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#1: Who else is a teacher? Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:41 pm
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I noticed reading some Spot Supper profiles that there are LOADS of teachers on the board and just wondered a few things!!

I teach 7-9 year olds in a Primary School. I wouldn't say that my reading choices influenced my decision but I certainly favoured school stories and playing schools that went alongside them. I loved making lists of classes (usually based on CS-esque names) or sports/ prefects lists.

Now I enjoy school stories as a relaxation - sometimes I wish I could say or do things that were done in the books but I don't think it would work quite as well!

#2: Re: Who else is a teacher? Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:46 pm
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aitchemelle wrote:

I certainly favoured school stories and playing schools that went alongside them. I loved making lists of classes (usually based on CS-esque names) or sports/ prefects lists.

So did I... I used to drive my friends and family insane.

I'm in the process of becoming a teacher. I don't know if the CS infuenced my decision... I'll be a primary school teacher too so it's not exactly the same thing, is it? In the CS I think I'd be like Miss Norman - the little ones would be fine, but I'd be hopeless with the bigger girls!

#3: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:47 pm
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I'm *not* a teacher but have a slightly related anecdote. One day I found a PB of Leader in the Salvation Army charity shop in Dublin and when I took it up to the counter to pay for it, the old man there asked me 'Oh, are you a teacher?'. I still am not sure why...

#4: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:51 pm
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I don't think school stories influenced my descision to teach at all. It was mainly my love of history and a car accident* which resulted in me doing what I do.

*I wrote my car off when I finished my degree and had been back home a week. My mother, a history teacher, said that if I thought I was going to sit on my backside for the next four weeks whilst they fixed my car I had another think coming! She took me into school with her and made me teach her classes (whilst she sat in her cupboard and watched Wimbledon) and I realised that this is what I really wanted to do.

#5: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:51 pm
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I want to be a teacher, but I don't think the CS influenced me at all! It made me want to be a writer like Joey though.

#6: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:55 pm
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Elle wrote:

I don't think school stories influenced my descision to teach at all. It was mainly my love of history and a car accident* which resulted in me doing what I do.

*I wrote my car off when I finished my degree and had been back home a week. My mother, a history teacher, said that if I thought I was going to sit on my backside for the next four weeks whilst they fixed my car I had another think coming! She took me into school with her and made me teach her classes (whilst she sat in her cupboard and watched Wimbledon) and I realised that this is what I really wanted to do.

LOL!!
Elle, your mum sounds like a very resourceful woman! Wink

Something tells me she'd fit in quite well around here!

#7: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:19 pm
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I used to be a teacher, I'm retired now, and yes, I have often said, 'You mean may I, not can I.'

#8: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:22 pm
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I'm not a teacher, but my Mum is. I used to make lists as well!]

My Mum isn't a CS fan by the way. She does vaguely remember reading 1 or 2 of the books during her childhood.

#9: Author: LizzieC, Location: Canterbury, UK

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:22 pm
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I'm a teacher (currently unemployed Sad

)

Can't say the Chalet books inspired me to become one, though I would want to work there. Unfortunately being married they'd never have me Wink

#10: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:35 pm
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I teach adults. In my case I think it's in the genes. My aunt, my sister and several of my cousins are or have been involved in education in one way or another. My sister read CS, but I don't think she was ever quite as into them as I was.

#11: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:42 pm
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Vikki wrote:

Elle wrote:

LOL!!
Elle, your mum sounds like a very resourceful woman! Wink

Something tells me she'd fit in quite well around here!

Every now and again a sign would appear from the cupboard saying things like 'Praise them more', 'You havn't mentioned....' or 'Henman losing'.

#12: Author: linda, Location: Leeds

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:47 pm
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I'm a training consultant - does that count? I always wanted to be a language teacher when I was at school, but for various reasons that did not happen.

Perhaps it is genetic - my sister is head of PE and my brother is a Primary teacher. My great grandmother was a teacher before she married in 1871 In those days you had to give up when you were married. My grandmother wanted to teach but her very Victorian father would not allow his daughters to work at all. She taught me the three Rs before I started school, so I think it's in the blood. So is reading school stories - she loved them too!!

#13: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 11:09 pm
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Elle wrote:

Vikki wrote:

Elle wrote:

LOL!!
Elle, your mum sounds like a very resourceful woman! Wink

Something tells me she'd fit in quite well around here!

Every now and again a sign would appear from the cupboard saying things like 'Praise them more', 'You havn't mentioned....' or 'Henman losing'.

LOL!! Thanks Elle! You've really cheered me up!
I take it the kids couldn't see the signs?
(although I can't help wondering what the school thought about it!)

#14: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 4:04 am
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Quote:

She took me into school with her and made me teach her classes (whilst she sat in her cupboard and watched Wimbledon) and I realised that this is what I really wanted to do.

She sat in a cupboard??? How big was said cupboard please? And why was there a TV in it?

At the moment I'm imagining your mum crouching with a small TV in a small cupboard, among the art supplies or something, poking an arm out every so often to show you a sign...

I'm assuming it wasn't like that though Laughing

#15: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 7:39 am
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Róisín wrote:

One day I found a PB of Leader in the Salvation Army charity shop in Dublin and when I took it up to the counter to pay for it, the old man there asked me 'Oh, are you a teacher?'. I still am not sure why...

Ah - I could possibly explain some of that! I'm a (primary) teacher's daughter, and my Mum is always on the look out for books which would suit her current age range. Well, she may be less so now. So, at any charity shop, Mum would be in amongst all the kids books, looking through to see if she could spot anything which might appeal to her class. I would imagine that the combination of 'adult' and 'childrens book' would tend to make someone think - 'teacher'. Well, if they are used to adults who buy books for work anyway.

#16: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:37 am
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Aha! Thankyou Squirrel Laughing

#17: Re: Who else is a teacher? Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:45 am
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aitchemelle wrote:

I teach 7-9 year olds in a Primary School. I wouldn't say that my reading choices influenced my decision but I certainly favoured school stories and playing schools that went alongside them. I loved making lists of classes (usually based on CS-esque names) or sports/ prefects lists.

I used to do exactly the same thing - I must have spent hours and hours preparing to play "schools", mainly by writing endless lists of classes and prefects and (for some reason - and these were my favourites) packing lists - of what each girl had to bring to school. You know, exact numbers of frocks and undies and stockings and books and games kit and so on - the list the CS girls would have had telling them what to pack in their trunk and night case.

Somehow, I rarely actually got as far as playing schools. It was all about the lists. And bossing my sister around.

I'm not a teacher. I'm a scientist. But I still like my lists of facts. If only Excel spreadsheets had been invented when I was 10! I'd've never left my room!

#18: Author: RoseCloke, Location: Camping in my housemate's room. Don't ask.

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:00 am
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Elle wrote:

I wrote my car off when I finished my degree and had been back home a week. My mother, a history teacher, said that if I thought I was going to sit on my backside for the next four weeks whilst they fixed my car I had another think coming! She took me into school with her and made me teach her classes (whilst she sat in her cupboard and watched Wimbledon) and I realised that this is what I really wanted to do.

Your Mum sounds totally awesome (and scarily like my Mum) Laughing

I used to want to be a teacher a la CS, but fourteen years of State education, watching the amount of abuse teachers receive, completely drummed that out of me. I'm not sure if I'd like to teach in the private sector or not Confused

I have a feeling my parents would be quite disappointed in me if I did Very Happy

#19: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:15 am
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I'm not a teacher yet, but I'm starting my PGCE in September, so hopefully I'll be one soon!
In my case teaching's not in my blood as both my parents work in offices, but I've always liked 'teaching' my friends and the kids at Beavers.
I used to love writing my own school stories, and was also obsessed with writing lists, normally of names of girls, with ages, forms and family connections. I rarely got any further than the first or second chapter though. I don't think school stories influenced my decision, it's got more to do with the time I've spent with children, especially through Scouts and Guides. Perhaps the number of teachers on here has got something to do with the number of Guiders and Scouters?

#20: Author: Ray, Location: Bristol, England

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 12:03 pm
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I did go through a period of thinking that I wanted to be a teacher, but I don't think that was connected to the obsessive reading of the CS books (or the Enid Blyton school books, either); I think it was more that it seemed like (at age 12 or 13, I hasten to add) a nice, easy and interesting career. By the time I was 16, I'd realised that 1) Teaching was anything but easy and, 2) I'd make a bloody lousy teacher due to a lack of patience with people who don't understand things first time.

What the CS *DID* inspire me to do, though, was write and while I *CAN'T* do a Joey and be published before my 21st birthday (31st, possibly...), it's still what I ultimately aspire to be.

Ray *plays with paper children*

#21: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:03 pm
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Miranda wrote:

It was a big, walk in cupboard so she had plenty of room (although I like the image of Mum squashed in a cupboard watching telly). The TV was in there because that was where the TV/ Video lived - it was on a wheeled stand so it could be brought out when necessary.

The school was fine with it, the head even observed me teach so that I could put it in with my PGCE application.

#22: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:30 pm
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Oh I miss my walk in cupboard. I used to hide in it and eat sweets. Now I only have a cupboard of doom where things fall at my head everytime I open it.
My mother is also a teacher, but you would have thought that endless school holidays of putting up backing paper and cutting things out would have put me off!

#23: Author: LizzieC, Location: Canterbury, UK

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:35 pm
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aitchemelle wrote:

you would have thought that endless school holidays of putting up backing paper and cutting things out would have put me off!

Ah, children as slave labour Twisted Evil

I cajoled my SLOC into doing the cutting out and sticking of stuff at the start of my PGCE. By December he'd brought me a paper cutter as a "present" Very Happy

Now to think of a way to get him to buy me a laminator... Wink

#24: Author: RoseCloke, Location: Camping in my housemate's room. Don't ask.

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:38 pm
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I've got one for you - sticky back plastic. My Mum used to cover all our textbook, exercise books and rough books and homework diaries in it, every single year, to keep them looking good. By the time I was in year eleven she was a broken woman (although I did keep telling her to stop). I reckon your SLOC will last four weeks, max. Twisted Evil

#25: Author: arky72, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:44 pm
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I'm a teacher - I teach a Foundation 2 class (Reception to everyone else!) and I *think* I have always wanted to teach, which is why I loved school stories.

I also used to make class lists and registers. The children in them always had really fancy names! I used to stick up drawings etc on my bedroom wall to make displays and pretend my class had done them. I was probably about 8!

#26: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:53 pm
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Elle, I love your mum's style. I have a lovely stock cupboard attached to my room so I may very well emulate that feat. Once I've robbed the maths department's TV!

I'm secondary RE, 11-16. I have wanted to teach since I started school, I don't think school stories helped convince me either way. Although I couldn't read the CS while I was training - the Chaletians showed way too much respect for their teachers (compared with what I was facing) and I just couldn't bear reading about how loved the staff were and how interesting the lessons were.

My mum is a teacher. I think going in during the summer holidays and having free reign of the blackboard and chalk consolidated my desire to teach.

*Reminisces about lining up Barbie dolls with paper in front of them and saying "this is what we're doing today" while Mum emptied the prep room*

#27: Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 12:46 am
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I'm a teacher, of college students. Many of whom remind me of Naughty Middles. Laughing

#28: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:55 am
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Hmmmmm - you see, I *was* put off teaching by having a teacher mother. Far too much home work, and she is shattered most nights. Why would I want to put myself through all that?

Still, when I'm asked what I want to do, I usually answer something to do with 'helping people' - in a charity perhaps, or something like that. I don't know yet. In some ways I would happily settle down as a classroom assistant - and yet, I could have done that 5-6 years ago!!! Rolling Eyes

I may be looking at something a bit more all inclusive than that. Besides, I'm not fond of long holidays, though 6 weeks is way better than 4 months I will give you!

#29: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:01 pm
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I'm a junior teacher of 7-11s - or was, till I retired last year. And I wanted to be that from the day I walked into my very first infant class at the age of four. Interestingly, I never really enjoyed reading school stories (that came later!) nor playing schools. I am clearly bizarre, reading how the rest of you teachers spent your youth!! Laughing

#30: Author: Lisa, Location: South Coast of England

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:30 pm
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I'm an English teacher (plus odd bits of GCSE Media, Drama and *I.T.* Shocked

) and teach 11-18s. I'm also an examiner for two English A'level papers.

I, too, loved the whole 'writing of lists' experience - I can really identify with Caroline's comments (hee hee, Caroline - I didn't just have my sister to boss around, I also bossed 3 of my younger cousins! Incidentally, it was tutoring the middle of these cousins for English GCSE that inspired me to teach!)

In fact, I find writing out neat lists a very therapeutic past-time (and it's great as a procrastination tool Wink

) even though it's 'admin'!

Reading that back, I sound so grown up Laughing

(BTW - it's my day off today, I'm part-time these days and I occasionally get a day off when I'm not covering for sick colleagues Very Happy

)

Lisa *off to write some lists rather than mark year 11 practice papers*

#31: Author: Rosalin, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:59 pm
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Like Squirrel I was put off teaching by my infant teacher mother. No matter how late I got in (never past midnight) she always seemed to be on the floor surrounded by piles of paper. Or worrying over OFSTED as she's a supply teacher and seems to have a fatal attraction for inspectors.

*Wondering if my dad knows about this Shocked

*

I used to do the writing list thing a lot, to the annoyance of my sister who wanted to get on with the game.

I don't think I'd have been any good as a teacher as I even had to give up Sunday School when I couldn't control the children. Now I just write the rota Laughing

#32: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 2:45 pm
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Rosalin wrote:

I used to do the writing list thing a lot, to the annoyance of my sister who wanted to get on with the game.

That sounds really familiar! Did your sis not realise how important is was to get all those lists exactly right? My little sister didn't either.... Laughing

#33: Author: Rosie, Location: Land of Three-Quarters Sky

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:07 pm
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I'm currently considering going into primary school teaching after I graduate, and getting to play with languages. But I am not sure, and my lovely tutor with whom I could have discussed it is leaving before I go back! I think I may sort out a week's work experience at my local primary school over the summer, but am not entirely sure how to go about it...

#34: Author: Charity,

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:21 pm
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I was put off teaching by my science teacher father, although my brother did manage half a PGCE recently (he failed). But I am probably about to train as an antenatal teacher.

#35: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:44 pm
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Rosie: the best method I've found is to ring the school and ask if there's someone who deals with observations that you could speak to. I've never had a response from letters or emails that I've sent, but ringing round has worked quite well.
I really enjoyed the work experience that I did in schools, and it made me more sure that I want to teach. Though I might change my mind after I actually have to be at the front rather than the back of the room!

#36: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:12 pm
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Lisa wrote:

*off to write some lists rather than mark year 11 practice papers*

I will do anything to get out of marking year 11 practice papers. I'm so fed up of them now!

#37: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:17 pm
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little_sarah wrote:

I really enjoyed the work experience that I did in schools, and it made me more sure that I want to teach. Though I might change my mind after I actually have to be at the front rather than the back of the room!

Nooo, being at the front is far more fun. Smile

It's just the planning and being watched by teachers/inspectors that is scary.

#38: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:27 pm
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Ah, see, I'm a bit of a freak and love going away and thinking of mad ways to get points across to my Beavers. Although I'm guessing there's a bit of a difference between planning an hour's activity for twenty six year old and planning lessons Confused

#39: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:33 pm
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I like planning in theory - in that I love coming up with fun ideas. It's the sitting down, writing them up, finding that many exciting things are logistically impossible in a small room with 25 six-year-olds and no equipment or resources... *sigh*

#40: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:37 pm
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Not a huge difference Sarah - after all you are dealing with a mixed ability group at Beavers and you know how to pitch whatever your doing to the appropriate level. It's pretty much the same in teaching, finding the level to go down to. And the madder, wackier they are the better! (Year 11 will forever remember what the Epiphany is after watching the opening to The Life of Brian Very Happy

)

Kate, I love planning. It's the kids that are the problem! Lovely laminated sort cards fired across the room, worksheets screwed up etc... If I could just get paid to plan the lessons I'd be in heaven!

#41: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:51 pm
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We should combine and form a super-teacher! You can plan and I can teach... I'm so lucky though, my current children are so respectful. I did a lesson on money today, handed out a whole bunch of coins and I got every cent back. Amazing.

#42: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:55 pm
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That is a good point Clare- the Beavers do range from not quite six to almost eight, so there is a huge skills range in the group. I've been looking at a website called Active History recently, which is about using very physical methods to teach history. I'm really looking forward to getting the chance to teach the Spanish Armada lesson with hairdryers Very Happy

Kate- can I join in and bring the crazy?

#43: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:59 pm
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You can indeed. Speaking of which, any exciting ideas on teaching Road Safety to six year olds? Smile

ETA: Done. Muahaha. I still need pictures though.

#44: Author: little_sarah, Location: London next academic year, Manchester when I want some home comforts!

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:08 pm
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Chuck them in the road, wait til one of them gets hit and use it as an example for the other?
Joking, honestly, don't report me to Child Protection!

On a serious note, do you have one of those playmats with a town drawn on it? You might be able to set up scenarios on there with toy cars. (If you think that's crazy, bear in mind that I warned you that I am!)

#45: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:11 pm
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little_sarah wrote:

Chuck them in the road, wait til one of them gets hit and use it as an example for the other?

They are big into "active learning" in my course... *ponders* Laughing

But maybe not.

That playmat would be fabulous, but I don't think we have one. We have nothing in this school - literally. We don't even have whiteboards - well, there's a portable one shared between all the Junior school...

#46: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:06 pm
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Fieldtrip!

Also the traffic light game (green you can go, red you stop) which you can combine to have a crosswise game where you have a red traffic light with a green man, a yellow light with a flashing green man and a green light with a red man. Divide children into two groups and off you go.

#47: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:20 pm
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Kate wrote:

I like planning in theory - in that I love coming up with fun ideas. It's the sitting down, writing them up, finding that many exciting things are logistically impossible in a small room with 25 six-year-olds and no equipment or resources... *sigh*

Oh how true! I always seem to think my kids are really bright and capable when I'm at home planning but then you have days like today where you are saying the same things 20 times and hitting your head against a brick wall!! Roll on the Summer hols!!

Kate wrote:

That playmat would be fabulous, but I don't think we have one.

Could you draw one out on a large sheet of paper or several pieces of paper stuck together with sellotape, and toy cars could be used again for lots of things!! Laughing

#48: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 8:29 pm
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Ye-es. Though I'm now wondering where it would go in the classroom (it's tiny). We have Geography on Friday though, I might make them do mini roads for that. Thanks everyone! Smile

#49: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:27 pm
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Kate wrote:

Ye-es. Though I'm now wondering where it would go in the classroom (it's tiny). We have Geography on Friday though, I might make them do mini roads for that. Thanks everyone! Smile

Can I come and play?

#50: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:31 pm
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Certainly! Very Happy

#51: Author: Miriam, Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:54 pm
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Clare wrote:

And the madder, wackier they are the better! (Year 11 will forever remember what the Epiphany is after watching the opening to The Life of Brian Very Happy

)

I can confirm that twelve years after doing my A levels I still know the sacylic acid cycle perfectly - running around the room imitating an excited electron and having to split up a very firmly bonded water molecule does that for you! I doubt that the two (female) oxegen atoms and the (male) hydrogeon atom have ever forgotton it either. Laughing

#52: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 10:02 pm
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I teach Resource for special needs children when I'm not on teaching practice and I finally got one child to remember the letter "E" (he had a mental block about it for some reason) by spending a lesson being lorries - i.e. backing around a room shouting "eeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeee". It was great fun. We had an audience by the end of it, though.

#53: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 1:17 pm
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I would like to teach but am handicapped by the fact that up until now the only things I have taught successfuly are things I can do myself - like horse-riding and cycling - I do cycling proficiency at school and it is such a thrill seeing the kids get it.

I am not sure if I could teach something I was not OK at - how does one manage this???
bearing in mind that my maths is truly appalling. I 'helped' my Yr 7 child with her homework recently and we both ended up in tears over it - so i wrote a note of apology to her teacher cos between us we'd made her workbook look a right mess. She was very nice about it tho.....

and is secondary teaching not more fun than primary? I know older kids can be horribly behaved but I have this perhaps naive idea that it might be more rewarding???

#54: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 3:31 pm
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I faaaar prefer primary. In Ireland anyway, there is much more leeway with what you can teach in primary. The curriculum is much broader and there is a lot of room for the individual teacher to do his/her own thing. Secondary teachers often are forced just to prepare students for exams and tests. We don't have any exams or state tests in primary (apart from SATs, which you're not allowed to prepare for anyway, as they're IQ/Performance tests.)

And honestly, I find it easier to teach things I myself find difficult. If I find something very easy, it's difficult to explain how I do it - as I just do it, I don't think about it. But if something is more difficult for me, I can explain the steps.

#55: Author: jo_62, Location: Northern Ireland

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:04 pm
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I'm in my 21st year of Primary teaching. I've always taught in the 4-7 age range (currently 6-7 year olds).

I think I was influenced to a certain extent by the CS books - though also by my uncle, who taught Primary. I wouldn't do any other job, though I absolutely hate the paperwork and the fear of the inspectorate.

Last edited by jo_62 on Thu May 10, 2007 11:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

#56: Author: Lorna, Location: Birmingham, England

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:22 pm
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I'm a primary school teacher. I teach Year Two at the moment (6/7 years) and the little babes are just about to take their SATs the week after next. It's not marvellous fun at the moment poor things! Nor is my report writing that I've just started ...

I don't think my school story reading really inspired me to teach, but I too always enjoyed playing schools in the playground and I used to love doing paired reading schemes at school where I buddied up with a younger child to read with them.

I gave a little chuckle when I read this;

LizzieC wrote:

Ah, children as slave labour Twisted Evil

I cajoled my SLOC into doing the cutting out and sticking of stuff at the start of my PGCE. By December he'd brought me a paper cutter as a "present" Very Happy

Now to think of a way to get him to buy me a laminator... Wink

It reminds me very much of when I was training, during teaching practices it was known for myself, mom and dad to sit colouring pictures and covering them with sticky back plastic until really late at night so they were ready for the next day. I love the laminator at school and our head very kindly lets us use colour on the photocopier Very Happy

(In moderation of course!)

#57: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11:00 pm
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alicat wrote:

and is secondary teaching not more fun than primary? I know older kids can be horribly behaved but I have this perhaps naive idea that it might be more rewarding???

I haven't got the patience for primary. I dealt with 5 year 7 kids at lunch for poor behaviour and I've only kept my sanity knowing that after the 15 minutes I spent bawling them out in detention I don't have to see them again until next Monday.

There are definite pros and cons to each. In primary you really get to know your pupils as a person because you're with them all day every day (which is the major disadvantage for me!) but in secondary you focus your energy on your subject and try to inspire and engage through that. It's a matter of personal preference I suppose.

#58: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11:14 pm
—

Kate wrote:

I faaaar prefer primary. In Ireland anyway, there is much more leeway with what you can teach in primary. The curriculum is much broader and there is a lot of room for the individual teacher to do his/her own thing. Secondary teachers often are forced just to prepare students for exams and tests.

This is why I like teaching adults. I choose what I teach, plan my own syllabuses, and I don't have to teach topics I don't like. The paperwork has become more onerous over the years, and a lot of it is pretty pointless, given the nature of the classes and the students they attract, but it's not as bad as in schools.

#59: Author: skye,

Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 11:19 pm
—

Kate wrote:

little_sarah wrote:

Chuck them in the road, wait til one of them gets hit and use it as an example for the other?

They are big into "active learning" in my course... *ponders* Laughing

Why not get a roll of lining paper and use it as the road. Take the children into the hall, if possible and set it up as a little town. Get some empty boxes and call them shops or offices or houses. You could have road junctions, traffic lights etc. Make up instruction cards and the children have to find a safe route form one place to another using different types of road crossing, zebra crossings or Pelican crossings.

#60: Author: jo_62, Location: Northern Ireland

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 12:15 am
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One portable whiteboard???

I've just lost my ordinary whiteboard, and now have the interactive variety. It's great - when working - but I have to spend ages at home working out how to use it. They helpfully allow us to install the software at home, so that we can use our own time to train ourselves. Hmmmmm

#61: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 12:18 am
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Well, there are blackboards, but they're not as much fun. Easier to write on though.

I should be in bed. After tomorrow I've a four-day-weekend and just three more TP days! Very Happy

#62: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:34 am
—
I am still amused by the safety training we had as children. It involved Popeye the Sailor (old cartoon character, of spinach-eating fame) singing, among other shocking constructions,

Quote:

Don't you crosses when the light is red.
You must wait for the green instead,
And no whizzin', 'cause a-goin' so fast,
They won't sees you walkin' past.

Of course safety is more important than grammar, but still.... Laughing

Chalk dust is hard on the lungs after a while, but whiteboard fumes induce almost immediate headaches. *votes for chalk*

#63: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 3:16 pm
—
I am loving that song - may have to steal it for Rainbows...

#64: Author: Lorna, Location: Birmingham, England

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 7:11 pm
—
I have an Interactive Whiteboard and a traditional whiteboard in my classroom but would be kind of nice to have one of those old fashioned blackboards that roll round ... I love using chalks!

I wouldn't be without my interactive whiteboard now though ... I prepare all sorts for my lessons at home and then upload them at school and the key is the interactivism (that can be a word can't it?)

#65: Author: Tamzin, Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 1:33 am
—

Squirrel wrote:

Hmmmmm - you see, I *was* put off teaching by having a teacher mother. Far too much home work, and she is shattered most nights. Why would I want to put myself through all that?

Still, when I'm asked what I want to do, I usually answer something to do with 'helping people' - in a charity perhaps, or something like that. I don't know yet. In some ways I would happily settle down as a classroom assistant - and yet, I could have done that 5-6 years ago!!! Rolling Eyes

I may be looking at something a bit more all inclusive than that. Besides, I'm not fond of long holidays, though 6 weeks is way better than 4 months I will give you!

I agree. My Dad is an art teacher at a secondary school, my Gran was a primary teacher and my Grandpa was a primary headmaster. I think it's safe to say that I never wanted to be a teacher! However I drew a whole girls school of paper dolls (in CSesque uniform but more up-to-date) and had class lists and a map of the town with the homes of each family marked. I even made up details about the parents of each family and, for some of them, I had elaborate backstories Several of my families were large and I had the Maynards, the Russells and the Bettanys living in the town and attending the school. There was a distinct lack of brothers as I couldn't draw boys that looked like boys! I wrote out report cards for each class and even designed exam certificates for them. My favourite game was pretending to be the teachers discussing the selection of prefects and head girl and/or who was being promoted and who was being kept down.

I recently found myself devising a murder story set in my little town andinvolving the school so you never know when you might hear of it next. But I still don't want to be a teacher!

#66: Author: Mel, Location: UP NORTH

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:04 am
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When I read the Chalet books as a child I wanted to be a pupil at the school. I taught English at secondary level for 31 years - woman and girl. I wouldn't want to teach there, partly because I prefer teaching boys and girls, the public rather than the private sector, wouldn't like the impossible tri-lingual policy and don't think much of their teaching styles. Even for the time it was written, the teaching of English seems lack-lustre.

#67: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:40 pm
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I must admit I wasn't happy on teaching practice in an all girls school, which I did find strange considering how much I love reading school stories based in girl's schools.

#68: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:38 pm
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I must say that I like single-sex schools... you can tailor the lessons much more specifically. I'm teaching in a girls' school at the moment, but they take boys until first class (year 2) so it doesn't affect me. But I've subbed in the higher classes in this school and the boys' school and I loved it. But I suppose it depends on the children.

#69: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 9:48 pm
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It was a secondary school and year 8/9 were awful. Hormones kicked in and woe betide you if you upset the little darlings... B*tchy doesn't begin to describe it.

I got so drunk the night I left that place! Very Happy

#70: Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:18 pm
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I remember Popeye!! Whenever we had spinach for Sunday lunch my parents would persuade my siblings to eat it because it would make them stronger (I liked it so needed no persuasion! Very Happy

)

I trained as Primary school teacher - 3-7 year olds - but didn't enjoy the PGCE year and was mightily relieved when it all came to an end - it isn't something I shall be pursuing, needless to say! I think I just about scraped a pass in it! It was school stories that made me want to try it and like others, I wrote endless registers and played schools (mainly on my own as my sister had no interest in it).

#71: Author: pim, Location: Londinium

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:45 pm
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I wanted to teach right up until I got into year 12 (quite possibly based on reading vast quantities of idyllic school stories) and went to help out with yaer 7 French once a week and got put right off it (realising that I should have listened to my sixth form college IT/computing teacher father all along). I did my IYA from uni as a teaching assistant in France which confirmed the decision I'd arrived at aged 16, it was great fun for a year but not something I could do permanently... despite my mother's assurances these days that I "should go and teach primary because they do languages now". Rolling Eyes

But I think I'll stick with administrating - being far too in favour of an easy life! Although I do work in postgraduate medical education so maybe I didn't escape the education bit entirely. Drat Laughing

#72: Author: ali, Location: medway, kent

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 8:49 pm
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I wanted to be a nurse until it was time to choose which training college to go to and then realised that actually I didn't want a job that involved blood, sick and other bodily fluids - a tad squeamish. So I did a pointless degree, took a few years out, helped my godmother in her class and opted for teaching, nothing whatsoever to do with my love of CS. Little did I realise that there were almost as many bodily fluids and unpleasant smells in the classroom! Wink

#73: Author: Lorna, Location: Birmingham, England

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:02 pm
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Particularly if you teach Nursery ... I taught nursery for Two years and we had every bodily fluid imaginable Shocked

Some I can cope with better than others !

There is much less of that in Yr 2, thankfully.

#74: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:40 pm
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*Stands in humble awe before people who teach little ones*

I can't cope with anything pre-11, I'm afraid! My teaching career has been in 11-18 mixed comprehensives, teaching mainly French (with a bit of English and RE in the early days) and, latterly, Health and Social Care. When I had to take ill-health retirement because of a stroke, I was Head of Year in the Sixth Form, and before that I set up the Vocational Sixth in our school, which is why I added HSC to my subjects, I didn't feel I could 'manage' the voc. subjects without knowing how they worked on the ground, as 'twere. Also, the students doing the Intermediate courses were the most vulnerable ones, and I wanted my hand on them.
Lovely memories, I adored every second of my Sixth Form work. Wasn't quite as keen on Year 9 Set 5 last period on a Friday ... Wink

I'm certainly a long-term CS fan, but I think my main motivation was loving my own school so much. It was a Girls' Grammar in Wales, and was fundamentally important in my life, for both academic and social reasons. There were one or two staff whom I was very fond of and admired greatly, and I suppose I wanted to be them, as well!

BTW, what do people feel about the all-age schools that seem to be appearing? Interesting.

#75: Author: Lisa A., Location: North Yorkshire

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:29 pm
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Tamzin, I used to do exactly the same as you. I even went through the registers. I still remember some of the characters and wish I had kept some of the things I made - for some reason I did it all really secretly! It has crossed my mind to revive some of the girls and write a where-are-they-now story...

I don't think this passion for playing school influenced my decision to become a teacher - in fact, for many years I said that it was one thing I would never do as my SLOC is also a teacher and I could see how ghastly it can be. I think it is more the other way round - my GO reading influences my teaching and I try (often vainly) to impose a CS-style "play up and play the game" ethic on my poor classes and make them do things nicely. (The can/may campaign is working superbly however).

#76: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:51 am
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I still have a chipped tooth from the time I fell off a chair, while sticking the carefully manufactured "papers" of various dolls and furry toys to the basement wall with chewing gum. However, by the time I had to choose a career, I had no intention of teaching. In fact, that's why I abandoned dead languages, even though I loved them: all I could think to do with them was teach, plus the job market seemed to be shrinking drastically. However, I ultimately found that I like teaching university, at least most of the time. (Too bad I don't like grading as well as I did when playing "school." Rolling Eyes

)

#77: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:55 pm
—

Lisa A. wrote:

I try (often vainly) to impose a CS-style "play up and play the game" ethic on my poor classes and make them do things nicely. (The can/may campaign is working superbly however).

I try and do that when someone has done something in class, and you can't quite identify who it is, although you have your suspicions. This week some one made a noise when I was teaching and I asked the person to stand up and stand out. The class looked at me blankly for a minute or two, until I started roaring.

*Wishes the 'yoof of today' were trained to instant obedience and honesty.*

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