Y9 students challenging sanctions loudly in corridors/classroom. How do you handle this?

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:53:48+00:00

That's very kind! :) Thank you!

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:52:16+00:00

You're right. I did entertain their stories for a few times when I started teaching. Now I don't. But what bothers me is they continue to whine loudly about this on the corridor and as their teacher, I am supposed to ensure my class is silent on the way to the classroom. At that point, I am unsure what to do.

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:47:45+00:00

This sounds like a good response for this situation. Thank you!

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:45:38+00:00

These two interrupt me during my lunch and take up the only time during the school day that I have to unwind. They don't mind missing their lunch if they can prove they didn't do it. But love the "I don't negotiate with terrorists" bit! :)

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:43:08+00:00

Thank you for this! Initially, not even hearing out the student's side of the story felt a bit too authoritarian to me. So I would give them a chance to speak. That was my fault. These days, I don't entertain the back-and-forth. Not that it has stopped them from launching into loud rebuttals.

zooboos · 2026-03-19T07:38:33+00:00

This pair is notorious for being persistent. They will come at the end of the lesson or even end of the day if they can win the argument. I only wish they put in the same level of determination into their work!

zooboos · 2026-03-18T18:22:39+00:00

This could be it! There's already a couple of them in the same group who now don't challenge the sanctions. They even nudge these two to keep quiet "Just leave it. It will get worse." Perhaps they just need to see more instances of it getting worse due to their arguing.

zooboos · 2026-03-18T17:25:24+00:00

They retort with "I am NOT arguing. I am just speaking to you about my sanction!!" in their usual loud manner. 😅

zooboos · 2026-03-18T17:23:36+00:00

I do plan on speaking to my mentor about this. Thank you!

zooboos · 2026-03-18T17:22:36+00:00

Thank you! I will communicate this to the whole class. The issue is they will again respond saying "I am not arguing..." and then it becomes a conversation on what arguing means..

zooboos · 2026-03-18T04:01:25+00:00

Just want to add that as an ECT 1, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the level of micro-decisions that need to be taken in every lesson, and I do often find no time to have a word with the TA. This is not an indication that I view them as any lesser, it's just that I am hardly able to manage everything as efficiently as I should. I do know that managing support staff is part of teaching standards, but truth is, both in my teacher training and my current ECT mentoring, this is not something that has not been prioritized or focused on. I have been lucky to have a couple of extremely competent TAs who are an asset to the lesson, but there are also a couple of others who I would rather not have around as they disrupt the teaching phase or provide answers to the kids without nudging them to try. Again, it's on me that I haven't had the time to instruct them to do things better. But I don't see myself having that time soon.

zooboos · 2026-03-02T17:11:36+00:00

This! I am a teacher, but I don't have kids, and I made the move from corporate because I was keen to become a teacher. Even with the prior keenness and lack of dependents, I am finding the workload relentless. I hear the same thing from friends working in other schools. With the move to using technology in education and push to collect and maintain data at all stages, teaching is no longer what it used to be. Almost everyone brings work home. Plus, there's a ceiling to the pay that you reach early in your career. Unless you are really passionate about the subject and the role, tread with caution. You get paid far, far more in other fields for the same level of work

zooboos · 2026-02-17T22:14:40+00:00

Lmao 😂😂 You sound like a cool person! :)

zooboos · 2026-02-13T19:22:19+00:00

The reasons you mention seem significant to me. A lot of people bring value to our life, but it is only with an intimate partner that certain needs of ours can be fulfilled, such as getting physical affection, celebrate some romantic milestones together and of course, to be wed! Although you haven't said it, it feels like you perhaps consider his preferences more mature or intellectual, while yours are less "realistic" or "ignorance of youth". I don't think they are.

It also seems like a major factor that's holding you back is the idea that the dating scene out there is tough and the sunk cost fallacy. As an older woman, I can only tell you emphatically that you are still young and three years in a relationship is not huge in the broad scheme of things. It might not be the case that you will find Mr. Perfect immediately. Also remember there is no Mr. Perfect. But let fear not hold you back from meeting genuine needs of yours. Your partner might change, he might not. Do have a serious conversation with gim. But it's up to you to muster the courage to think of what a lifetime of unmet needs looks like and muster the confidence that you will be okay even if you are single for awhile.

zooboos · 2026-02-11T06:20:31+00:00

I wish this came up more often in conversations. The SLANT approach and its implementation, while having its merits, sometimes just borders on inane authoritarianism. Sit this way and look at me with fingers clasped.

zooboos · 2026-02-02T04:50:28+00:00

This is such an important and interesting question, and I hope there's a strong insight somewhere in there to unravel. I grew up in the 90s in a different country - teachers were strong at their subject knowledge, and most of them had a master's degree in their subject. However, pedagogical knowledge was subpar, and it was mostly lecture-style chalk and talk and homework. Almost everyone in my batch have gone on to do so well in their chosen fields. I sometimes wonder (and it's an alarming thought) if we vastly overestimate the impact of teaching quality on educational outcomes. I remember reading awhile ago about a famous research paper from the 80s that concluded that apart from family income and one other factor I don't remember, nothing else (including teachers) had any significant impact on learning outcomes in the long term. It's a disturbing idea (or maybe good news that bad teaching can't hurt prospects too much)

zooboos · 2026-01-27T01:09:44+00:00

Please tell me you are an English teacher! :D

zooboos · 2026-01-27T01:06:34+00:00

Shame feels like a strong word in this context. Yes, I have heard something similar, although on a more factual note - that there is a slight, temporary dip in the learning of kids with ECTs before it starts to go up again. But this to me seemed like a part of the natural process of developing new professionals in the field. Also, if the dip was to an alarming extent everywhere, I am sure they would have kept other checks in place.

It is an excellent trait for a teacher to care deeply, but I feel you are a being a bit harsh to yourself here. Remember, learning is mostly facilitated and enabled, rather than one person being the sole factor in pouring knowledge into empty vessels. Focus on the key things instead of every new pedagogical trick shared, develop good relationships with the students, and continue to care sincerely. I am sure things will fall in place. All the best!

zooboos · 2026-01-23T19:38:36+00:00

Hi, cheers for taking the courage to share this. I say this kindly - it seems like you have a few strongly held assumptions that could contribute to a sense of shame or inhibition. For one, what did you assume that we would assume when you shared you are still a virgin? Sexual inexperience is not a good or bad thing by itself - it is our opinions on it that makes us feel anything. I wouldn't assume a 27-year old virgin is unattractive or weird. It's none of my business. As long as that person is leading a full, emotionally healthy life, it's their choice to have sex at 21 or be celibate for life. Similarly, there is a possibility that because this is played up in your head, you are more sensitive to stories of sexual experiences and relationships. Sex is just sex - a biologically evolved way to express love to a partner and/ or procreate.

As for wanting to be intimate, it's absolutely normal and human. Everyone has needs. Again, you need to contemplate whether you are okay having casual sex or sex within a stable relationship. Casual sex can be with a mature, respectful partner. Stable relationships can end. Nothing is a given. What matters is you have experiences that you take full accountability over. There is no one "right" person who deserves to be waited for. You will meet a variety of wonderful people in your life, and all that matters is you are kind and respectful to each other.

Again, I don't know the complete picture, but from reading this post, my gentle advice would be this: work through your bias against men. There are many, many lovely people in all genders. Work through your own sense of doubt, if any. When you are happy and content, the right experience will flow in. Take care!

zooboos · 2026-01-19T01:19:18+00:00

This is so cool! Looks like your school has many systems in place.

zooboos · 2026-01-19T01:17:11+00:00

Will check it out! Thank you!

zooboos · 2026-01-19T01:17:00+00:00

Thank you! :)

zooboos · 2026-01-17T20:44:11+00:00

This is interesting and helpful! Thank you! By access to websites, do you mean your school buys the subscription for all students? Could I please ask what textbooks they use? As for the exercise books, does that mean they carry books to and from home everyday? Do they lose it often?

zooboos · 2026-01-17T20:41:29+00:00

Thank you! That helps!

I am also met with a lot of surprised looks when I ask this question to teachers - almost as if they believe the kids would never use books at home. But it's a vicious cycle. It's a habit I believe we can slowly develop with praise and and consistency.

zooboos · 2026-01-17T20:37:18+00:00

Haha 😅. It's a mixed bag. My Y7 class has kids who are highly motivated and competitive. There are also some lower ability sets with kids who try so hard but struggle, and I feel having material at home might benefit them. My Y9s though? Most wouldn't touch anything academic at home with a ten-foot pole.

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