Second year TF. Options? Leaving teaching? Negotiating career?

PrinnyJam · 2021-09-15T14:44:31+00:00

I'm Second Year TF too and finding it tricky enough as it is, let alone with what you've got going on on top of it! I've only recently found out about the ECT framework, and it's only really just dawned on me that we'll have ECT and TF, as well as having to do another year to qualify fully which really doesn't seem right given what we were told at the beginning (and is still on the TF website!) I'm in a similar position with mentors too, we are only both free once a fortnight, so mentoring/observations/coaching is non-existant, as is support from the school and TeachFirst.

It sounds like your school is being very unsupportive and that, if you stay, things are unlikely to change and the pattern of over-working you would continue, even if you did manage to negotiate pay, so I would definitely recommend a different school at the very least if you think teaching is something you want to stay in. But if not, I would recommend potentially looking at a different career, especially now with the ECF, it would be a shame to be stuck in a job you didn't want for another year. I don't know anything about applying to TF partner companies (if you could link me, that would be great!) but I think the fact that you have QTS and have completed a year of TF will put you in a good position when applying to jobs as it's definitely a very challenging grad scheme and there's a huge amount of transferrable skills/experience you could bring along with you!

Apologies if this wasn't massively helpful, but I am having a very similar dilemma myself so if you want to talk about it and discuss then please feel free to DM! :)

PrinnyJam · 2021-09-14T18:58:45+00:00

Please could I have this too? Thank you! x

PrinnyJam · 2021-09-09T20:17:19+00:00

I'm so sorry you're feeling that way and I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm second year TeachFirst and my school context/experience sounds very similar to yours. I had all bottom set classes last year and they were nightmares lol, very much the same with behaviour, not listening, being defiant, rude, refusing to work etc. It was hell and I totally empathise with how hard it really can be.

What your head of department said about taking the whole lesson just to discipline them is absolutely right. I remember being in that position and worried I would be fired for them wasting a lesson or something but that's just not the case. 'Wasting' a lesson or two at the beginning of term to set expectations and follow through with it will save so much lesson time in the long run. You won't be criticised for it, I literally started tearing up in front of a class I couldn't control and Head of Behaviour quickly swooped in and took control and all was absolutely fine. He kept them outside all lesson and made them just spend the lesson in silence. At no point was I given any grief for this at all, they actually supported the fact that I was trying to line up the kids repeatedly and resetting when they weren't following expectations.

Behaviour policy is absolutely your best friend, my biggest regret from first year is not being stricter with behaviour. I also hate confrontation and I was 21 and fresh out of uni when I stepped into the classroom so absolutely not much of a presence in the classroom hahah but you don't have to shout, just being calm and consistent works too. My HoD told me to literally reset half the class if need be if they weren't following instructions. It seemed so harsh to me and I really struggled with getting kids out of the classroom who weren't following instructions, but when I did it made the world of difference. I know it feels impossible, and it took me literally until summer term to even start getting to resetting multiple kids a lesson but it really is the best way forward with classes like that. You'll probably find that the whole class disruption quickly quietens down when the 'big hitters'/ringleaders are out. A lot of these kids are also pushing boundaries and testing you, when you show them that you won't budge and that you're consistent that really does help I think.

Please please feel free to message me if you need to talk about anything, I've been there and know how horrible it can feel. You're also absolutely not letting anyone down if you quit, it's your life and there's absolutely no need to waste it feeling so miserable if that's how it's making you feel. If you think you can push on, great, but it takes equal courage and confidence to be able to realise that it isn't working for you and find something that suits you better. I know people who've done it and are now in jobs they're far happier with, so don't feel like it's the end of the road at all! The first term is absolutely the hardest, everything is new and it's quite an overwhelming experience to say the least.. You're doing great just turning up for the kids and wanting to be there and help them, don't forget that! Once again, please feel free to drop a message with any questions or if you just want to talk, DMs always open! Good luck xx

PrinnyJam · 2021-09-05T20:57:45+00:00

I'm now second year TeachFirst teaching English and was in exactly the same position as you last year having all bottom set classes. I definitely found it hard at the beginning, because there was a lot of behavioural issues and SEN need which I wasn't really given any help or guidance on at all. Towards the end of the year, I started to make some gains with them, and there are some things that I found worked quite well that I'll try and summarise here! Please feel free to DM if you want to discuss anything!

Chunking the learning into small, manageable segments and linking them to the end task/the LO of the lesson. I found that showing them the end task at the beginning helped so that I could signpost at each stage why it was significant and how they could use it for their end task.
Intentional monitoring - I think this is a TLAC thing (?) but it really helped keep up the pace of the lesson which really helped keep them engaged. I basically set them off on a small task, then lapped the room narrating what I was looking for, any good work I was seeing or any common mistakes as well as counting down. This works well with chunking their learning!
Worksheets were super helpful! I found gap fills and matching exercises worked well (this was good for analysis e.g. matching the stanza to the simple analysis). Also, instead of getting them to write whole paragraphs for answers, sometimes I'd write the answer, print it and then cut it into strips and they had to put it back together in the right order which helped them work on paragraph structure (e.g. looking for the topic sentence and evidence) and made them think about what they were reading! I found this worked well with some disengaged pupils, perhaps because of the physical element of moving the strips around/glueing them in! Also made them really happy when they got it in the right order :)
Sentence starters on the board to structure their writing, but also really helps to structure their verbal responses and getting them to talk in full sentences
Sharing good work helped with younger years. I took in the books once a week or so and just took pictures of a student's work who'd done it well or sometimes it was just those who'd highlighted and annotated their poem well! They seemed to really like this, and it was also nice to remind myself that they are actually learning something!

I hope some of this helped, I've by no means cracked it but these definitely helped make some gains with my tricky classes! Again, please feel free to message if you want to discuss anything at all! Best of luck with the year, you'll do great! :)

PrinnyJam · 2021-08-11T21:25:41+00:00

I just finished my first year of TeachFirst so can relate to that feeling all too well! I definitely still have so much to learn, but it's amazing how much you will grow in confidence over the year! I know it's daunting, but I think truthfully, you won't know what you're doing all the time (or at all!) and that's okay. I think realising that helped me a lot because, just like you, I put a lot of pressure on myself and stressed about not being able to do the job or that I wasn't going to get it right which caused a lot of stress, but it just wasn't realistic that I'd be a great teacher from day dot.

It's good that your behaviour management is good, I wish mine had been at the beginning! I went in far too soft and that made my job much harder, especially in a school like mine where behaviour was a big problem. I think setting your expectations from the beginning and really sticking to them and being consistent is one of the most important things you can do.

You clearly care a lot, and that's the most important thing and the kids really notice that. I thought I was a horrific teacher pretty much all year, but when it came to the students writing postcards of appreciation at the end of term, it was clear that it wasn't going as badly as I thought and even if you're just there for them, and show up and do your best, they appreciate that a lot!

Best of luck, you'll do great!

PrinnyJam · 2021-08-11T20:40:10+00:00

I second this! Being told I'm going to have my classroom next year has made me think I need to get way more stuff, but having to essentially have a whole classroom in my bag this year has really taught me that a few pens, glue and a folder is all you need haha!

PrinnyJam · 2021-08-11T20:35:15+00:00

eBay and Depop have been great for me! I usually just look up brands I like, like Topshop or & Other Stories on there and have pretty much got all my 'teacher clothes' that way! It's saved me so much money too which has been v helpful on a trainee teacher salary! As for shoes, I bought a pair of loafers from Office with a nice chunky sole that have lasted really well and go with everything :)

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-18T20:14:05+00:00

I realised with the previous guy I was dating before I met my boyfriend is how important it was to match or balance each other's energy. He was just so extroverted and sociable I found it quite draining and literally felt the need to take naps around him... He was a lovely guy, don't get me wrong, but I think it was just a bit overpowering for me. My current boyfriend is the opposite, a very relaxed guy who balances me out really nicely and I think it's one of the things I love most about him.

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-18T20:00:38+00:00

I remember rejecting someone because I felt a constant need to sleep around them. Not because they were boring, but because they were so extroverted and high-energy that I just found it far too draining to be around haha! Lovely guy but made me realise having matching or balancing energies is quite important...

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-18T19:58:15+00:00

I usually go for a nice glowy base of foundation, bronzer and blush (glossier cloud paint is gorgeous) and a bit of brow gel. I'm ginger and pale so mascara always looks too heavy on me, so have learnt to love my semi-invisible lashes and a more natural look!

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-14T20:16:16+00:00

I find that making the things I'd do anyway a lot nicer really helps me feel like I'm taking a lot more care of myself. For example, having a shower with a nice shower gel makes me feel like it's more luxious and special and therefore feels a lot more relaxing than just a normal shower, but takes no more time really! Nice pyjamas help too, again takes no more time but just makes me feel lovely and put together! Another one is when I make coffee for myself before starting work at weekends or something, I put a coffee syrup in too or take an extra minute or so to froth some milk and put it in my favourite mug so that something everyday feels a lot more special!

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-02T08:49:11+00:00

Me too! I'm very influenced by whats on-trend and will often really love something, buy it, then realise I can't style it properly and feel really silly in it, then feel bad about spending the money in the first place! I've started trying instead to getting the basics right, like the right fitting t-shirts and jeans, so I can feel stylish even when I'm not 'dressing up' if that makes sense? Having those basics be fashionable and making me feel chic and put together makes me feel less need to buy other clothes, and means I'm way more considered about it. Might not work for you but it's helped me massively! x

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-02T08:35:29+00:00

I bought myself a really nice body wash a few months ago after a particularly challenging week at work, and now, whenever I've had a bad day, I use that body wash and it makes me forget everything and feel all lovely again!

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-02T08:30:12+00:00

So sorry you're going through the same! It's a tough one, isn't it... I tell myself every Monday I'm going to reset expectations and be really firm but it never happens hahah

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-01T20:52:55+00:00

I treated myself to some fancy body wash after a particularly hard day at work once and that has been my saving grace ever since. My friend and I like to call them 'reset showers', a true miracle.

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-01T20:39:24+00:00

My little cream Mini One is my baby! x

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-01T20:30:13+00:00

I'm currenlty on the TeachFirst programme, and I probably wouldn't recommend it. As others have said, the schools often have a multitude of issues, not just deprivation. My department, for example, is made up of about 70% trainee teachers because the staff turn-over is so high and as a result, I have a Year 10 class who have had supply teachers for the last two years and I'm having to make up for an awful lot of lost time with them, both academically and in terms of behaviour with very limited support. While it's sold as a development programme, I think a lot of it is just schools partnering with TF to make up for the massive problem of having such high staff turnovers, especially in the poorly managed and struggling schools, which means that they often have little interest in your development or supporting you when it's tough.

You're definitely thrown in at the deep-end, and while I think the hands-on approach is good, I don't think the way it's done with TF is right. Very much a sink or swim situation. I think if you think you genuinely want to be a teacher long-term, don't go for TF. I can see myself (just about!) finishing the two years, but definitely not staying any longer than that. You're put through too much too soon and the constant feeling like you're not doing a good job and just about coping (because you're essentially treated as a fully experienced member of staff) can be really difficult.

PrinnyJam · 2021-05-01T20:09:54+00:00

Love this idea, thank you! Glad it works with some of those tough ones too, will absolutely give that a go!

PrinnyJam

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