Brand New to Supply - Page 2

Gnomoospan · #11 (**permalink**) 14-09-2007, 04:01 AM

Might have a noise police beat in my room!

irmemac · #12 (**permalink**) 17-09-2007, 10:41 PM

Oh dear, had a horrible experience today. Had a Year 5 class who were awful. I was covering a teacher's out of class cover, so I had them for an hour this afternoon. The DHT came in 3 times as they were so wild. I couldn't get them to be quiet at all. Tried timing them so they would lose playtime but couldn't make myself heard adequately. Stood with timer, and gave up when I got to 7 minutes. Tried writing names on list to go to DHT, with proviso that names could be taken off list if behaviour improved. No good. Positive praise was sneered at and replaced with instant bad behaviour, stickers had no effect. Was supposed to split them into 2 groups and hover between the 2 adjoining classrooms, but had to abandon that as I couldn't leave them even briefly. There were about 16 completely wild pupils. Found out that they've been such a problem that for the last 2 years they've been split into 2 classes, but this year they've been merged again.

I'm likely to be called there again tomorrow, but can't go back until I've got some
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of what to do. Felt very alone when I realised that I did not have the experience to handle them. Don't want to give up school as it's very local and they don't have a local supply teacher. Sorry to be a pain again, but does anyone have any good advice? I would like to be able to at least attempt the work that is supposed to be covered.

danfur · #13 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 09:28 AM

First of all I would say don't beat yourself up about it. If those children have been split in the past as a result of behaviour then the school clearly have problems with them. Plus if the DHT was in 3 times in the space of 1 hour and couldn't settle them down I certainly wouldn't be concerned about my own capabilities.

Don't feel bad for saying that you wouldn't like to go back to a particular year group even if you would still like to return to the school. Are you with an agency? If so just let them know about that year group and explain that you'll happily return to the school just not that year group. Most agencies will be fine with that and will be pleased that you have let them know.

To be honest I can't really think of anything else you could have done apart from
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ting to ask children to leave the class and go to the head. I had a nightmare of a class last week and that was what I had to do. And just kic
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one child out seemed to settle the class down enough to get through the afternoon. As has been said before, always ask for help if you need it. I find learning one noisy ones name at the
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t of the day helps as you can shout it out at intervals to quieten that person down.

Sorry I can't think of anything else useful to say. Good luck if you get other work there and remember not to feel bad about turning down work in that class again. At the end of the day, there are other classes and other schools.

ruby_tuesday · #14 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 04:30 PM

That sounds like a horrid situation. When things are that bad, you on your own is not enough, you need everybody in the school targetting them (strength in numbers). You didn't mention the schools behaviour policy, and in a situation like that you may not have had opportunityto refer to it but there should be different levels of sanctions for different levles of behaviour. It may sound like it won't work but it will eventually if the school actually follows them all through - even if that involves excluding some individual pupils.

If you want to go back there, find out about the different levels and insist on some support with you in the classroom. Then follow the sanctions, send for someone on the senior leadership team as often as you need to.

Otherwise, just refuse to take that class, as suggested above.

Don't worry, there are some really lovely classes out there too!

irmemac · #15 (**permalink**) 18-09-2007, 09:12 PM

Thanks for the advice! I had a lovely class last Thursday, and yesterday was a real setback in the self-confidence stakes. Have a p6/7 class tomorrow in a different school, so will try again there. Didn't get a
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y of the behaviour policy, but am back in that school on Thursday, so will ask for one then. I'm sure you've not heard the last of me!
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Gnomoospan · #16 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 04:53 AM

Definitely tell them you are thrilled to be asked to work at the school but not in that class without support. No one should have to put up with that behaviour, and there should be more being done, 16 kids messing about, what a nightmare. The DH or H need to make examples of some of these kids!

NuttySupplier · #17 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 07:30 PM

Oh! Sorry I missed this, have been out the last
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of nights...

I'd aim to turn those 16 unruly ones into 4 unruly ones within an hour! Ask the Head if it's ok to send them to different classes and get rid of them!!!

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for next time!

skiteacher · #18 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 07:44 PM

sorry only just seen this too!! I would def send them out / get DH to support, it's 100x worse as a supply trying to deal with class, and if they think less of you for doing it - it's not a school you want to be in. I really don't know sometimes how I managed to deal with unruly classes - some of the supposed unruly classes I had, I didn't think were that bad! I actually liked one class that other supplies had refused to teach! But I don't suppose that helps.
But one thing - if always follow through sanctions. Always find out where you can get help / send children to. ANd always smile / praise those that are being wonderful - or even just normal! I used to also use the well, My other yr2 classes don't do this. Or when they've done sometimes well - gosh, my other yr2 classes can't do this! (even if not true!)
And perfect the glare if you haven't already.
The worse bit when doing young ones is that they can't handle any waiting, so you need to be ready to
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at all times, can't be quickly reading what it says on the plan as that's when you lose them. So even if you don't do quite what's on the plan, it's better to do something than nothing. And lots of quick clapping / follow action games, gets the whole class attention but saves your voice.
Sorry if i've really waffled on, I hope i'm not patronising.
ANd of course, all the
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and support that the others were giving! And it does get easier, once you have more experience with new classes - and once you get to know a school and the children don't see you as totally new.

irmemac · #19 (**permalink**) 19-09-2007, 09:19 PM

Skiteacher, you're not patronising at all! Everyone here is so nice. I wish you were all in my class with me...!

Had another horrid class today. Only about 4 nightmares though, but I'm thin
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I'm not cut out for this. I am doing rubbish teaching as I seem to keep stopping them to make them listen to me, and I don't have enough experience of teaching to be able to do it properly.

Sorry to be whinging all the time. I'm sure you've heard it all before! Got Y3 and then Y4 tomorrow. Will follow your advice to keep the little ones busy with my incredibly limited range of action songs and poems!

Thank you very much xx

NuttySupplier · #20 (**permalink**) 20-09-2007, 06:25 PM

You probably are cut out for this irmemac, but the kids aren't taught to be respectful and polite to any adult in school... by teachers and parents. You will find a nice school, which will boost your confidence and help you deal with Grottsville Juniors. Some schools actively teach their children to act with supply teachers/HLTAs/TAs the same way as they behave for their regular teacher... some schools almost incite all hell to break loose when a supply teacher walks in... the old 'now I'll not be here tomorrow, so be nice' speech is an invitation in itself to some kids!

How did today go? Hope it was better!

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