged my visit and it was a little disorganised. But at the same time I’m finding my feet there with things. My head of maths mentor is quite intimidating.

But no i didn’t come to “just mooch” I came to do some in school notes and get my badge etc then I was told to also help with the technical bits of zoom lessons. So I did that and kinda hung in the background in the small classroom that’s the new staff room.

I just had this weird feeling it might be a bit catty. Idk why but I got the feeling. Maybe it’s early doors and I need to keep going

In the kindest possible way, brush up on your resilience.

5 in a room is nothing for people who were in rooms of 32+ in December.

Disorganised and last minute describes school right now. Things change on a near daily basis. We had a trainee for a day who was pulled back to his original placement. Quite glad I didn't spend hours getting him sorted!

Have you got a timetable? Do you know plans for who you're teaching and when? Weekly mentor meetings sorted?

No to all of the above. I’ve organised all of that myself by continuallh asking my mentor to help me sort it. He did do it in the end but as many have said be more proactive. I have been. But I understand thing aren’t easy right now for anyone. And a newbie in the staff room is the least of their issues. Although it comes across as catty with these staff members . I actually asked if my uni would let me go back to my old school considering it would just be much much easier as I knew the pupils they knew me and we had a good rapport going. But unfortunately uni said no.

5 is a lot in a small room with no masks. My brother had covid and he worked in a 3 man office no one wore masks and he lives alone and only goes between work and that same office so he couldn’t have picked it up from anywhere else. One guy was positive and gave it to all of them. But he didn’t know. So it’s just not safe tbh to be prancing about with no mask. Covids no joke

I understand your point re covid but teachers have been in classrooms full of 32 just weeks ago so 5 feels like not many. You could be socially distant in a classroom with 5. You should be able to access lateral flow tests twice a week now.

They should have sorted you out a timetable and mentor meetings. How long are you there for?

You need to separate the things you need for training and your other feelings about the place. I'm guessing this is the first time you've met them? Focus on your needs for training and ignore the rest.

5 people with no masks isn't ideal and wouldn't be happening in my school at the moment BUT presumably last term you were in classrooms of 30 with no-one wearing masks? You came into school when it doesn't really sound essential, so arguably you have put all of them at risk too.

I think you need to separate actual problems from things that aren't problems.

The school felt cliquey - well, some schools are and you just have to suck it up...

Small staff room and no-one wearing masks - find somewhere else to work/eat. Ask your mentor if you can use their room.

Not having a timetable etc from your mentor - not great, but schools are really unsettled now and mentors are having to think on their feet to try and provide a good experience for trainees. Maybe something to raise with your uni mentor?

There can be 5 in a room if social distancing. Ok, masks would be better but in my school, we can have small meetings in rooms if social distancing and windows open.

No timetable isn't ideal but at the moment, schools are topsy turvey and your mentor may be rushed off his/her feet with a million other things. Give it until Mon and then politely ask. We have a new trainee in our team and his mentor had to make some unexpected changes to his timetable for a whole host of reasons -it happens unfortunately, particularly at the moment.

My 2nd placement school was very cliquey and I can't say I particularly liked it there. However, I kept my head down, was polite and professional and just got through it. You may have to do the same. Not perfect but again, at present,it's good that you are even able to get into a school to do your placement.

When do you start and how long are you there for? As others have said, I think it's just a case of living with it.

To be honest I'm shocked by 5 in a room. Yes that was the norm before Christmas but that's the reason things have changed now. I feel for you OP, it's a tough time be a student teacher. Give it time though, schools are strange places right now