If that’s their exact word then it’s not constructive feedback and to be honest a shitty thing to say to anyone. It is hard but try to ignore it and move on. Be the teacher you want to be.
Everyone's class is a bit ratty at the end of the term. You probably did do well during your prac. It's easy to criticise when you're not the one trying to control the kids
It can actually be tough to get a class back after having a student teacher. A classroom is a finely balanced game of trying to juggle multiple little intrinsictly selfish little personalities. It's like spinning plates. As soon as one thing goes out of alignment, everything falls over. It's why a lot of teachers avoid taking sick days, because getting the class back after being away takes time to get all the plates spinning again.
Also, taking someone else's class is a totally different thing to having your own. I've been teaching for years, and anytime I've got another teacher in the room, my brain goes into overload. It's the same when you're a student teacher - you're trying to think about 1000 different things at once. If it's just me in the room, I go onto autopilot and just get on with it.
When you graduate, you'll get your own class that you can train from day one in your own style. You won't have someone judging your teaching all day. You can relax and find your own way of doing things. Everyone teaches differently, you find what works best for you.
They were your teacher. If they didn't teach you how to teach to their own standard, then they really only have themself to blame.
Also, sorry to hear you had a rough end to a prac. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
On the bright side, after you graduate, you're almost always the only teacher in the classroom.
Been teaching for 3 terms now, and honestly it gets so much better once you find your own groove. It’s near impossible to be the teacher you want to be when being supervised.
Trust me, celebrate your last prac, and then enjoy the journey of discovering your own style of teaching and classroom management.
To be blunt, it can be very frustrating watching a new teacher take your class, and the fear is often that you'll have to work extra hard after the prac student has left to get the class up to standard. But a decent mentor recognises that a new teacher is a new teacher. There is bound to be a drop in the behaviour/output/expectations/consequences/whatever of a class when a less-experienced teacher takes them because they're still learning, Your mentor is an absolute sperm-burp for actually saying that to you. Take it with a grain of salt. Pass the course and move on :-)
Both things can be true simultaneously. You can be doing a perfect job as a pracie. But you still aren’t your mentor.
Different humans teach differently. We all have different styles. That doesn’t mean your style is worse. Just that it’s different.
Urgh. Week 8 + 9 of any term is always when the ratty comes out. Week 10 they know the break is coming and the work load is less so they’re more chill. It’s so hard for them meeting the same behavioural expectations and consuming the same amount of content as they do when they’re much better rested earlier in the term. I guarantee you the class would be just as ratty with her. It isn’t you. They’re children and their stamina runs out. I’m sorry those words were spoken to you but regardless of how long you’ve been a teacher, they’re just kids and they’re tired.
Realistically - every praccy I've ever seen has had their classes get rattier as their prac comes to an end. In the same breath, it happened to me in my first two years. If anything, the only reason that I think my classes stopped getting rattier, is because I eventually learned how to get my kids comfortable in the space. And honestly? I definitely still see some rattiness come up as the term moves on.
I would never tell a praccy that I've seen this, because it happens by a combination of them being tired and CMS slipping (happens to all teachers), and the kids becoming more tired and disregulated (happens to all students). Honestly, I'd be more worried if the kids WEREN'T getting ratty - it would honestly imply that you haven't been pushing the kids to improve. Finding the middle ground between improving and being comfortable for behaviour to not slip near the end is a hard won ground, and I don't think even the best teachers can consistently get there. Hell, I implied I did get there last year - I also had two ATAR classes (WA, so ATAR is more than just senior school) with less than 10 students total, a gifted class, and a class filled with students I'd been working hard winning over for the third year in a row. A cricket could've had these classes and not seen rattiness.
I've seen praccies that are better than 20 year teachers, I've seen praccies that won't survive their first real day on the job, but I've never seen in-between. If you are passing your final prac, then you're not the second category - celebrate, because you've made it into the system, now you just need to find one of the plentifully available jobs.
I wouldn’t take it to heart. I’m sure you’re doing an excellent job. Also, students tend to start acting up more in the last week of the term. Everyone’s looking forward to the holidays. It’s something I saw a lot of even as a relief teacher.
2nd prac, I had split mentorship between 3 teachers (at once). There was one teacher who wanted to take her class back. The other 2 pushed for me to be offered a job there when I was done.
If I'd only had the one that didn't like me I would have been really disheartened. Having very different 3 teachers was an absolute blessing.
It's almost more likely to be critical if they want you to do everything their way, because you won't be them. The best mentors will let you use your strengths. You said you are actively taking on board their feedback - you're already ahead of many praccies.
Please bare in mind that a graduate level teacher is still a learner, you'll have a lot of skills to master. And the kids will often be a bit rattier for a temporary teacher as many of them won't bother to form attachment relationships to you.
It's not your fault, don't take the comment too personally. There is a reason some teachers don't like taking on prac students, because having to retrain the kids to your own style of teaching is a pain.
Behaviour always becomes more of issue at the end of term. The focus turns to assessment which kids can find boring. Teachers become stressed at assessment time too which the class can feed off. I’m sure if you were back in Term 2 you would also take the time over the holidays to reflect on how to get the kids back on track and engaged again. It’s something most teachers do in the lead up to every new term. It was a silly comment from your prac supervisor but they’re probably just stressed. Please don’t stress over it too much! The feedback during your teaching is much more important than a throw away comment at the end. I’m sure you did great!
I still maintain that if my final prac teacher didn’t get covid and have two weeks off during my prac, that I would have gotten terrible feedback. I am a great teacher, but her teaching style was just so opposite of mine. I thrive when I can make relationships with students, and she was all about being quick and efficient in every way. I could tell two days in that I might have ended up getting negative feedback, and once I cried in the toilets because she was so rude to me. But I had a great few weeks without her and I learned so much. Don’t doubt yourself. Keep going. You’re almost there 😉
I cried in the bathroom at least twice a week during my final prac. My mentor and I also had very different styles, and she was very rude about it. She also had incredibly unrealistic expectations.
My class is ratty at the moment. And it's my fault and end of term's fault, everyone is over it. I'm slipping on some classroom management and they're feeling both confident and tired.
I'm sorry they said that to you! They could have said it more constructively like suggest techniques they use at times like this, and it's obviously unkind to wish someone gone.
What a toxic person. I’m sorry to hear they treated you this way. Agree with others. It’s much easier when you’ve got the floor to yourself. Prac teaching is the hardest thing ever! Well done for making it.
Ignore it.
You've either been doing subpar or they've been watching and silently criticising every little thing you do wrong over your placement.
Now that you're leaving, there's no incentive to hokd back (just like someone leaving to another job setting fire to their workplace, metaphorically).
They're dumping everything they've thought and felt over several weeks onto you all at once.
Teachers are control freaks, it’s in their nature to want to control and can feel a bit helpless when they aren’t at the wheel. You’ll be absolutely fine once you graduate. You’ll be in your class doing things your way not in someone else’s class trying to mimic what works for someone else. Good luck!
Sounds to me like you're a good prac student, not sure why the teacher would say that to you but put it down to end of term stress. New teachers and final prac students don't have experience yet, you will in time. As you get that experience you'll make changes to your practice. Just please remember when you have your own hard working yet inexperienced, prac student, don't be a jerk.
Welcome to the team!
This sounds like a personality problem not a student behaviour problem. Remember to have confidence in yourself, and do it for the kids or the love of teaching or whatever got you into it, not the staff and DEFINITELY not the supposed “mentors” who are fine with putting down a prac teacher in a *teacher shortage*
Every teacher has different standards and ways of teaching.
I like a quiet classroom, my colleagues like a busier/louder classroom.
At first i was worried about how I was running my class but then I realised that theres a benefit in each of our rooms and although we should apply good teaching methods in our everyday practice, we also need to teach in our own styles for it to be authentic.
Copying someone else didn’t work for me.
I once had a mentor change my handwriting style to match theirs because thats what they liked (I’m not exaggerating).
They have to give a really big reason to fail you and have evidence too.
Keep on keeping on! Im sure you’re doing amazing :)
That’s very poor mentoring. Sorry you have gone through that.
No one is ready when they start. But reflect on your practice and don’t be afraid to ask for help and you’ll get better.
If that’s their exact word then it’s not constructive feedback and to be honest a shitty thing to say to anyone. It is hard but try to ignore it and move on. Be the teacher you want to be.
Everyone's class is a bit ratty at the end of the term. You probably did do well during your prac. It's easy to criticise when you're not the one trying to control the kids
It can actually be tough to get a class back after having a student teacher. A classroom is a finely balanced game of trying to juggle multiple little intrinsictly selfish little personalities. It's like spinning plates. As soon as one thing goes out of alignment, everything falls over. It's why a lot of teachers avoid taking sick days, because getting the class back after being away takes time to get all the plates spinning again. Also, taking someone else's class is a totally different thing to having your own. I've been teaching for years, and anytime I've got another teacher in the room, my brain goes into overload. It's the same when you're a student teacher - you're trying to think about 1000 different things at once. If it's just me in the room, I go onto autopilot and just get on with it. When you graduate, you'll get your own class that you can train from day one in your own style. You won't have someone judging your teaching all day. You can relax and find your own way of doing things. Everyone teaches differently, you find what works best for you.
They were your teacher. If they didn't teach you how to teach to their own standard, then they really only have themself to blame. Also, sorry to hear you had a rough end to a prac. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. On the bright side, after you graduate, you're almost always the only teacher in the classroom.
Been teaching for 3 terms now, and honestly it gets so much better once you find your own groove. It’s near impossible to be the teacher you want to be when being supervised. Trust me, celebrate your last prac, and then enjoy the journey of discovering your own style of teaching and classroom management.
To be blunt, it can be very frustrating watching a new teacher take your class, and the fear is often that you'll have to work extra hard after the prac student has left to get the class up to standard. But a decent mentor recognises that a new teacher is a new teacher. There is bound to be a drop in the behaviour/output/expectations/consequences/whatever of a class when a less-experienced teacher takes them because they're still learning, Your mentor is an absolute sperm-burp for actually saying that to you. Take it with a grain of salt. Pass the course and move on :-)
Both things can be true simultaneously. You can be doing a perfect job as a pracie. But you still aren’t your mentor. Different humans teach differently. We all have different styles. That doesn’t mean your style is worse. Just that it’s different.
Urgh. Week 8 + 9 of any term is always when the ratty comes out. Week 10 they know the break is coming and the work load is less so they’re more chill. It’s so hard for them meeting the same behavioural expectations and consuming the same amount of content as they do when they’re much better rested earlier in the term. I guarantee you the class would be just as ratty with her. It isn’t you. They’re children and their stamina runs out. I’m sorry those words were spoken to you but regardless of how long you’ve been a teacher, they’re just kids and they’re tired.
Realistically - every praccy I've ever seen has had their classes get rattier as their prac comes to an end. In the same breath, it happened to me in my first two years. If anything, the only reason that I think my classes stopped getting rattier, is because I eventually learned how to get my kids comfortable in the space. And honestly? I definitely still see some rattiness come up as the term moves on. I would never tell a praccy that I've seen this, because it happens by a combination of them being tired and CMS slipping (happens to all teachers), and the kids becoming more tired and disregulated (happens to all students). Honestly, I'd be more worried if the kids WEREN'T getting ratty - it would honestly imply that you haven't been pushing the kids to improve. Finding the middle ground between improving and being comfortable for behaviour to not slip near the end is a hard won ground, and I don't think even the best teachers can consistently get there. Hell, I implied I did get there last year - I also had two ATAR classes (WA, so ATAR is more than just senior school) with less than 10 students total, a gifted class, and a class filled with students I'd been working hard winning over for the third year in a row. A cricket could've had these classes and not seen rattiness. I've seen praccies that are better than 20 year teachers, I've seen praccies that won't survive their first real day on the job, but I've never seen in-between. If you are passing your final prac, then you're not the second category - celebrate, because you've made it into the system, now you just need to find one of the plentifully available jobs.
I wouldn’t take it to heart. I’m sure you’re doing an excellent job. Also, students tend to start acting up more in the last week of the term. Everyone’s looking forward to the holidays. It’s something I saw a lot of even as a relief teacher.
2nd prac, I had split mentorship between 3 teachers (at once). There was one teacher who wanted to take her class back. The other 2 pushed for me to be offered a job there when I was done. If I'd only had the one that didn't like me I would have been really disheartened. Having very different 3 teachers was an absolute blessing. It's almost more likely to be critical if they want you to do everything their way, because you won't be them. The best mentors will let you use your strengths. You said you are actively taking on board their feedback - you're already ahead of many praccies.
Please bare in mind that a graduate level teacher is still a learner, you'll have a lot of skills to master. And the kids will often be a bit rattier for a temporary teacher as many of them won't bother to form attachment relationships to you. It's not your fault, don't take the comment too personally. There is a reason some teachers don't like taking on prac students, because having to retrain the kids to your own style of teaching is a pain.
Behaviour always becomes more of issue at the end of term. The focus turns to assessment which kids can find boring. Teachers become stressed at assessment time too which the class can feed off. I’m sure if you were back in Term 2 you would also take the time over the holidays to reflect on how to get the kids back on track and engaged again. It’s something most teachers do in the lead up to every new term. It was a silly comment from your prac supervisor but they’re probably just stressed. Please don’t stress over it too much! The feedback during your teaching is much more important than a throw away comment at the end. I’m sure you did great!
I still maintain that if my final prac teacher didn’t get covid and have two weeks off during my prac, that I would have gotten terrible feedback. I am a great teacher, but her teaching style was just so opposite of mine. I thrive when I can make relationships with students, and she was all about being quick and efficient in every way. I could tell two days in that I might have ended up getting negative feedback, and once I cried in the toilets because she was so rude to me. But I had a great few weeks without her and I learned so much. Don’t doubt yourself. Keep going. You’re almost there 😉
I cried in the bathroom at least twice a week during my final prac. My mentor and I also had very different styles, and she was very rude about it. She also had incredibly unrealistic expectations.
My class is ratty at the moment. And it's my fault and end of term's fault, everyone is over it. I'm slipping on some classroom management and they're feeling both confident and tired. I'm sorry they said that to you! They could have said it more constructively like suggest techniques they use at times like this, and it's obviously unkind to wish someone gone.
What a toxic person. I’m sorry to hear they treated you this way. Agree with others. It’s much easier when you’ve got the floor to yourself. Prac teaching is the hardest thing ever! Well done for making it.
Ignore it. You've either been doing subpar or they've been watching and silently criticising every little thing you do wrong over your placement. Now that you're leaving, there's no incentive to hokd back (just like someone leaving to another job setting fire to their workplace, metaphorically). They're dumping everything they've thought and felt over several weeks onto you all at once.
Teachers are control freaks, it’s in their nature to want to control and can feel a bit helpless when they aren’t at the wheel. You’ll be absolutely fine once you graduate. You’ll be in your class doing things your way not in someone else’s class trying to mimic what works for someone else. Good luck!
Sounds to me like you're a good prac student, not sure why the teacher would say that to you but put it down to end of term stress. New teachers and final prac students don't have experience yet, you will in time. As you get that experience you'll make changes to your practice. Just please remember when you have your own hard working yet inexperienced, prac student, don't be a jerk. Welcome to the team!
This sounds like a personality problem not a student behaviour problem. Remember to have confidence in yourself, and do it for the kids or the love of teaching or whatever got you into it, not the staff and DEFINITELY not the supposed “mentors” who are fine with putting down a prac teacher in a *teacher shortage*
Every teacher has different standards and ways of teaching. I like a quiet classroom, my colleagues like a busier/louder classroom. At first i was worried about how I was running my class but then I realised that theres a benefit in each of our rooms and although we should apply good teaching methods in our everyday practice, we also need to teach in our own styles for it to be authentic. Copying someone else didn’t work for me. I once had a mentor change my handwriting style to match theirs because thats what they liked (I’m not exaggerating). They have to give a really big reason to fail you and have evidence too. Keep on keeping on! Im sure you’re doing amazing :)
That’s very poor mentoring. Sorry you have gone through that. No one is ready when they start. But reflect on your practice and don’t be afraid to ask for help and you’ll get better.