How to Teach 50 8-Year-Olds Without Wanting to Die

January. Frequently referred to as the worst month of the year. You've got post-Christmas blues, you travel to and from work in the dark, and every bug under the (barely visible) sun has joined up to create one huge mega-bug that is absolutely going to kill you.

Now imagine that you work in a school. The children are a bit rowdy because it's snowing outside and they've just had two weeks of playing, eating and sleeping. The staff are exhausted, ill and slightly (*cough* highly) irritable. Your partner teacher has been out poorly and there is just no way a supply can come in. So you end up with 47 8-year-olds, with no support and about 15 minutes notice.

This was my reality today, and will be my reality tomorrow afternoon. Luckily, I have picked up some useful hints for not wanting to tear my hair out.

Have a carpet space.

If you don't already have one in your classroom, adjust your tables in preparation. You need somewhere to fit all those extra children, and you're not going to fit 25 extra chairs in your classroom without some distress. Make the space, or move all the tables back so all the children can sit on the floor.

Keep things simple and exciting.

You're not going to get the best learning out of these children if it's meant to be calm and relaxed. Half of them don't have a seat, it's a different environment and DIDN'T YOU KNOW IT WAS SNOWING OUTSIDE!? Keep things simple and practical. Get out big pieces of paper and have children create mind maps related to their science of topic for the half term. Prepare a simple experiment that they can try independently (as long as you have enough equipment for all of them). Or get them to create fortune tellers and practise them on each other (SPOILER: this gets very loud but the children loved it and could all tell me how to say 'please' in French).

Have an afternoon play.

If you're in KS2, odds are you won't get an afternoon play (if you do, extend it if you need to!). Your year group has been stuffed into a space intended for half the number of people. They're hot, they're excitable, and they're probably a bit squished. Ten minutes outside will give them some fresh air and a chance to stretch their legs. Just keep an eye on the weather, because being buffeted by wind and snow isn't exactly the break you (or they!) need.

Make sure other adults know what's going on.

I am lucky enough to have a phone in my room, so I can call the office or other classrooms. If you are not as fortunate, keep a walkie-talkie with you to contact another member of staff if things are getting to be too much. You're only human, and it's a lot of stress keeping that many children entertained. If you haven't got walkie-talkies, agree a system with a TA or member of the inclusion team and send a sensible child with a message (perhaps a note with a smiley face or a little red card) to say you could do with some help. The important thing is that you ensure other staff are aware so they can help you if need be.

Back up holding activities.

Sometimes, the weather doesn't permit for an outdoor play. Sometimes they finish the task you have set them. Sometimes they are simply getting a bit bored. Have colouring sheets and activities available so that they can have a break from working but are still engaged. One of my most boisterous boys is absolutely angelic when we get the paper and pens out, so having things like this available for when they're just not getting anything out of the lesson is a lifesaver.

Get them to tidy up!

This afternoon, after all of the children had gone, I walked back into my classroom horrified at the state of it. Paper, pens, scissors, fortune tellers. You name it, it was on the tables/the floor. Encourage the children to help tidy the equipment away - it should take half the time with double the people!

Remember: ask for help if you need it. And when you go home, have a well-deserved glass of... um, something non-alcoholic because you have to be at work by 7:30 the next day. At the very least, get yourself a takeaway!