Leaving time

How long should you stay in school after the bell goes? One NQT reports :

“It seems to be the done thing in primary to stay as long as possible - there’s definitely a competitive element to it.

“I’ve known teachers who came in at 7am or 7.30am and stayed until 5.30pm or later, and still went home with huge amounts of work.

“I’m in a small school and I’m usually in by about 8.30am (the last one in!) “I’m trying to leave earlier, 4.30pm at the latest. I would like to leave at 3.30pm and take everything with me, but I think this would be frowned on.”

Other contributors say they think this is bullying and that action is needed.

Keeping order

“Display the names of all the children in the class on your board at the start of every day. Stick a smiley face at the top of the board and agree rewards for the children whose name is still on the board at the end of the dayweek.

“Clearly establish the kinds of behaviour which will result in the child’s name staying on the board.”

Control yourself

“A child who misbehaves is given a warning, and then a yellow card. If the child misbehaves again, he or she will get a red card and spend a set length of time during the next playtime indoors, writing about what they have done wrong and what they will do in future (5 or 10 minutes).”

Another posting adds: “Alternatively, shooting them seems a good idea (JOKE!)”.

What bugs you

* “Today the caretaker popped into my classroom while I was teaching bottom set Year 10s. He chatted to them for about 10 minutes, then told them all my first name.”

* “I have had nine interviews and no job. The worst one was the last one, just one week before September, where it was such a close-run thing. I know what kind of teacher I want to be: kind, friendly, enthusiastic, motivating. Unfortunately, I seem to be becoming everything I dislike in other teachers. Grumpy, gritted teeth, low tolerance, nagging, stressed, sarcastic.”

* “My classes are refusing point blank to do work, and constantly act up - to the point that I want to walk out. I’m trying all methods, including bribery.”

What makes you smile

* “A little Year 7 pupil today told me she likes me best after her mum.”

* “It was just good to see someone of low ability and a lack of confidence feel she could achieve something. Hopefully it will continue.”

* “We were discussing Sikhism and I asked the children whether Sikhs had a special book that they used for worship or for prayer. One child responded:

“I know, miss, it’s the Kama Sutra.”

* “I have a child in my class whose mum wrote me a little note telling me how much her daughter enjoys school.”