Become a TA - overreacting or being taken advantage of?

[Outonmyear]

I dropped from a UP2 wage to a TA2 role. Loved it no stress.

However whilst off I was put on a rota to deliver a whole class session once a week. I quote to ‘help the teacher out’.

Heart sank immediately, should have said something there and then.

Delivered it twice and whilst rationally I actually enjoy it, it provokes a stress response in me and I feel awful before and after.

I keep telling myself it’s only light hearted, it doesn’t matter etc etc but my poor stressed out body doesn’t realise.

I’ve become TA2 to get away from this - I’m going to have to have an awkward conversation aren’t I? 😣

Yes you’re being taken advantage of. If you don’t want to do it, say no. If you do want to do it, ask them to pay you at the appropriate hourly rate (I.e. what they would pay a supply teacher). As difficult as it is, unless you’re happy with delivering lessons for a TA wage, you do need to say something, as they will try and get away with it if not. Why would they pay a teacher when they can get away with a TA doing a teachers job?

Thank you for your reply. I thought so.
It’s a fun session but is still whole class and watched by several adults. I can’t really give any more details without potentially outing myself but it isn’t academic it’s to engage interest and is 10 minutes long. I am expected to plan and resource it though.

Part of me thinks don’t make a fuss but a larger part of me is just stressed and doesn’t know the difference between a fun session and a lesson observation on a biological level (nerves, heart racing, sleepless nights). Think it’s the other adults watching that does it.

I find it almost doesn't matter how long I teach for, my stress levels are the same. So whether I work full time, part time or do KIT days on maternity, work takes up a similar amount of space in my head (which I know is ridiculous). It's why I can never understand teachers who work 1 day - it just wouldn't be worth it for me. I think you're absolutely being taken advantage of and should speak to someone about it. Maybe don't mention the stress in case they try to offer coaching or something, but it's clear it's outside your pay grade.

What you're describing is anxiety, not stress. An irrational biological response to a minor (20 minutes), low expectation task is NOT work induced stressed. You aren't being overworked, there is not undue pressure, you're having an anxiety response and your GP should be able to help provide you with some options, be they medication, therapy, meditation, CBT, etc. There's no reason to live with anxiety and have these irrational responses.

I get what you mean and agree but should I have to medicate to do a job that doesn’t have that in job description? Purposely taken drop in pay to avoid said situations.

@Outonmyear

I get what you mean and agree but should I have to medicate to do a job that doesn’t have that in job description? Purposely taken drop in pay to avoid said situations.

There is more than one way to deal with anxiety, and I honestly don't know any TAs besides maybe 1:1 who haven't had to lead simple, small activities before. It's 10 minutes. It's fairly normal in the majority of industries that you'd be expected to speak in front of a group. Perhaps you should have seen a doctor to treat your anxiety instead of taking a drop in pay? I have pretty severe anxiety, it's much better to just take responsibility for something you know is irrational and fix it instead of getting angry at getting asked to lead an incredibly brief and untaxing 10 minute activity.

Where am I getting angry?

Schools increasingly use TAs to do teachers’ jobs.
It’s criminal really.