Is there something wrong with me?

[TheJoyousTraybake]

Started a new school today. I feel like I’ve failed big time. I cried at the end of my day on the way home. I literally feel like I haven’t even been teaching for all the years I have done. 2 classes I had today were wild. I’m actually someone who had my behaviour management so well accomplished at my last school. But today, today I felt like a massive failure. The kids really tried it with me and I’m not
used to this at all.

I was very firm. I called home. I did what I said I’d do. But yet still I’m feeling like a failure. Is this normal? Or do I need to panic?

Do you need to panic? No.

But you should be getting some support from colleagues. How long have you been teaching? What's your role?

There's nothing wrong with you but everything is wrong with education. It's stressful, it's tense, the children in many schools are wild. The parents are so difficult. I see teachers in tears most days. But, it sounds like you are doing the right things. Call home, continue to be firm, dont give up, they will push and push to test you. It will get better if you stick to your guns and are consistent. But I hear you. It's so hard.

I don’t have any answers but I can sympathise. An experience like this ended my teaching career. The kids were absolutely feral. It didn’t get any better and I ended up going off with stress and ultimately leaving teaching after 20 years as a result. The school
is now in special measures but I was made to feel as if I was the problem. My only regret was putting up with it as long as I did. If it isn’t any better by the end of the month I would start looking elsewhere.

Things will get better OP - they are testing your boundaries as a new teacher.
You’ve done nothing wrong - keep doing what you are doing!

Things should get better once you are more established there. That said, behaviour just seems to be getting worse and worse in general and I'm struggling more now than ever .

Posted too soon

So don't take it as a reflection on you. As you've said, you managed behaviour well at your old place and you are a successful teacher. Sounds like it's a combination of being new and the school/kids itself.

Keep your chin up ❤️

A lot of children these days don't fear any form of consequence from parents any more.

If I'd done something out of order at school and a teacher said they were going to phone my parents I'd have been bricking it knowing i was facing losing pocket money or getting grounded or facing some sort of punishment.

Parents these days don't back up school discipline now. Parents complain if schools remove phones or keep kids back for detention. Kids get all the rights with none of the responsibility.

You are a new starter, absolutely normal these days, I'm afraid. The kids will treat you like inexperienced supply until you have stayed and "proven" yourself to them. I've done this job for over 20 years and in schools where I've been for a few years I can walk into a room and the class will fall silent, but every time I've moved it's like I've never taught in my life.

I moved school two terms ago and it's only this week that the kids have suddenly realised I'm here to stay and will, mostly, comply with everything I say. My style hasn't changed, my consequences haven't changed, it's been two terms of logging everything and calling home as per policy every day, most days for an hour after school. This week I've had to call home for students one day out of five, and only for students in one class, the rest of the time they've behaved enough for me. After Easter, it will improve even more and by next September I'll be part of the furniture and behaviour problems will be the same as or less than in every other classroom.

It takes time. Kids don't expect you to stick around. Hang in there if you can.

You cannot be responsible for the class behavior on day one. That is the school. That is the Head. Classes should be ready to teach. I see schools near me and a new teacher can arrive and there is not a beep..down to years of work by a good leadership team which makes the individual teachers job so much easier. You cannot have that on day 1 unless it is the ethos of the school and a leadership team should be ashamed to have a new teacher experience this. It shouldn't be left to you on your very first day. I hope it improves but it is definitely not you.