At long last, the school year is drawing to a close! Students aren’t the only ones that look forward to the end of the school year. Teachers look forward to it, too. Teaching is exhausting work. Especially this past year, our mental, physical, and emotional energies are just about zapped. We are all looking forward to a little bit of a break from teaching. But, summers are always a little different for teachers. Teaching never quite leaves us. Although we may be away from our classrooms, there are plenty of things that can be accomplished this summer. Here are three suggestions for things that teachers can do this summer.
REFLECT
There are so many working parts to being a teacher. Teaching the kids is only a small fraction of what we do! We spend much more time planning, collaborating, training, analyzing data, and analyzing student work. At some point, we need to take a step back and reflect on all of the work we’ve done over the last year. What worked? What missed the mark? What can be adjusted? Did you give a new strategy or method a solid try? What does all of the data analysis add up to, and how will it impact your future teaching? These are just some of the questions you can ask yourself over the course of the summer to map out what next year might look like.
PLAN
Even if you have been teaching the same grade level in the same classroom for the past twenty years, there is always planning to be done. Mapping out when lessons and activities will happen during the school year is an easy, low-key project to take on during the summer. Taking your reflections and creating an action plan is just about a necessity for teachers over the summer.
Changing grade levels next year? Planning is going to be a must. Get to know your grade level teammates and spend some time together mapping out the next school year. Find out what special events and activities your new grade level participates in every year. Learning about a new grade can be daunting, but having help makes a huge difference.
EARN MONEY
I’m grateful every day that I had a job this past year. So many others were not as fortunate. Maybe your spouse or partner experience the loss of work during this past year as the global health crisis resulted in governments placing restrictions on how people intermingle. This impacted many professions negatively. If your family experienced such, you can use your skills and knowledge to help. Many school districts offer extended school year opportunities for students who require intervention. Teaching summer school is a great way to earn some extra money for the year.
Another way to earn some extra money is to tutor. You can offer your services through an established organization or you can make a go of it on your own. Tutoring often allows for some flexibility in scheduling, so you can still make time for getting ready for next year and resting along the way. If you’re interested in trying out some tutoring, I have a packet to help plan for both individual and small group sessions for 4-, 6-, and 8-week sessions. I use it quite a bit in my own tutoring practice, and I think it can help new tutors out, too. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Terrific-Tutor-Pack-5307285
No matter how you choose to spend this summer, don’t forget to rest. Resting our minds, bodies, and spirits is the best thing we can do for our future students. There’s plenty of time to take care of all the other classroom needs, but always take care of yourself first.
PinaRose Education 