There is a quotation I have often seen on decorative plaques which makes me a little crazy to read, but my bet is that many of you are feeling this sentiment right about now. There are three good reasons to be a teacher – June, July, and August (author unknown).
Sometimes the end of the year draws closer and valued colleagues are anticipating a move to another grade or a different school, or your own grade level may be changing for the upcoming year. Often at meetings and in the hallways, there are lots of unanswered questions, lots of talk, and lots of gossip. Being a part of that unconstructive talk will only make you feel more uncomfortable. Let me impart some wisdom which a colleague gave to me when I first began my career. Administrators come and go; the curriculum is constantly changing. You have little control of what happens outside of your classroom, so you need to make the most of what you do inside the classroom. You ability to do your craft well, and inspire your students to be their best is what will make the difference in the end. As I personally close out my ninth year in education, these words of advice have yet to be proven untrue. So, I believe the sentiment.
If you are a novice teacher, the end of your early years in education can lead to a sense of relief, and for some who work in a tenure system, it can also cause anxiety. To any teacher, novice or seasoned, the closing out of the year initiates a list of important tasks which all need to be completed in a limited amount of time. In addition, there are always a mix of emotions about students, summer, and September. If you have had a particularly stellar class, you feel melancholy about their leaving your care for the next grade. If your school district has gone through some major changes, the apprehension about the unknown can leave you feeling fretful. Feeling stressed-out is likely an understatement, but it is best to take it all in stride. School's out for summer!
So, the summer months are finally upon you. Like many teachers, especially novices, I work in the summer to supplement my income, but I also make time to rest, replenish, and rejuvenate my energy for the profession I have chosen. If in this economy, you are lucky enough to still have a teaching position this upcoming autumn, what can you do during your extended break to help you to be the first-rate teacher you want to be when you return in the fall?
If you are someone who needs employment, but do not have that inevitability worked out yet, you might consider the following options: summer school opportunities in your own or a surrounding district; summer projects for your school district like curriculum writing; summer camp; tutoring; teaching at a learning center; coaching or working at a facility which specializes in your sport; outdoor positions in landscaping, or as a lifeguard or house painter; sleep-away camp counselor; international teaching experiences especially for teachers who have the certification for ESL; offering professional development if you have a high-interest specialty area like technology, or teaching classes at a local community college or an online class for a distance learning program if you already have a Master's Degree.
If you have children of your own, the summer is an important time to be with them. Having said that; the summer is also a great time to organize your school year so that you can spend less time doing school work during the other nine months of the year.
Take courses in July. In most states, earning graduate credit is one of the few ways a teacher can increase his or her salary level. I do suggest that you set a goal for your graduate work rather than just taking random classes (examples: Master's Degree? Supervisors' Certificate? Subject-specific goals?). It is also important to review your district's policy for supplementing the cost. This step will help you both personally and professionally; it is a win-win option!
Use exercise and/or stretching to release the endorphins that help to give you a feeling of peacefulness. If you take time daily to exercise and/or stretch, you will better be able to clear your mind of worries.
Try a new hobby you have always wanted to try. Last summer, at 52 and not very flexible, I decided to finally try yoga. The first few sessions were much more difficult than I thought, but after six sessions, I did a handstand and was able to keep up with a middle-level class. There are so many wonderful and healthy activities to try in this life. Use the summer to get involved in one of your choice.
Rent a few movies you did not have a chance to see during the school year. Or, better yet, rent the boxed set of a television series you did not watch from the beginning but would love to get involved in next year. On my personal list are Lost and 24. Unfortunately, I missed the first season of these two acclaimed series, and I hope to finally see them this summer. There are also many cable series worth renting like The Bronx is Burning and In Treatment.
Do some professional reading. There are wonderful books out there for educators; some are available right at this website so go to the home page. Informational books range from content and discipline specific to more general reads about teaching styles, classroom management, and discipline. In most school districts, summer reading is required for students. It would be a great idea for us to model what we ask our students to do. Reading about the latest pedagogy opens your eyes and is always better for your students. If you are a novice teacher, please make sure you read Harry Wong's The First Days of School. It is one of the most useful books I have ever read.
Read the professional magazines that go with your discipline or grade level, and clip great ideas. Start a few notebooks using acetate sleeves to keep these ideas organized. For elementary teachers, The Mailbox offers many suggestions. For English teachers, there is The English Journal. Now that you have taught at least a year, you can look at these magazines and have some idea if the ideas will work for you.
Join the professional association that matches your discipline and begin to get the online newsletter. Review those publications regularly following the appropriate links, and organize your "favorites" so you can easily go back and find good ideas and articles. Another idea is to print ideas and add them to the notebooks I previously mentioned.
Organize your computer. Delete what you do not need. Make labeled folders for what you need to keep and place your files in the appropriate folder. Back up your files.
Consider doing some garage sale or eBay shopping to find items for your classroom. From games to knick knacks to books, these sale places can be a very helpful way for teachers to save money and pack their classroom with useful or decorative tools. One summer, I purchased 10 used Wheel of Fortune hand-held video games for my classroom. They all still work, and my student use them in teams after final unit tests. They were inexpensive and well worth the money.
Print out your state standards and begin to put the puzzle pieces together of how your curriculum and text book materials can work creatively to meet those objectives. Use the teachers' editions to assist you in the process.
Look over your lessons plans from the previous year(s) and make some decisions about what worked and what did not. If you know your curriculum for the upcoming year, begin to make some plans. If you leave school in June not knowing your upcoming teaching assignment, check back to the school in a few weeks to see if the schedule has progressed. Then, return to the school and get your materials. I have always found that mapping out the year with benchmarks, on a school calendar, is helpful. Plan what units you will tackle during what time of year. Having the first two weeks of school thoroughly planned is essential. It begins the year with classroom management in the forefront because you know what you need to do. You are prepared!
Attend professional development workshops or seminars in an area of interest to you. Increase your knowledge, especially in the use of technology or emerging research in areas of math and science. These particular areas will bring our students well into the 21st Century. Spend some additional time merging your new knowledge into your lessons. Learning the latest instructional method is a wonderful tool if you use it. Knowing your state's professional hour requirements is very important. There are some states where you need hours to keep your teaching license. The summer is a great time to add up some needed hours.
Go to your school about two weeks before the year begins and confirm your schedule with your administrator. Once you do so, put up your bulletin boards and arrange your classroom. Although this scenario is not always possible, I find that it is a great idea to put up my bulletin boards before the school year ends, and I cover them with paper or plastic so they stay clean and do not fade.
As the summer progresses, plan and make some quick meals that you can freeze and use once the year begins. Meat sauce, stew, and chili are easy-to-make and great to have frozen and ready to go for that first month of school.
Write your autumn letter to parents, your first month newsletter, and/or create your first day materials for your students. If you school allows you to go inside, take a ride over and make your photocopies. The more you have done and organized -- the better.
The way I have described summer makes life sound very similar to those nine other months of the school year. The truth is that teachers may have off June, July, and August, but very few good teachers remove themselves completely from the idea of school during that time. For me, there is really never a weekday that goes by that I do not do something related to my profession. I love teaching, but it is not for the money or the time off. I love it because every moment I think about doing my job well enables me to be a better teacher for my students. That reason is why I became an educator.
Above all else, the summer is time to catch up on life and get your mind and body emotionally ready for the upcoming year. Each individual will have their own way to relax, whether that is by taking a great vacation or reading a few good books in the backyard. Rejuvenate in the ways that work best for you. Make time to see good friends and family. Read a best-seller. Make one of your life's dreams come true. Feel grateful for whatever time you have off by mixing up your usual nine-month-a-year school routine.
June, July, and August are not the best reasons to be in education. They are helpful and needed motivations, but the smiles of our students, the questions they generate, and the positive engaged responses to your lessons are what really make teaching the best profession. Teachers are important and valuable members of our society. Once you have recharged, you will be ready to return to school in the fall and be the teacher your students are worthy of having. They deserve it, and so do you!
I, myself, will be taking a "writing break" until my Back to School column in September. Classroom management will be its theme, so check back in early September to jumpstart your school year off on the right foot. Thank you for reading my column, and enjoy and healthy and happy break.
