Teaching can be a rewarding and fascinating profession, with both the curriculum and the pupils guaranteeing no two days are ever the same.
The long holidays and short days are often presented as advantages, despite the fact that most of the UK’s teachers work many more than their contracted hours. In fact, teaching today is a demanding job. Here, we’re looking at ten of the most common problems British teachers have to deal with every day.
Sometimes a child is too keen to let their teacher, and their classmates, know just how hard they’ve been studying. While this is, in itself, not a bad thing, the pupil who always has an answer and is competitive in the classroom can deter their peers from getting involved with the learning process.
Disinterested, unmotivated students
At the other end of the spectrum are the children who are impossible to teach because they’re just not invested in the topic. Bored and disengaged, just one child like this per class can disrupt a lesson.
Lateness and absenteeism
A child who hasn’t turned up misses out altogether, while a child who arrives late interrupts everyone else’s learning. Students with ongoing absenteeism and time-keeping problems can fall behind, meaning that attending a class is an even less attractive prospect.
Too many pupils
In the UK, primary schools classes are supposed to have 30 or fewer children per teacher. However, around one in 20 have more than 30, leaving teachers’ time stretched and causing stress.
Time management
Teachers are under a lot of pressure to be good time managers both in the classroom, and during their prep time. Well thought through lesson plans and a disciplined approach are essential teaching tools.
Classes with varying abilities
A wide educational capability gap between the children in a class can prove very challenging for teachers as it’s their job to pitch the lessons at a level which everyone can learn from.
Sourcing great learning materials
Well designed, quality learning materials – whether that means technology and computers, sports equipment, arts supplies, sensory toys or other teaching aids – are essential. Many teachers find a good supplier in their early careers, such as Hope Education, and stick with them.
Managing relationships with parents
A cooperative, productive parent/teacher relationship can make all the difference to a child’s capacity to learn. The challenge for a teacher is to simultaneously keep communications open with multiple people.
Creating a great environment
A safe, comfortable and inspirational environment is essential to good teaching and it’s the teacher’s responsibility to create it.
Keeping things fresh
Many teachers teach the same subjects in the same way year after year so it’s no wonder when both they and their pupils become bored. There are lots of ways to counter this – taking learning outside of the classroom, mixing up the usual lesson format or simply changing the seating plan can breathe new life into a lesson.
Despite the challenges, teaching is a wonderful profession that allows you to watch young minds grow, develop and thrive. In a great school, with engaged children and all the right tools and supplies to do an excellent job, teaching can be an incredibly fulfilling career.
