First Year Teacher - Please Share Your Secrets

AussieDolphin on 03/05/2018 - 22:19

Hello,

I currently work as a Year 3/4 Teacher. Initially I felt overwhelmed and then I discovered resource websites and all that. What I haven't been able to fix so far is how much work I do outside of school time. I work more than I sleep and that may be how it is or maybe I need to change a few things that's why I am seeking advice please.

I would love some words of wisdom, tips, tricks, advice or anything you know that I can do to ease my workload or even organise things better. I'm trying to be the best teacher and learn the curriculum as I go.

Thank you =).

Education & Work

Comments

  • MathNerd on 03/05/2018 - 22:52
    +1

    Read this. It'll have all the answers you're looking for. You haven't stated what subjects you teach which is going to make providing help a little bit tough.

  • pegaxs on 03/05/2018 - 22:54
    +2

    Stop giving kids homework. They hate it. You have to mark it in your own time. It sounds like a win/win to me.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 04/05/2018 - 03:03
      +1

      This. Make homework optional.

    • AussieDolphin on 04/05/2018 - 21:17

      At my school homework is optional but reading is encouraged.

  • Wystri Warrick on 03/05/2018 - 23:14
    +1

    My mum was a primary school teacher, she sacrificed a lot of sleep.
    I see my teachers they work really hard, and they are very tired.

    The good teachers always strive to help all the students, and sacrifice their health.
    Then there's the other teachers they just do the minimum amount possible, they are more interested in the pay, but who could blame them as teachers are overworked and imo underpaid, there's just not enough teachers.

  • 2jzzzz on 03/05/2018 - 23:24
    +5

    My wife just left the profession. Best decision ever. 100hr weeks, caring for kids when parents don't and caring about how colleagues think are just beginning. Everyone burns out, she even had a great principal and workmates.

    • scrimshaw on 04/05/2018 - 02:10
      +2

      What profession does your wife hold now? My brother is a science teacher for Yrs 7-10 in a high end school and the work is killing his health, and is thinking of exiting as well.

      • 2jzzzz on 04/05/2018 - 09:15
        +1

        Currently on long service. But her fall back will be relief teaching. She's pursuing something completely different though. We're in a position where she doesn't have to work full time for a while luckily.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2018 - 08:56
      +1

      my mate just left as well

      Took its toll on his health - primary school teacher

      • AussieDolphin on 04/05/2018 - 21:18

        How long was your friend a Primary School Teacher?

        • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2018 - 11:52
          +1

          About 3 years

  • fossilfuel on 03/05/2018 - 23:58
    +2

    The best advice I got is don't reinvent the wheel. If someone's already made lesson plans, use those. If someone already has found good resources, use those. You can design your own activities but make sure you have enough time and don't burn out while making them.

    You can't be teaching 90% of the time otherwise you'll burn out. You don't need to talk the entire time. Teach 20-30% of the time, the rest you let the kids do the work/activities. E.g. If you're doing something on volcanoes for geography, spend 10 minutes teaching them what a volcano is then for the rest of the time, get them to create their own volcano using paper mache, baking powder and vinegar.

    Talk to your fellow teachers in the staffroom for advice, tips and tricks. In most schools, the staff are very supportive. Share your lesson plans and resources before you ask them for lesson plans, activities, resources etc.

    • Emli on 04/05/2018 - 08:33
      +1

      Some good advice about collaborating BUT teaching a lesson above volcanoes might save your voice. It will only add to the time woes. You will need to go to the shop and buy vinegar and baking powder, cut up the strips of paper and organise them all into trays for easy distribution. Then at the end of the lesson a big tidy up is needed, it is an engaging lesson but time consuming to set up. There are no EAs or lab assistants to do it for you. While this clean up is happening, you should be starting your next lesson.

      • fossilfuel on 04/05/2018 - 10:46

        I agree. That was only an example. It would be made much easier with an SLSO or having a few parents. Other than that, textbooks can be very useful even though they are a necessary evil. e.g Teach for 10 odd minutes, then get kids to work on problems for the other 50.

  • AlienC on 04/05/2018 - 02:19
    +2

    Honestly just do what your year 3/4 teacher did right and don't do what they didn't do right.

    At that age you could try get them interested in cool stuff like engineering and software development I suppose if you're allowed but tbh I don't think that it will stick.

    Good luck teaching human beings in person is one of the hardest things to do especially with children.

  • bobbified on 04/05/2018 - 08:41
    +4

    Avoid the headlines and front page of any newspaper.

  • altomic on 04/05/2018 - 09:51
    +4

    congratulations for graduating.

    • AussieDolphin on 04/05/2018 - 21:20
      +1

      Thank you =). It was a struggle and a half and I'm so glad that part is behind me.

  • ms_caz on 04/05/2018 - 20:27
    +3

    Secondary teacher here - for far more years than I care to admit.

    Let me tell you that all the new grads at my school are slowly killing themselves, learning to differentiate what needs to be done vs what the department and all the curriculum standards say should be done (in an ideal world where all kids and their families are perfect and primed to learn a standard curriculum catered to "just in case" learning). The requirements for new grads to gain full registration are overwhelming. Sadly, your experience is far too familiar and it is not a reflection on your ability.

    I will say, it DOES get better. You develop resources that you can use again, you learn how to be most effective in your use of time and you gain a better perspective about what you just can't do and therefore need to let go. Your colleagues are your best resources. Primary schools in particular are very team oriented and collaborative.

    Accept that it will take some time to get to be "the best teacher" and that sometimes you might just have to accept less than the best in order to save your own life and sanity. It's a really hard and thin line to balance upon. I know that when I was a younger teacher, I allowed my job to take over my life to the detriment of my relationship with my at the time long term partner. Our breakup was not acrimonious, but I firmly believe that if I had been mature enough to make more space for US and allow less of my life to be subsumed into my teaching, things may have turned out differently. It's a challenge in many professions, the need to take time for yourself and your own family in order to be able to function effectively for your work.

    As I said, I'm secondary but if you need somebody to lend an ear, drop me a line.

    Take care.

    • AussieDolphin on 04/05/2018 - 21:24
      +1

      So much truth right there. So far I haven't found a balance between work and family life. I divorced while studying to get my degree and I don't know how I am going to even have 5 minutes for someone else.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 05/05/2018 - 00:33
    +1

    I graduated, worked a few relief days and short term contracts and then joined the police. Long story short, stay with teaching and enjoy the extra holidays!

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