TA - the kids don't listen to me

[OuiOuiMonAmi]

I'm a TA and do everything the teacher does but the kids just do NOT listen to me or have the same respect that they do for the teacher. It's ok 1:1, or in a small group, but when I have the whole class they just go feral and ignore me, apart from a handful of sensible kids. It isn't just this class - it's the same with every class I've ever worked with. Other TAs have said the same so I know it's not just me - is this a universal problem or is it my school? It's driving me crazy and actually making me think of leaving.

Is this primary - are you covering during PPA? I think that’s really difficult, as TA and teacher are different roles and switching from one to the other is bound to be confusing.

Is it primary? What age and why do you have whole classes?

Classes behave differently for all teachers and you have to find your own way that works.

What is it that is you do that is the same as the teacher but doesn't work?

I’ve had the same issue before, and at that particular school, the lack of respect was horrendous! They would literally walk around the class, and shout at each other as if you were invisible. The only thing that worked was ensuring there were firm repercussions. Sad face / smiley face on the board - initials under each. They hate seeing their name up there, unless it is good! Table points for good behaviour, remove them when it’s bad. Same yellow card system etc. It’s important to enforce the same class rules. It’s not easy..i just think behaviour is generally becoming a bigger issue in schools, regardless of who the adult is.

@Planningspringflowers - at our school, HLTAs cover PPA, SLT time etc…as well as covering general TA & intervention work.

I'd imagine it's partly because TAs have to manage a whole class on their own, whereas the teacher has a TA to support them.

Yes, Primary - year 4. I don't have the whole class much, just for a 15 minute session each day. They are feral as soon as the teacher is out. They just literally pay no attention to me - well, about a third of the class don't, the rest are fine. I do the clapping thing and only a handful respond, I count down like the teacher does but they just carry on chatting... that kind of thing. I almost lost my voice from having to shout to get myself heard last week! Writing names on the board is a great idea - I'll try that, thanks.

Have you and the teacher shown the class you’re a team? So before the teacher leaves they tell you (in front of the children) that they are looking forward to hearing from you how well the class have behaved? And you do a very audible hand back where the teacher praises the ones who you’ve said did well (and vice versa).

A deputy head friend was telling me recently how much she hated covering a year 4 class every week as they were so badly behaved. She’s an excellent teacher with very strong behaviour management- the class just didn’t cope well with a change of adult.

It’s partly just the change for some children, but also I agree the teacher needs to make their expectations of the children’s behaviour for you abundantly clear.

I think it’s a universal thing. The children kind of feel like it’s a mini break as the teacher is going out for a bit.
Don’t give up. Don’t expect things to work straight away. Keep doing the same thing. You need to train them up.
Consequences work. Warn them, perhaps whilst the teacher is in the room, that if they can’t be quiet they will need to practice at break. Give a warning then write down names of those do not follow instructions. Then follow through.

I could have written this myself. I literally came on here looking for advice around this same thing. I work in year 2 and feel like throwing in the towel. I moved to infants from secondary and honestly thought it would be easy in comparison but it's not. I have to cover PPA each week as well as the odd meetings etc and it I feel completely out of control. Like you I do everything the teacher does same consequences, warnings,firm voice etc. They just don't respect me in the same way. It's so frustrating. They see me as a different entity. It is soul destroying and I am starting to feel that I look incompetent because my feedback to the teacher is always so negative.

I’m a HLTA and cover PPA daily across all years . I start as I mean to go in and had the headteacher’s support. So use the classroom behaviour system, show you are serious and be consistent. Don’t try to be their friend.

To go on, not in.

Also, save your voice. Use clap and respond method to get whole class attention.

Yep, do all those things!! Doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Because for the other 4 days they see me as an lsa (even though my classroom management/boundaries are still in place) they just don't see me in the same light as a teacher. Plus the teacher has another adult in the room (me!) Whereas I'm juggling everything on my own!

I would start after half term with a renewal of rules. If it means stopping and getting them to line up and enter the classroom again in silence. Repeat until they get the point. They can’t win or you’re toast.