A Day In The Life Of A Relief Teacher

Relief teaching in a year 5 & 6 class (9 and 10 year olds) today had a few challenges. Like most classes, there were some ‘tricky’ kids who decided to test the boundaries. At times their behavior was disrespectful and unco-operative. But behind their bravado I sensed there was anger and sadness.

Being a reliever and not knowing their backgrounds I presumed there would be a story - a reason why they were acting out.

Once the class was engaged in activities, I quietly crouched beside each of the ‘tricky’ children and had a conversation with them.

Here’s how it went.

Child 1 had talked continuously while I was addressing the class. Even when asked to listen she ignored me and continued talking.

Me: Why don’t you try to listen when someone is speaking? It’s respectful to listen.

Child: I don’t care.

Me: It’s important to learn respect. We all have to show respect, even adults have to.

Child: So.

Me: When you get older if you’re not respectful towards your boss you could lose your job.

Child: I don’t need a job.

Me: Yes you do. You need a job to get money to pay for things.

Child: No I don’t. Mum and Dad will buy me things.

Me: They won’t always buy you things, not when you’re an adult. You’ll need to have money to pay for your own things. That’s why you’ll need a job.

Child: Nah, I don’t need a job…I’ll just go to WINZ!

How does a nine year old even know about WINZ?

Child 2 looked angry. His face was scrunched in a scowl and he was deliberately provoking his peers. I asked him to find another place to sit to do his work and told him I’d come and help him. He did as I asked while showing as much disgust as he could.

Me: Why are you feeling so unhappy?

Child 2: I’m tired. I didn’t get much sleep and I didn’t have any breakfast because there was no food in the house. We had to go to Countdown before school.

Me: That would make me unhappy too.

Child 2: I hate school.

Me: Let me help you with your activity, we’ll do it together.

He agreed and I sat beside him and we continued to chat.

Me: How were your holidays?

Child 2: I saw Mum in the holidays. I wish I lived with her.

Me: I bet you do. Who do you live with now?

Child 2: My Nana, my Dad and my Uncle. My dad says I’m the devil’s child.

Me: I don’t think you are at all. If I had my own class, I would love to teach you. I think you’re an awesome kid.

Child 2: No you wouldn’t. I’m evil. I’m no good.

Me: Honestly, you’re not evil. There’s something really special and nice about you.

No wonder this child’s so angry. He’s 10 years old and believes he’s evil. It’s understandable that he’s annoyed with life.

Relief Teaching

Part of 'Life on the Road' will be finding casual work. And, for me that will probably be relief teaching. 

Last week on Friday I had my first day as a relief teacher in a year 4 class. It was interesting and exhausting!

There are lots of positives to relief teaching ...

• Good money
• Less planning
• No assessments
• No meetings
• No report writing
• No parent/teacher interviews

But, as I found out - there are some hard aspects to it ...

• When I had my own class I built strong positive relationships with the kids and once you have that, then behaviour management is sorted.
• Being a relief teacher means I won't have the same class. So I it'll be harder to develop those crucial relationships in the short time that I'll have the class.

So, my first relieving day was all about behaviour management. The class was known to have a high percentage of children with challenging behaviour. Wow! Some of the kids in this class reinvented the meaning of 'defiant'!

Yesterday I relieved at a different school. Again, this class of 44 year 2, 3 and 4s had very challenging children. 

But as difficult as it is - it's also an opportunity for me to develop techniques and strategies to deal with defiance.

                                                

Maybe next week I'll get a call to teach in a class that is less demanding in terms of behaviour. 

Good-bye Nelson Central School

Good-bye to ...

• Reports
• Staff meetings
• Syndicate meetings
• Appraisals
• Observations
• Assessments

Last week was my last week of teaching at Nelson Central. All year I have been looking forward to the last day of term 4. I've been counting down the weeks just like kids count down until Christmas Day. So, when Thursday eventually rolled around I was surprised to be so emotional. We (the kids and I) spent the first part of the morning cleaning desks, and stacking them in a corner so the carpets could be cleaned during the holidays. After morning tea we had the final assembly on the courtyard at the front of the school. Once that was over - school was officially finished!

It was then time to say one more good-bye to my class before we dispersed for our holidays. And, that's when the tears flowed.

Back in 2012 when I was teaching at Central before I left to live on The Coast, I taught a 7 year old girl who immigrated with her Mum and siblings from Afghanistan. She couldn't speak any English but that never stopped her from getting in amongst everything and giving everything a go. She stole my heart. And when I came back to Nelson in 2015 to teach again at Central, this gorgeous Afghanistan girl was still there, but now in the senior syndicate. It was wonderful to see her again, more confident, speaking English and secure with a group of friends. On the last day of term, she came in to say goodbye. She hugged me and started to cry. This set me off. 

After we said our farewells I noticed another student, standing silently beside me with tears rolling down his face. It broke my heart. 

So it was a bitter/sweet day. I'm thrilled to walk away from the list mentioned above but I will certainly miss the kids. They are what I love about teaching. Their randomness, their innocent ways, their trust, their stories, laughter and energy. 

But - I'm ready for a change. A new challenge. And what better challenge than to live on the road with three dogs, exploring the country and grabbing work along the way when we can.

The view of the front of the school from Nile Street.

The path leading up to Renwick House - the junior area of Central School.

Renwick House - Junior school. I taught Year 1's in 2015.

The 'Crankum Crankum Tree' - this tree had a story written about it by N/Z's famous children's author Joy Cowley.

Looking towards the back area of the school. I taught Year 2s in Room 15  in 2012 - 2103

The front of the school. The classroom to the right is Room 5, this is where I taught year 3/4s in 2016.

Lime trees growing around the outside of the front field.

And a few photos of inside my classroom - incase I forget!