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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

Class sharing with a young teacher

15 replies

BG2015 · 19/12/2023 20:17

I've been teaching for 28 years.

This year I've been class sharing a Y1 class with a teacher who's been teaching for 3 years.

I teach 3 days, she teaches 2.

She's lovely. Very enthusiastic and has lots of great ideas for a 27 year old. I see a lot of my younger self in her. She over plans, makes work for herself but that's all part of being a newish teacher. She will eventually realise she needs to drop a lot of what she does before she burns out.

When she's not teaching Y1 she covers in EYFS, so she's round and about school.

But she keeps telling me little things that I should be doing. Eg, telling me to send the kids to the toilet before I got them changed for the nativity. Telling me I need to get the kids to empty their trays and lockers before the end of term.

She will come into Y1 when I'm teaching and stop the kids and speak to them. It's very inappropriate.

I spend half an hour in Y1 on one of her teaching days as the TA arrives late. I collate lunches and change reading books. During that time I barely speak as it's her teaching time not mine.

It's driving me crazy.

OP posts:

Qwerty556 · 19/12/2023 22:12

No solution but I am.in a similar situation. I lead a subject with a young teacher. She's brilliant but seems happy to throw away her right to a work-life-balance.

She is constantly wanting to change things. This is creating work for teachers all around the school.

I wouldn't mind so.much but it isn't making the kids any better. It's just more activity with no actual progress.

Sometimes she moans about the workload but doesn't want to see that not only is she unnecessarily creating work for herself, she creating unnecessary work for others.

In 5 years' time she'll find it all.too much and leave a new 25 year will slide in and do the same.

Original poster

BG2015 · 20/12/2023 06:02

She overplans everything and makes lists of everything on the computer, whereas I just write things down.

But it's her interference on my teaching days that's annoying me.

OP posts:

Creational · 20/12/2023 06:48

Wow, I sympathise OP as it sounds like a tricky situation. She's obviously got good intentions. When I was young and childfree I honestly didn't mind doing more; now I think some of my colleagues think I'm a bit off for having the type of boundaries that I do but I quite genuinely don't have the hours in the day like I used to. Sorry, no advice but interested to see what others say.

ThanksItHasPockets · 20/12/2023 08:26

I thought you were going to say that she was 21. 27 is not that young and it’s perfectly old enough to be asked not to interrupt your teaching. Is there a reason you haven’t said anything?

Qwerty556 · 20/12/2023 09:04

She is being massively unprofessional.

You have every right to tell her to wind her neck in.

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 20/12/2023 09:10

Very enthusiastic and has lots of great ideas for a 27 year old.

How unbelievably patronising. I was a head of faculty leading a team of 12 at 27.

Jobhunterteacher · 20/12/2023 11:56

It sounds like she is trying to get herself noticed by management to further her career! Seen it done a numerous times! And as she is unaware of the impact her changes are having on other staff, she sounds a perfect candidate for SLTdom 🤔😳

LionCubo · 20/12/2023 13:49

27 is not that young and the over planning is normal. But it does sound painful!

I would have a chat when planning in January and say you reflected on last term and you are enjoying class sharing but think it would help the children if there is more separation that on your days, you are in charge and leading all instructions. Say you hope she feels this is the case on her days too. When she then next reminds you of a job just say 'all in hand, remember it is my day with the class. I will work out best arrangements'

I wonder if she sees it as her class with you filling in on her days in EYFS, rather than a true class share.

good96 · 21/12/2023 10:03

Sounds like it is a conversation that you need to have with her on the side regarding boundaries and that.
With regards to making notes on the computer - that is their generation - it clearly works for her - All my younger teachers do it.

HedgesK · 23/12/2023 18:23

Made me chuckle when you said 27 🙈🙊 I’m 29 with three children and 4 years into teaching 🤣 I don’t feel like a new teacher but maybe I am! Anyway, I would just tell her how you feel! Perhaps she doesn’t realise what she’s doing and if she does have good intentions, I’m sure she won’t mind 🙂

Original poster

BG2015 · 24/12/2023 16:31

She's young at 27, compared to my 54 years. Her 4 years of teaching (most of it in lockdown) against my 28 years of teaching.

There's no comparison really.

OP posts:

orangeblossom23 · 24/12/2023 18:03

BG2015 · 24/12/2023 16:31

She's young at 27, compared to my 54 years. Her 4 years of teaching (most of it in lockdown) against my 28 years of teaching.

There's no comparison really.

I agree, it's impossible to say anything nowadays without being vilified
i understood what you meant

KCSIE · 24/12/2023 21:47

I sympathise. In a similar position but in reverse! The more experienced (but a lot older) teacher juts in on my teaching time, hugely over plans - minute by minute breakdown typed onto 3 xA4 pages PER DAY. Even on my teaching day when she isn't in the building. And oh my goodness the mess, untidiness and general disorganisation of our workspace. It drives me (and our TAs) absolutely potty! However long I spend tidying, she doesn't and she doesn't encourage the children too either. She also won't join in conversations about boundaries or workload. It's ridiculous. I just let her get on with it now and ignore as much irrelevance as possible.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 29/12/2023 12:51

BG2015 · 20/12/2023 06:02

She overplans everything and makes lists of everything on the computer, whereas I just write things down.

But it's her interference on my teaching days that's annoying me.

If you haven't already, can you have a conversation about boundaries? Just say that you prefer her not to get involved on your teaching days, as you think it's confusing for the children, or similar. It's very likely she is reasonable and will respect this? She may not even realise how much she is getting involved?

If you were feeling kind, you could also ask how she is feeling in terms of workload, and would she like any suggestions for things she can drop?

Spain1986 · 13/01/2024 01:22

I always hate working with those younger teachers, as they don’t seem to have lives. I understand why you haven’t said anything as it creates an atmosphere afterwards. Once you have said something, you can’t take it back.

They are so interfering and love giving orders. I said to one that I’m more experienced than you, so I know how to do that. The frostiness was hard to take for the rest of the time with her. However, I had kept it in for so long, I had to say something, ax it was driving me crazy!! Choose your words carefully, but they need to be told as they are undermining you which doesn’t make you feel good.

They like to fuss too much and create extra work that is unnecessary. Good luck!

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