I usually stick to writing about lessons and curriculum. But after the 2020-2021 school year, I felt teachers might appreciate some extra attention and guidance concerning how to recharge after the most grueling year ever! The habits described here have helped me, and so I share them with you.
This book caught my eye one day while I was waiting for my daughter. The idea of scientists studying happiness intrigued me. I picked it up and read the introduction. Twenty minutes later, I was totally engrossed!
The author synthesized hundreds of scientific studies and shares 100 habits of happier people. Almost all of them resonated with me and totally related to what I call the three Rs of a teacher’s summer: REFRESH, REFLECT, and REBOOT!
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER BREAK
REFRESH ~ The word refresh means “to restore strength and animation,” and what teacher doesn’t need that at the end of any school year! There are actually self-care seminars for teachers. Do a Google search and you can find thousands of videos and articles specifically created for teacher rejuvenation. However, your soul is unique, and only you know what truly soothes and refreshes it!
First, don’t confuse refreshment with pure rest, although you may need a lot of both! Binge-watching Netflix can be soothing for a while, but to really refresh you need to do something recreational: play, have some fun, and definitely LAUGH. Do something you never do during the school year and also enjoy some real “solitude time.” HERE are some ways I refresh my soul, and although these are personal to what my soul needs, science has proven the wisdom and benefits of these habits. Also, ignore that the blogger is writing during the winter season! 😂
REFLECT – One of the best reflection questions of all came from Dr. Phil, who always asks, “How’s that working for ya?” Honestly, my favorite practice during the summer break is to sit down and make a list of WHAT WORKED. Thinking about the things that went well in your classroom is almost like writing in a gratitude journal. It promotes positivity and joy concerning the hard work you completed.
Some years are unbelievably challenging, and reflecting on what worked may not be as helpful as reflecting on what is most important to you as a teacher and what you think is most important for your students. Spend some time just envisioning what you really want for yourself and your students.
Reflection and journaling always help me process things. This article, “Teachers Need a Growth Mindset, Too,” suggests daily or weekly reflection throughout the year, and when I tried to do that, I found it gave me perspective. I was more objective when things didn’t go well. Even if you just make notes in your lesson plans about what to do differently, that can be very helpful in future years.
REBOOT – There are a few things unique to our profession. One is not being able to go to the restroom whenever we’d like! Another is really a wonderful thing: we get to reboot each year. We have a decisive END and a new BEGINNING, a fresh start, each and every year.
Hopefully, reflecting will inspire you to look forward to beginning again. You may start thinking about planning for the new year (no rush, of course). Rebooting can happen the day before school starts if that’s when you’re ready!
However, if in a couple of weeks or maybe next month, you’d like to engage in some LOW-KEY, CASUAL conversations about planning with other GT teachers, please join us in the Big Ideas Facebook group. I’d love to connect with you there! **Updated for Summer 2024** HERE is a bit more about what we’ll be doing in the group this summer.
