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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Too shy to be a TA?

10 replies

vxiy · 05/12/2023 18:12

I am currently in the middle of a course to qualify me to become a teaching assistant. I have recently started my placement 3 weeks ago in a primary school and I’m just feeling really deflated. I can cope with the coursework well and I am also a qualified nursery teacher but I haven’t worked in the role for around 12 years when I went on to have kids.

I have 4 kids of my own and 3 have additional support needs so I have plenty experience with children, however I can’t help but compare myself to other TA’a and my classmates who are in the same placement. They are all so loud and outgoing , I have been working in a base asn class and a lot of the TAs say you have to be firm and shout because they don’t listen otherwise. However I’m a quiet and introverted person, I feel I do well 1:1 with children and they seem to listen to me but I just feel like I won’t do as well as my louder classmates.

will it just take more experience and confidence or does it seem like this isn’t the job for me?

OP posts:

Dendron123 · 05/12/2023 19:18

There are different TAs for different situations. A lot of children (especially SEN) do not cope well with loud people.

You may lose out in career terms but you will be a priceless asset in many ( though salary won’t reflect this)…

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 05/12/2023 20:58

Different TAs suit different situations. If you are calm and quiet and you enjoy working 1:1 with students, you could really suit a 1:1 role with a student with additional needs, rather than a class TA type role. There is a lot of demand for people willing to work 1:1 in primary, secondary and special schools, so I'm sure you could find a job to suit you!

In general, shouting isn't seen as good behaviour management anyway, although I do think there are times when you may need to project your voice etc!

Smallgeranium · 05/12/2023 21:53

I’ve been a quiet, introverted ta for about 10 years. You don’t have to raise your voice, unless, occasionally when you are teaching a whole class. There’s loads of techniques you can use to get the attention of a group of children that don’t involve shouting. I run our library and am a huge advocate for the quieter children we have. Being quiet and being confident are two different things. I also have learnt to use my voice effectively when needed. It just takes practice.

CeciliaMars · 06/12/2023 17:26

The loud, shouty ones aren't necessarily the good ones! I'd say complete the course, and if it's not really your thing, you could try being a 1-1 TA with a child with additional needs. Good luck!

LondonQueen · 06/12/2023 22:40

You will find your feet when you start working, as a 1-1 TA you will rarely have to raise your voice. As a class TA you may have to raise your voice when covering, be aware that behaviour is worse than ever post covid. I'm a teacher and it's still a struggle in Year 6!

Original poster

vxiy · 06/12/2023 23:19

Thanks everyone! I’m in Scotland so most roles within teaching assistants are just 1:1. The TAs that were loud and shouting were actually at the children with additional needs and told me I need to be firm and strict with them. I think it made me a bit uncomfortable but hopefully with some experience it will get easier!

OP posts:

CeciliaMars · 07/12/2023 17:18

Out of interest - do you not have class TAs in Scotland then? How does that work with admin work like displays and photocopying, and also small group work and interventions?

Chocbiccy · 10/12/2023 22:13

You can absolutely be a (fab) TA if you're quiet, I've been one for nearly 10 years. I am well known at my school for being the 'calm one', children trust you and will naturally navigate towards you.
I went to college with some loud characters during my course, and I can tell you most of them don't have jobs now. The schools didn't take them on and they didn't get into other schools either.

coffeeisthebest · 11/12/2023 09:23

This is a timely thread for me. I have just started a job working with children with additional needs and I have also been told I just need to be strict and firm with them. I am slightly perplexed as this isn't really my way and also I didn't put on any type of persona at interview or when I had a trial in the classroom, and now I feel like i am being told I need to be harsher. This isn't sitting terribly well with me and is making me question if this is the right job for me. I am direct but I am also softly spoken.

Sproutier · 12/12/2023 09:02

Our school has an autism Resourced Provision. The children there are all unable to cope in mainstream without substantial support. Lots of acute anxiety, huge need for reassurance and understanding.

Staffing with gentle, insightful LSAs are the reason these students are in school at all. I suspect some of the LSAs are autistic themselves. I know some are not at all socially confident in life outside school. However they are the experts with their students, and the unit is hugely respected throughout the school.

However, every school is different. For your own happiness you need to be working somewhere where your quiet approach and qualities are respected and valued. Hopefully this will be most schools, because anxiety and mental health difficulties are so common in students these days. But some are much better at it than others. Even working in MS, one quiet, supportive, sympathetic LSA can absolutely be the reason multiple students manage to stay in school. Don't settle for a school that doesn't value you. There will be others that will bite your hand off.

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