If you made a face when you read that title, I hear you. I am ALL for teachers spending their summers sleeping in, going to the beach, and sipping tropical drinks by the pool, but the reality is that it’s really hard to turn off that teacher brain! Below I’ve shared some things I like to do during the summer to get ready for the next school year.
1. Catch Up On Reading
Summer is a great time to dive into all those new picture books and chapter books you’ve bought for your classroom library but haven’t had time to read – or even some PD books! If you’re looking to update your collection, check out library summer reading lists and the ALA award winners from last year.
Hopefully you find a few new books you love for mentor texts, read alouds, and literature circles! Need some ideas to get started?
2. Do a Little Planning
Brainstorming some ideas now can make that back-to-school transition a little less painful in August. Grabbing lunch with your team to chat about the next year is also a fun way to tackle a little prep.
My tip? Sign out your laptop at the end of the school year or find a way to have digital access to your files juuuuust in case you want them.
3. Sign Up for Professional Development
There are often really awesome local summer learning opportunities for teachers – especially in areas like science and social studies. (Keep an eye out for registration announcements in the late winter and spring.)
Now’s a good time to knock out a class for your recertification hours, too. If some mini-PD is more your style, you can find a 1- or 2-day conference, sign up for online classes, or join Facebook teacher groups.
If you’ll be teaching new standards next year, or even a new grade level, you can also start looking things over and try to familiarize yourself with the content a bit so it’s not as overwhelming at go time.
4. Scope Out Field Trip Sites
Need to entertain your own kiddos during those long, hot summer days? Why not explore some sites that you might want to visit for a field trip? Museums, parks, historic sites, government facilities, farms, zoos, planetariums… the list goes on!
Remember to bring your teacher ID badge since you might be able to get a discounted admission price!
5. Snag Some Deals
Summer is a great time to hit yard sales for gently used books, board games, recess equipment, and even small furniture (think flexible seating).
Here in Virginia, we have a tax-free weekend in August. That’s a great time to buy school supplies and other qualifying items like clothes and shoes!
6. Start Planning Classroom Decor
Like wedding planning, Pinterest can be a dangerous place to browse for classroom decor ideas! BUT it can also help you find a great new look that gets you excited to go back to school. Plus, it’s fun to browse pins while you’re poolside! Just don’t drive yourself crazy feeling like you have to have a Pinterest-perfect classroom. I certainly didn’t have one!
7. Reflect on Last Year and Look to the Year Ahead
At the end of each school year, I liked to jot down some notes about things I really liked or that went well during the year and things I knew I really wanted to change. I always gave my students end-of-year surveys to see what worked and didn’t from their perspective, too. Writing some notes while the previous school year was still fresh in my mind really helped me to focus on how I wanted to grow as an educator.
Be sure to grab these free end-of-year teacher reflection templates!
8. Get Your Side Hustle On
I almost don’t even want to add this one, because I don’t want to recommend that you work during your well-deserved time off! BUT we also need money to actually enjoy the summer, so here we go. Some flexible part-time options include tutoring, summer curriculum development, and retail. There are lots of options!
9. Most Importantly… Plan Teacher Self-Care
You know how quickly those precious summer days fly by! And you won’t be good to anyone if you start the new school year already burnt out. I hope you plan some time for activities that help you relax and recharge, especially those that you might not have time for during the year, like trying a new exercise routine or learning how to meal plan.
It’s great to take a little time over the summer to think ahead to the next school year, but not to the point where you start feeling anxious and not enjoying your time off. I definitely think there’s room for both a little sun and a little school. I hope you found these ideas helpful! If you want to share what you do to get ready over the summer, I’d love to hear it!
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