As a teacher, I have done many different things during the summer months, some great and some not so much. Here is a list of things you might consider doing this summer….

  • look for free or inexpensive classes in your area – some classes are free to teachers even if they cost money for others. Try looking through the local colleges and universities for seminars.
  • take a class that is geared towards a hobby, not your area of teaching. Look for cooking or sewing classes, kite-making classes, or anything you like! Check out The School of Everything.
  • if you live in a largish city, chances are that the art museum has free days - days when the public can get in for no charge. Take the bus for a really cheap day.
  • find a park or local attraction that you haven’t had a chance to visit yet and go there for the day. Take a book or your bike and take the opportunity to refresh your brain. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
  • take a day trip – find a place to go that’s a little farther away and take a drive.
  • watch a movie you didn’t get to see during the school year. It’s probably out on DVD now…so you can watch it in your bunny slippers
  • take a nap. Take lots of naps. Your brain is like a sleep bank, and trust me, you’ve probably been low for a while.
  • if you must work on lesson plans, set aside one or two days a week, or one or two hours a day. I go to school on Mondays and work most of the day, but the rest of the week I try not to even think about school.

Above all, allow yourself to relax. It is important for both you and your future students!