New Class so attached to previous teacher

[TeacherPrimaryabc]

I took over a class, through a supply agency but they loved their previous teacher who left at Easter. The previous teacher left as she had enough of teaching, the politics, the workload etc, but she was good. I met her and she was great and I can see why they liked her. But she told me she had to get out of teaching. I knew taking over a class at Easter would be tough, but this really is hard going.

The children miss her, after having her for three quarters of the year. A few of the children are seemingly angry that she left them and I feel like I am being punished (as I have taken her place, thrown her out in their eyes it feels) because they feel so hurt that she left them.

They are just making things hard for me with behaviour and effort etc. One or two who have always been tricky, have become really badly behaved, after having made so much progress with the previous teacher. Children like that don't like change. What can I do, I can't help it that i'm not her. I feel like I am not right for them and should just walk, as I am only long term supply. Any advice?

Thanks

I feel for you. I’m sure a primary teacher will be along with more specific advice. I’m assuming you’ve already asked your colleagues for help. The good news is you just have to weather it for half a term more. Kids can really struggle with change of teachers if they have a turbulent home life. If they have history of an absent parent especially. And after building trust with previous teacher they are going to feel abandoned. I always find it a shame for the kids when teachers can’t hold out until end of term, but that’s the reality of teaching, so many at breaking point.

Compassion and consistency with behaviour expectations will get you through. But realistically you are unlikely to have a breakthrough with worst affected kids in the little time you have left. I took over a tutor group at end of year 7, they took it out on me for their previous tutor leaving. Luckily she was a friend who just moved schools, so I kept a link going between with messages. Some of them never warmed to me, most of them had by Year 11, ha!

Is this your first time taking over a class midway through the year? This always happens. There is no better teacher than the one they had just before you.

Stick with it, be consistent and cheerful and it will get better. If you quit too they will just learn that teachers quit on them.

It happens - but after a period of time pupils will forget,

you’ve only got 7 weeks left with them after Whitsun half term - I’d just keep going until the end of term.

If you quit this assignment now due to what you’ve mentioned above - you may find it harder to secure another.

The agency will want teachers who are reliable.

Thanks for the replies. Just have to muddle on with kids who wish I was their previous teacher instead of me.

I have been where you are both in Primary and Secondary. The posts are spot on above but the post that mentions Agencies wanting reliable teachers. To a degree that is correct however I was in a Primary schools that was challenging very little support and then the school contacted the agency and said I was struggling . To be honest I was. However I then contracted covid and was off for the rest of the term. 18mths later the school asked for me to go back.

I was in 1 Primary school and was having a similar experiences to you. The previous teacher had been young and inexperienced they were a difficult class and the school had a very active school gate mafia so I was the most evil teacher in the Universe.

I also took over for a maternity cover ion a Secondary school. There all I had for most lessons was "Misses lessons were really fun, we did fun stuff with Miss" "My Mum says you're rubbish" I left after 6 weeks. I then went to a school where I worked for another 3 years.

My final school, we had regular time table changes (no idea why but it gave SLT something to do) Anyway with much relief I lost a class who were in effect giving me the same feedback as noted above. Very soon a number of kids asked if they could have me back as a teacher as my lessons were good etc etc etc.

So stick it out for 7 weeks, Make a note of all the problems that you have had and tell the agency you are not going to go back. Agencies need supply teachers.

Next year the students in your class will be telling their new teacher how good you were.

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