Primary school teaching

[H-S]

I'm thinking of training to be a primary school teacher, can anyone share any experiences, like what the training is like, how hard it is to try and get a job after etc - anything really.

Also people keep trying to put me off saying how long the days are and there's so much to do at home - from someone in this job what is your daily routine like?

Thanks

[sophie_1003]

If you really want to be a teacher you should just ignore those people, yes the days are long and there is a LOT of work but teaching is a vocation so it shouldn't matter about all the hard work that needs to be done.
I'm currently studying for a degree in education that leads to qualified teacher status and have just finished my first year, it requires a lot of self study through reading text books, government literature and next year I must start using academic journals. I have also completed two placements, the second of which required me to plan and teach series of lessons in maths and english and one off lessons for the other subjects. It is a lot of hard work but I do enjoy it and I can't imagine wanting to do anything but teach so it will be worth it when I'm qualified!

[H-S]

I did a degree in business management and went into Local Authority so don't mind hard work, think i could just about cope again : )

What were the placements like, what age did you teach and is there as much classroom management as people say. So what is a day like for a primary teacher then, what time do you start and finish, what's your day made up of, what are the good and bad points and how much work at home is to be done. I just want to know as much as I can really, thanks

[joannie10]

only thing I can add is that a friends son and daughter qualified 3 years ago. The got their probationary year as promised by the government (this is in scotland not sure if same all over) but have not managed to get full time jobs since as more probationaries keep coming in. They have been getting regular supply work that I don't think them as teachers are the issue but this leaves them not wanting to take on mortgages etc until in something permanent.

[H-S]

No I don't think it's the same in England unfortunately, I'm from the Humberside region but not sure what job availability is like here?

[sophie_1003]

On my second placement (which is more representative of average school days) I was in a reception class.
I generally got there at about 8.10 and left any time between 4 and 5, some teachers would do longer hours than that and others might do shorter it depends on what they'd rather do at home and what they'd prefer to do at school.
The day would begin by welcoming children into the classroom, changing reading books and taking the register. Then in the class that I was in they split into groups to do different adult directed activities, these would be lead by the teacher, learning support assistants (LSAs) and parent helper, there would also be one group doing an 'independent job'. The groups were of between 4-8 children and the activities lasted around 40 minutes, depending on the children's attention. After this there would be playtime where the children went out and if not on playground duty the teacher would sit with the LSAs have a cup of tea and have a chat (sometimes school related sometimes not) After this the children would return and the same set up as was described before would repeat. Lunchtime- preparation time for teacher and LSAs before lunch in the staffroom. After lunch, same lesson set up as before. Afternoon playtime then after that story time then home time for the children. After this the teacher would stay, tidy up from the day and do paperwork and preparation.
Of course teachers are allowed time for planning inside school hours but it isn't nearly enough and work does need to be done at home. It was taking me quite a while to plan just one lesson but it's something that gets easier with practice (or so I've been promised!).

[sophie_1003]

Bad points- at the end of a lot of days I was so exhausted I wanted to cry but that was also because I had to do work for uni that as a teacher you may not have to do so much e.g. an evaluation of how each day went. Also, sometimes it does feel that the children are plotting against you to make you feel like you have no control but they're not and behaviour management is another thing that needs practice!
Good points- Have too many to list here but they far outweigh any negative things! When the children respond well to activities you've thought up, I used a poem as a stimulus for the children to create some music and a boy in one of the groups came up with a composition with very little help from me, he really thought about it and it just made me feel great that he really cared about how the music sounded. I also wrote a pirate letter that went down a storm with the children and to see their faces light up when they saw the "pirate writing" (cursive handwriting) was brilliant!
Hope this helps

[Chloe636]

Hi
I have been a teacher for 6 years now. It IS incredibly hard work and I am very much of the opinion that it definately has to be something you are willing to commit to fully. I start every day at 7:15 and finish by about 5. I try not to take work home but inevitably there are days when marking is required that takes longer than the usual 5 leave. I tend to do max of 2 hours at home in the week and usually all of Sunday morning. As for holidays the 6 weeks is the only time you will get any sort of real break, usually about 3 weeks of it. Easter isn't too bad, if you get ahead you can get most of that too but forget the weeks! Be under no illusion it is hard work!
However, I wouldn't change it for the world, my job is definately a vocation. I don't have a family yet and I know it will be hard when I do but you change your ways to fit your current lifestyle. I can give the extra time now so I do. It is extremely rewarding work.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask away!