Five Tips for Teachers to Maximize Summer Vacation
It’s no secret that the school year is jam-packed for teachers. Not only are they in the classroom all day, but many teachers volunteer at sporting events and extracurricular activities. Then there’s the endless stream of grading, assessments, and lesson planning. As the school year winds down once more, teachers may be looking forward to the break that summer provides. That’s why we’ve compiled some tips to help teachers maximize summer vacation.
Whether you’re ready to kick back and relax with a good book or pursue professional development, there’s no shortage of opportunities to make the most out of summer. Here are five Gs teachers can use to maximize summer vacation:
Give yourself a break!
Each year teaching is different, and the early part of summer break is a good time for recovery. Spend time with family, take time to work on a hobby, do things that aren’t work-related. Most of all, try not to feel guilty about decompressing! The old saying goes that you can’t fill from an empty cup, so refill yourself by spending time with people you care about and doing things you enjoy.
Get connected!
Meet up with a friend for lunch or a beach day. If it’s another teacher friend, challenge one another not to talk about school! There will be plenty of time later to discuss lessons and professional development.
Get inspired!
The summer can provide the much-needed time to look through ideas for new lesson plans and teaching methods. Don’t feel the need to dive headlong into anything immediately; just enjoy having the time to research and get ideas. Check out teacher blogs and Pinterest, just to start. We like: Teacher Tom and Teach123. We also like these Pinterest boards: Elementary Classroom Ideas and Math-Elementary Classroom. Also, remind yourself why you love teaching and how you got to where you are.
Grow!
Summer is often the best time for teachers to do professional development. They don’t have to take time away from the classroom, they can focus, and they can really enjoy what they’re getting out of it. It’s a great opportunity to take a workshop, or consider the advantages of earning additional certifications or a master’s degree.
Local Professional Development opportunities:
- University of New Hampshire Professional Development & Training
- National Education Association of New Hampshire (NEA-NH)
Get ready!
Take time to reflect on what the previous year has taught you. Organize and prepare to implement what you’ve learned over the summer about new lesson plans and teaching methods you may have picked up during through professional development courses.
The warm weather sure seems brief, but by using these five tips to maximize your summer and balance professional growth with self-care, you can decompress from the previous year and prepare for the best year yet. Make it a great summer!