Advice on teaching literacy

[nickye]

Hi everyone

I just wondered if anyone had any advice for me. I had my diagnosis of dyspraxia three months ago, and it's improved my life a lot just knowing about it, but I feel a bit stuck at the moment. I would like to get back into working, especially as my daughter goes to secondary school this September.

I was working in a pre-school until a couple of years ago. Although I loved the children, and got on well with them, I found the practical side of things quite difficult - putting together equipment, doing the kitchen duties, etc. It all became a bit too stressful and I left. In a way I'd love to work with children again (perhaps older children) or even teaching literacy or English as a Foreign Language to adults, but I've lost quite a lot of confidence. I don't want to put myself in a position where I get too stressed again. I'm a bit worried that I'm sounding negative. Luckily my husband works so I'm not the main earner, but I would like to be able to get back into working part-time. I find it hard sometimes to get on do things quickly, and get confused by instructions. It's really frustrating because I do well with anything to do with reading and writing (which is lucky) but then I struggle to open doors, find my way round, etc. I also worry about coping if there is an emergency/first aid situation, and I'd hate to put other people at risk.

I don't want to sound negative, but I find that everything I think about doing seems to have a problem with it. I'd like to do some volunteer work possibly first, to get me back into things. I do go and help with reading at my daughter's school.

Sometimes I cope really well with things, and I do feel I sound like I'm making excuses, but when things go wrong it's really horrible and I feel a failure. I don't mean to sound sorry for myself, but I am in a bit of a dilemma as to what to do.

Is there anyone out there who does do teaching of adults/literacy?

Thanks, Nicky

[Andrea]

Hey

I don't know if I could be of any help. I am a teacher and I do teach English, but this is at the more simple end as the students all have learning difficulties.

Have you considered working as a TA for a while? A good chance to be with the students and to get back your confidence.
I wouldn't worry too much about emergency situations because, as a volunteer, you should never be left in charge of a group without a member of staff being near by.
If you find a good school, you shouldn't have too much trouble with the instructions either, get hold of the lesson plans and then you will know what is coming in advance and if the students are older, then you just get them to help you with the tasks you find difficult. I am always asking the students to remind me of things and its a bit of a joke about my memory now. They accept you for who you are.

[nickye]

Hi Andrea thanks so much for replying so quickly. I think I've lost quite a lot of confidence. I'm also a bit worried whether or not to tell people I have dyspraxia when applying for a job. The strange thing is that I have a really good memory for names nd facts but sometimes struggle short term. It's more practical things that worry me.

I will think about the TA job. I do help at my daughter's school with reading so may do more of that. There is also an open day at my local college for recruiting tutors of adult literacy so I think I will go along just to see.

I'm not always sure how much of the things I worry about are a real concern and how much is just a lack of confidence or being overly worried.

How long have you been teaching and what age do you teach?

Thanks again for your help.

[Andrea]

I cant help you with whether to tell people or not. Im still trying to work that one out myself. Ive been teaching 12 years but only got the diagnosis 2 months ago.
Ive worked with age from nursery to year 11 and personally prefer the students who have slower processing than me. lol The youngest ones are the most accepting, but then you have the parents expecting you to remember every conversation you have ever had with their child. I would say year 3 is the best year group in main stream as they are young enough to have a lot of fun with and are developing their sense of humor, but are old enough to be independent. When they ask for a spelling, I would use it as a teaching point and get them to find out.

I also have a useless short term memory but just make notes everywhere. Some students love the job of reminding you of things you have forgotten and I think its good for the kids to know that you make mistakes/have trouble with things. It helps them to relax and be happy to make mistakes. My class are always laughing at my art skills, its a bit of a joke with every class I teach. It doesn't stop you being good at your job.

I know what you mean about worrying about things. I do that all the time - usually when ive stuck my foot in it again! It never seems to turn out to be as bad as I thought it would be. I always wanted to get into special ed, but didn't have the nerve cos I didn't think I could do it. Someone gave me shove in that direction and now I am doing more than I ever dreamed of.

Give yourself a chance.

[rosie]

I wish the school that I work were as understanding as yours are I currently work in year 3 and have been for a while although I'm thinking of going into specialist teaching as I feel the job I'm in atm has no progression and I'm not using the strengths I have. The headteacher came and had a word with me on Friday and said she was struggling where to put me next year, as I struggle to put displays up by myself after years of practice ive managed to use the gulateen properly I just struggle at height making sure everything is straight and not falling off etc whilst at the same time balancing on a chair. She also was saying about my writing and how I need to be a good role model. Which actually upset me a little bit as my dyspraxia/dyslexia makes me so much more empathetic. There's more to being a teaching assistant than being perfect at displays and being perfect at writing/spelling. She wants to get the OT in to see me which I'm not so happy about as I feel that I have so many coping strategies and some things are just me, I've learnt to accept them as part as me and me and my boyfriend always laugh at them. The sooner I get out the better I think. It just frustrates me so much when people focus on what you can't do instead of what you can pet hate even the things I struggle with I do in good humour.

[Andrea]

Rosie, Have you thought of standing on a table? Much more stable. I never use chairs for displays and the school shouldn't expect it anyway. our Health and safety person would have a fit if she saw us standing on anything except a step ladder (we just do it when she is not looking. lol)
Which bit of the displays is the problem? I may have a few tricks to help if you want any.

The more I read about other peoples jobs, the more I realise I have really landed on my feet in this place. I was talking to the head today and she wanted quick information from me including dates. oh dear! In the end she just said, sort it out and get back to me when you have an answer I trotted off to write it all down and get my head organised. All sorted now. I really hadn't realised how patient she was. lol

[nickye]

Thanks so much for the advice Andrea. I went to see a really nice lady at my local college last week. I am applying for a tutor job, but think I may start off volunteering and possibly working with small groups of people in their workplaces to help them with English exams. I think this might suit me.

Rosie, I can really relate to how you feel about putting up displays, etc. It's so hard to get people to understand that these things can be hard isn't it? Hope you get on OK in your job.

[rosie]

making everything look straight mainly and trying to get it to look straight when balancing. I'm getting better at using the gilateen for acking stuff but still have to take a lot of time to mae sure everything is straight/equal border etc.

[Andrea]

Good luck Nickye. I hope it works out for you!

Rosie, you could always cheat and get the kids to do the cutting for you. That way it doesn't have to be straight, you just put a note on the board saying that the display was created by the students