Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

I prefer to work with the mainstream children Milann (they don't have to be bright or even well behaved, but they respond in more predictable ways iyswim), but maybe it's because I lack experience with that type of child as he is the first one I've ever worked with and I feel a bit out of my comfort zone. I know it's a good learning experience for me, but I do find it quite stressful thinking will he cooperate today or won't he, as I worry that the teacher is judging me based on that  😞.That's a good analogy with the fizz bottle. He doesn't seem to have a time line. He has a chart where he gets stars for doing his work and when he's got two stars he can choose a fun activity from his drawers to play with, like lego or colouring dinosaurs pictures (he loves dinosaurs). It doesn't always work but sometimes it motivates him. Telling him he has a special job to do can get him off the floor most days, but yesterday he wasn't having any! I haven't had any training with children like that (apart from one assignment on my course) but I'd like to learn some strategies to support them.

milann

It’s  funny how different people love working with different types of children, one of my best friends at work is amazing with mainstream children and the organisation of the classroom but openly admits to not enjoying working with the SEN children or disruptive ones. I love SEN and the disruptive ones or younger key stage 1 and nursery age mainstream - but I loathe the mainstream higher KS2 which is where I was in July - really out of my comfort zone....I did a few weeks in secondary a few years ago and that definitely wasn’t for me. 

I hope the atmosphere at work improves soon. I don’t blame you looking for something else 🤞🤞for you. But like others have said you are an asset....

HairyHandofDartmoor

milann said:

It’s  funny how different people love working with different types of children, one of my best friends at work is amazing with mainstream children and the organisation of the classroom but openly admits to not enjoying working with the SEN children or disruptive ones. I love SEN and the disruptive ones or younger key stage 1 and nursery age mainstream - but I loathe the mainstream higher KS2 which is where I was in July - really out of my comfort zone....I did a few weeks in secondary a few years ago and that definitely wasn’t for me. 

I hope the atmosphere at work improves soon. I don’t blame you looking for something else 🤞🤞for you. But like others have said you are an asset....

Thanks Milann 🙂. It's good that everyone likes different things as there's someone to suit every role. I did phase 5 phonics testing most of the afternoon and I really enjoyed that 😃. I like KS1 too but secondary children would be my idea of hell on earth  😱😱😱.

Willowtree222

I am so glad today went better. I hope it has helped you see how wonderful you are with those children.
I love that training session Milann, I would have liked that earlier on in my career so that I didn't take so much home with me when I was taking so much personally. 
I couldn't do primary. I tried it for one week and was absolutely adamant I would not ever teach in a primary school again. I love teaching secondary and it doesn't matter to me which year group. I do struggle with the Year 7s when they first arrive as they are still in the primary school mentality and it takes them a little bit to get out of it. I get more out of teaching the much older ones, but the new GCSEs took the fun out of teaching. I do like working with the excluded children now. They are so varied and different and I feel I can make the biggest difference to them. Sometimes just playing a game of cards with them is the most attention they are going to get that day so it is nice to just have some time with. I couldn't go back to mainstream now I have worked in the PRU. 
I guess what we all prefer shows how varied we all are and where our passions and strengths are. I couldn't do what you both do everyday. x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak said:

I am so glad today went better. I hope it has helped you see how wonderful you are with those children.
I love that training session Milann, I would have liked that earlier on in my career so that I didn't take so much home with me when I was taking so much personally. 
I couldn't do primary. I tried it for one week and was absolutely adamant I would not ever teach in a primary school again. I love teaching secondary and it doesn't matter to me which year group. I do struggle with the Year 7s when they first arrive as they are still in the primary school mentality and it takes them a little bit to get out of it. I get more out of teaching the much older ones, but the new GCSEs took the fun out of teaching. I do like working with the excluded children now. They are so varied and different and I feel I can make the biggest difference to them. Sometimes just playing a game of cards with them is the most attention they are going to get that day so it is nice to just have some time with. I couldn't go back to mainstream now I have worked in the PRU. 
I guess what we all prefer shows how varied we all are and where our passions and strengths are. I couldn't do what you both do everyday. x

Thanks Nicnak, you really helped me to feel more cheerful yesterday evening 🙂. It sounds like you're in the right job for you, but I would hate your job as I find teenagers scary 😳. Yes we do all do have different strengths. You need a lot of patience to work with KS1 children but I love working with that age as they are sweet, affectionate and funny when they're not being infuriating.

Willowtree222

When I worked with them I found them snotty and one wiped it all over my pants. I think that just put me off. 
I love reading about your days, (when they're good) it makes me see the other side. I couldn't do it though. 
It's hard not to take it personally. X

teafor2

Hi HHD , I'm glad your day went better. I know it's easier said than done but cut yourself some slack From what you've said it's obvious he wasn't in the mood to respond to anybody at that moment in time. You probably felt a failure, the teacher probably felt embarrassed she couldn't control him and had to call the deputy and the deputy probably felt like sending him packing. You probably all felt like hitting the wine lol. 

I hope the atmosphere at school gets better. It's a stressful time for everybody at the moment though isn't it and in schools I think this has to be one of the hardest terms ever with all the Christmas stuff coming up. Just out of interest will things like Nativity, Christmas parties etc. be cancelled this year? I'm not sure how big your school is, but ours was a one form intake so reception, Y1 and Y2 classes joined together for things like that, which I assume isn't allowed at the moment? 

I think DD has misunderstood the travel arrangements. She's in a house and I think it's just meant for those in halls. xx

elizabethhull

I hope you have a good Friday as well, HH. Your experience and capabilities are expanding with every day, and I guess learning how to deal with difficult children must make you VERY employable.
I admire what you (and others on this thread) do hugely - teaching would be my room 101. Most of my family taught and I always said I would rather sweep streets !!!

doingitanyway

All of you teachers/TA's on here are brilliant

badmemory

I think you need to read back over this thread & actually see what you have achieved in what is actually quite a short time.  As an aside, why do you think you ought to be able to achieve something that a teacher & a deputy head couldn't?  They have had years at it.  Stop undermining yourself.  So look in a mirror & repeat after me "I am really good at my job & challenging children flourish under my care".  Deep down you know it is true.  Repeat ten times twice a day. 

Like elizabethhull most of my family were teachers & one particularly acrimonious conversation (aged about 14) was more along the lines of walking rather than sweeping.