“It must be nice to have the whole summer off.” At least that’s what many people say to (and assume about) teachers. However, if you’re like the majority of educators, you can’t even remember a summer when you didn’t work or teach summer school, complete professional development, attend classes and meetings, prepare and refine lessons, learn new curricula – the list goes on and on…
We set out to dispel the myth of teachers’ relaxing summer vacations. Here are 10 things teachers really do on their “summers off.”
1. Summer Job
Teacher’s pay is historically low, especially compared to other professions with similar educational requirements. Plus, many teachers have to pay for their own supplies during the school year. That’s why it’s common for teachers to work one or more jobs in the summertime.
Teachers’ summer jobs may be related to education, such as teaching summer school, tutoring, or teaching abroad. Some teachers work at their kids’ summer camp so they may attend for free. However, sometimes teachers take seasonal jobs that, not only supplement their income, but also expand their horizons. Examples include:
Landscaper
Lifeguard
Bartender or waiter/waitress
House sitter, pet sitter, babysitter or dog walker
Hotel clerk
Grocery store worker
Uber/Lyft driver
Sadly, because teachers don’t get paid in the summer, these second—and sometimes third—jobs are almost necessary to make ends meet in many locations.
2. Professional Development
Teachers are required to complete continuing education credits in order to renew their license, and summer is a great time to take these workshops.
Continuing education is offered in subject specialty areas, such as math, science, and foreign language, as well as general teaching strategies, assessment, technology tools, and more. Teachers can catch up on their professional summer readingtoo.
3. Graduate School
Many educators pursue graduate degrees. Not only do these degrees enhance a teacher’s skill set, additional degrees mean higher pay. Summer is a good time to complete some of this coursework without the additional pressure of teaching a class.
4. Department and District Meetings
These meetings are a requirement to attend. Summer is when districts update the curriculum and prepare for the upcoming school year. Teachers are active participants in these meetings and must collaborate with their peers so that everyone is on the same page during the school year.
5. Coach
Teachers are natural coaches and many teachers coach their school teams where they are expected to fundraise, travel, go to tournaments, etc. during the summer.Since teachers are natural coaches, some even take on this role outside of school at club or youth leagues, clinics, and summer camps.
6. Volunteer
Teaching is a work of heart, and we already know educators have some of the biggest hearts out there. Giving back to the community is a wonderful way to spend time in the summer, and many teachers choose to support their favorite causes by volunteering.
7. Parent Their Children
We forget sometimes that teachers are often parents of school-age kids. The summer is their chance to spend time with their children. As parents, they may set up or host playdates, drive their children to activities, and be the primary provider for childcare during the summer months.
8. Catching Up on the “To Do” List
While teachers can schedule time off during the school year, it’s a hassle to make sub plans. That’s why teachers tend to catch up on everything in the summer that they can’t do during the school year. This includes doctor and dentist appointments, home maintenance projects, and visits with out-of-town relatives. Check out these summer goals for teachersthat may help you organize your “vacation” time this summer.
9. Relax & Recharge
Teaching is such a demanding job that burnout is common. Even if teachers are working elsewhere, the summer provides a mental break from the school year. Create a summer routine that helps you find some balance. Many teachers plan a summer vacation with their families which is a wonderful way to relax and recharge. Other relaxing activities include reading for pleasure, binge-watching favorite shows, and pursuing favorite hobbies. Anything that refreshes you mentally will help you be ready by the end of the summer to start it all over again.
10. Get Ready for Next School Year
Although teachers aren’t teaching during the summer, they never stop thinking about their students. They continue to purchase supplies and research fun activities to include in their lesson plans for the new year all season. They also get into their classroom the minute they get the keys to make everything perfect for their new kiddos – flexible seating, reading corners, labeled folders, etc. – teachers have it all ready weeks before students even set foot in the school.
Next time think twice before you tell a teacher how great it is to have “summer off.”
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
You flip on your classroom lights, carry your 5 bags and 4 drinks in, drop everything down at your desk, turn on your computer, write your objectives, make copies and then it’s time to welcome in your students, and finally start your day- this is our everyday routine as educators.
For anyone that has ever taught in a classroom where you monitored your student’s arrival time, you know that keeping them occupied is critical when you still need to get all of your morning routines done. Pass out breakfast, take lunch orders, check your email, set up your centers, check communication folders, pull up a million websites, and start morning announcements.
These 30 or so minutes are a perfect time to let your students get creative. A few years ago, I begin creating and using my, Starting with STEAM bins. These morning routine bins motivate my students get their breakfast eaten, complete their make-up work and set up for their day. They want to have time to explore and create with one of the Starting with STEAM bins.
These bins are designed to allow the students to have a creative mind and a bit of unstructured playtime. It awakens their brains for the day and lets them explore the world of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (aka STEAM). Some of my bins come with prompts or directions but most of my bins are free-play or exploring materials.
Not only are they the perfect activity for the morning, but you could also incorporate these bins in lots of different situations; science centers, Genius Hour, Coding week, after-school programs, at home, “I’m done, now what” bins, and much more!
I started by buying 12 bins from Dollar Tree and they worked for a couple of years before they busted then upgraded to ones with lid locks on Amazon. You can find all of the supplies I bought on my Amazon Recommendation page here. Most of the items I fill my bins with are best to fit in a paper-sized bin or container.
I then started collecting STEAM materials from anywhere I could find them. I always reach out to friends and family first to see if their children have grown out of their old toys such as magnetic tiles, Legos, or consumable items like toilet paper rolls and tissue paper. I then search at yard sales and Goodwill for any cheap finds. I was even able to find some of my items for free. You can also think about completing a Donors Choose project or requesting school funds (if they are available).
I did end up buying a few things online. My two favorite classroom STEAM purchases are these medical trauma shears (kid-friendly and they cut through cardboard safely) and my wireless hot glue gun. I honestly use it every week of teaching and you can walk around your classroom hot-gluing items for students without the cord.
Here is the list of items I have in my classroom (and then some) you can find these quick links on my website:
I also created these “Starting with STEAM” bin labels to add to your organized bins. I used label holders from the Target Dollar spot or found some online. Simply print and laminate for a quick and easy way to stick them on.
One of the student’s favorite Starting with STEAM bins to grab are my Blank Space Books. These books are a shared experience with their classmates. I bought colorful blank books from the Target dollar spot (or available online) and added these class Blank Space topics. The bundle has over 10 different book ideas. The students use the printed template to have lined paper to glue on or use the blank space the page provides. They write an experience for their other classmates to read. Then they also have the opportunity to read other students’ responses. It gives them an outlet to share a time they went on a vacation, lost their tooth, or got an ouchy.
There are plenty of pages for them to use to write and draw and then take some time to read other entries. When the book is complete, I add it to the book center and glue another topic label on another blank book. Grab these now for your Starting with STEAM bins or independent writing center.
Lastly, I also want my students to read STEAM books. I use one of the containers of Starting with STEAM bins to add and change out a few of my favorite STEAM books. Check out my list of the Best Nine STEAM books for my classroom. These books help open the mind to a child who might be nervous to get creative or think outside the box.
My top favorite STEAM books for children:
Rosie Revere Engineer by: Andrea Beaty
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Iggy Peck Architect by: Andrea Beaty
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
Perfect Square by Michael Hall
The Most Magnificent Thing by: Ashley Spires
What Do You Do with an Idea? by: Kobi Yamada
If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen
What to do With a Box by Jane Yolen
Casey Keyser is a third-grade teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary in Frederick County, Maryland. She was recently recognized as the national winner of the NEA Foundation’s 2021 Teaching in Excellence Award. Casey is the proud owner of the Education Resource Blog, Fair Winds Teaching, and loves to connect with her education community through her TeacherPayTeacher’s business.
A sabbatical is an extended break from work that can be paid or unpaid. Sabbaticals can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year or more (or more) and your job will be held for you while you’re gone.
Historically, sabbaticals were offered by universities for professors to do research, teach abroad, or further their skillset in their field of study. However, today’s sabbaticals aren’t just limited to educational institutions. They’re growing in popularity among workers in all fields who seek to volunteer and/or explore new horizons.
Sabbaticals are not vacations; they are a chance to recharge and a great way to prevent burnout. Employers benefit when their employees return with renewed energy and new skills.
Looking to take a sabbatical? Here’s everything you need to know.
How to Plan a Sabbatical
Planning a sabbatical requires careful thought and preparation because every part of your current life will be impacted. You’ll want to examine finances, logistics, and family needs.
Step 1: Check your company policy.
Your company may have accommodations for sabbaticals, including specific guidelines. For example, you may have to have worked at the company for a certain number of years to qualify. If your company does not have a policy for sabbaticals, that doesn’t mean you need to forget the idea. It just means that you might need to do a little more on your own.
Step 2: Research and apply for grants that fit your focus.
You don’t have to go it alone. You may qualify for a grant or fellowship that could finance all or part of your sabbatical. Here are just some examples:
Lone Mountain Fellowships
Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant for Researchers
Marshall Memorial Fellowship
Peace Corps
Rotary Peace Fellowship
Urban Leaders Fellowship
Step 3: Inform your employer.
Request a sabbatical with as much notice as possible. Present the request in writing, and include details on how the experience will provide value to the company. If your request is denied, you can still take a sabbatical; just know that your job will likely not be waiting for you when you return.
Step 4: Choose the start date and duration—but be flexible.
Having a timeframe helps you to plan your sabbatical. However, as you make plans, you may discover different opportunities. Be open to changing the start date and duration as you learn more.
Just because you’re not working doesn’t mean that the bills will go away. If you have debt, such as rent or a mortgage, car payments, and other bills, you will need to determine how you’ll pay them. Be creative. For example:
Consider opening a savings account to cover some of these costs.
Your spouse might be still working and can pay the bills.
You could get a part-time job during your sabbatical, such as house-sitting, which will still allow you to pursue your passion.
You can rent out your house while you are elsewhere on sabbatical.
Step 6: Plan your exit strategy.
Give yourself enough time to train your replacement at work. Set up a place to hold or forward your mail. Communicate to co-workers, extended family and friends that you will be on sabbatical. Schedule the last few days before you start your sabbatical to ensure that you will be ready.
Step 7: Expect to have “cold feet.”
You’re about to make a drastic change in your everyday life. That can give anyone anxiety. Expect to feel unsure as you’re getting ready to embark on your adventure. You can do this!
Finding Your Purpose on Sabbatical
Your reason for taking a sabbatical is as individual as you are. People take sabbaticals for a variety of reasons.
Do field research in an area of study
Write a book
Volunteer for a cause
Travel the world
Unplug and get back to nature
Become an apprentice and learn a new skill
Discover their roots
Earn a certificate or degree
Do your research to find what resonates with you.
Staying Covered on Sabbatical
You’ll want to make sure that you are fully covered by insurance while you are away on sabbatical.
If your company is sponsoring your sabbatical, check with your human resources department to see if they are also covering your health insurance. If not, you will have to pay out of pocket.
If you have California Casualty, you can take a break from car insurance and not be penalized with the sabbatical benefit. Just inform your agent and they will let you know the guidelines that must be met.
Let trusted friends, family members, or neighbors know of your absence, so they can keep eye on your property and prevent a burglary.
Consider travel insurance if you’ll be away from home.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Teachers are like solar panels, we recharge in the Summer. However, this shouldn’t be the only time we recharge. We should have an ongoing plan to help energize ourselves daily and when done so correctly, rarely need a recharge at all.
Let’s talk about teacher burnout…
Are you missing happy hours or Sunday brunch with friends most weekends? Are you declining family time or weekend trips because you, “had” to lesson plan or, “needed to” to get your grading done?
Did you volunteer for that committee or club because you thought it would look bad if you didn’t?
Are you spending your duty-free lunch breaks completing paperwork, working with students, or emailing parents?
Have you arrived at school 2 hours before students arrive to be prepared for your day?
For me… it’s an overwhelming YES, YES, YES ….. & YES.
Each and every day, teachers GIVE so much to our students. Of course we want to do anything and everything for our students all the time. But is it healthy or sustainable over time?
NO, you will burn yourself out!
Teacher burnout is a very common problem that needs to be talked about more. I believe it is hard to identify if it’s happening to you because, “You can’t read the label, when you’re stuck inside the bottle.” For some teachers, it’s hard to understand and accept when it’s time to start saying, “No,” and take a break.
These difficult conversations need to happen. We have to start working together to normalize teachers saying, “No.”
Saying “No” isn’t always a bad thing. It can even be what’s in the best interest of your students.
Over my 11-year teaching career I have heard a lot of talk about having a good or healthy work-life balance. I have been given tips and tricks to maintain self-care and a happy life. But what no one ever talks about is that it’s not a “One size fits all” approach.
I do not believe in, “work-life balance.” I don’t think there is a magical formula of how each teacher can “balance” their work and their home life at the same time. I think that it should be called, “work-life fit.” A work-life fit is the flexibility to make choices for your own life that fits into what you have going on in that moment. You should be able to create a work environment and lifestyle that fosters both personal and professional life at the same time. As educators, we cannot compare ourselves to each other. What “fits” in one teachers’ life, might not “fit” into yours.
Your goal is to do only the extra things if it fits into your life at that moment. If it doesn’t, don’t do them. And if you are in a place to do extra things you want to for your classroom, do it. Don’t let anyone else shame you for going above and beyond in your career if that’s what fits in your life.
But if you are a teacher that doesn’t have the space and time for all the “extra” things, and you are still trying to squeeze them in, this is when you will experience teacher burnout.
Dr. Leah Katz @dr.leahkatz shared a graphic on signs of burnout. It is important to know what to look for, for yourself, your colleagues, and family members that are educators.
When I start to feel or see signs of burn-out I focus on two things – my mindset and setting boundaries. I have to keep my mindset focused that things will get better. Then I have to act to make that a reality.
I sit down to create a list of things I can take off my plate and specific goals on how I can set boundaries for new things that may come my way. Here is a list of the boundaries I have set for myself.
Don’t:
Spend all evening/weekend working… I work on the weekends, but I don’t let it steal my entire time
Skip breakfast… I love to meal prep on Sunday so that this doesn’t happen
Drink only coffee… I am the worst at hydration so I make sure to always have a water bottle
Stay past your contact hours… unless I am getting paid and I WANT to
Check your email after 4 PM… just don’t do it, it can wait.
Feel guilty about setting boundaries and saying, “No.”
Lie awake thinking about school
However, I can choose to do some of these things once in a while, IF I think they fit into my life AND I know they bring me joy.
As we move into the new school year, I am already trying to find where I can pause for some peace. Where can I build time into my schedule to reflect and do tasks that calm me? I reflect on what energizes me and how I can surround my life with those things and people.
Give yourself grace. Give yourself time. Give yourself an honest talk about what “fits” with your life.
If you start to experience teacher burnout and you are aware of how to find your peace and calm, you will be able to better read the label on your bottle because you won’t be stuck inside anymore.
Casey Keyser is a third-grade teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary in Frederick County, Maryland. She was recently recognized as the national winner of the NEA Foundation’s 2021 Teaching in Excellence Award. Casey is the proud owner of the Education Resource Blog, Fair Winds Teaching, and loves to connect with her education community through her TeacherPayTeacher’s business.
Get your kids up and moving this summer with some fun summer-themed brain breaks!
Theseonline games are all free and great activities to do with your students during those last few days of school OR for parents to help get their child’s wiggles out when they are at home this summer. Check them out below.
This Energizer Game is a Summer-themed Would You Rather? from UJU Videos. Kids will have 10 seconds to choose between 2 Summer activities, then 20 seconds to do the matching activity. Get ready for fun! Click here to play.
Your kids will have to find out who is the imposter! Have them move to complete the levels and find out who is the imposter. Get started by clicking here.
FORTNITE! Kids LOVE these fun dances! There are at least 10-15 dance choices on this video! You choose between 2 different popular dances and get your groove on for 30 seconds! You then get a 10-second rest. Keep moving, all the way to the last round, as it has 8 choices on one – click here.
It’s time for some fun in the sun so grab your shades and get ready! Have your kids follow the moves on-screen of which summer activity they would rather choose. Click here to get started.
Have kids try and guess who will be the fastest Super Smash character in each round by performing a fun activity! Click here to get started.
6. Water Balloon Battle
Have your kids get ready to battle Roblox style with this epic Water Balloon Battle Fitness Activity! Dodge, jump, and duck under the water balloons and throw them at the Roblox characters to win! Click here to play!
Your kids will head out on an epic summer adventure! (Nothing screams summer more than backyard BBQ’s and days at the beach) Level 1 – Race through town and grab all the ingredients for your backyard BBQ Level 2 – It’s a burger battle showdown. Find the grills and try to flip as many burgers as possible. Level 3 – Head to the beach! Watch out for all the sand. Bonus Round – Get your beach volleyball on. Click here to get started.
Kids will duck, dodge, and avoid sea creatures in this exciting journey through the ocean! When they get to land what will they see? Click here to find out.
It’s time for kids to grab their lightsabers and train along with a Star Wars workout! Let Rey help them complete their Jedi training with this tough Jedi Workout. Click here to begin.
Kids will help SongeBob look around Bikini Bottom to find Gary. Find Gary and earn a point. Most points win (or for 1 player, try and reach a goal of 8 points!) Click here to play.
If you are looking for something else to do for your kids to do this summer, here are some other great summer-themed activities for kids on YouTube to check out. They may not get kids up and moving, but they are every bit just as fun!
This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Let me say it louder so you can hear me… 2 million words! This is huge for the young developing mind, but having two or more months off from school makes this very difficult to maintain during summer break.
What can you do as an educator or parent to help close this reading gap?! The answer is simple… give them a ton of opportunities to pick up and book and make it FUN!
Make Reading Fun!
Whether you grab a flashlight, a stuffed animal (my students call them “stuffies”), or build a fort, you can engage in fun ways to get your child reading each and every day!
Reading should be something a child is interested in doing, not forced. You want to give them the opportunity to build a love for reading. During the school year, students are often made to read on a specific topic. Summer is a great opportunity to read topics that they are interested in, so they can discover a love for reading. To do that, you’ll need to find out what topics those are. Have them “taste” or try a wide range of different genres of books.
To help you out, I’ve created this Summer Reading BINGO that you can introduce to your students/children this summer! The challenge is for them to either complete as many boxes as possible or complete a BINGO (Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal, postage stamp, or four corners).
(click to download!)
I encourage my students to complete their Summer BINGO over their summer break and then give them an opportunity to turn it in the first week of school to SPIN THE WHEEL!
What’s the wheel!? Well, I live to make everything a game so I use my Prize Wheel to show what prizes they could win if they complete the BINGO sheet over the summer!
I use small prizes such as glitter slime, fidgets, lunch with the teacher, pencils, stickers, bubbles, stress balls, V.I.P. chair, chalk, and erasers. The pure joy of watching a student spin the wheel is worth it alone! If you would like to check these favorite classroom items out, check out my page of favorites here.
Engagement is KEY!
This prize wheel is from Amazon and I use it for so many different reasons. The middle section is a simple circle so I design different labels for each wheel spinning occasion. I created a Summer Fun prize wheel FREEBIE here, simply print and tape onto your wheel.
Don’t have a prize wheel yet? Check out my favorite two here.
Parents, you could also easily do this at home as well. If you don’t want to purchase a wheel, just put a list of prizes in a random generator like this one!
There are also other ways to excite your students with a summer full of reading…
Free books
Extra recess
Eat outside with a blanket
Ice cream or specials treat
Just the pure enjoyment of the BINGO! (you don’t always have to have a prize)
I kick the Summer Reading BINGO off by giving each student a printed copy of the BINGO board, a Summer bookmark (BONUS FREEBIE), and a summer-themed chapter book they can keep!
For books, I use Scholastic Book Clubs to buy the $1.00 books each year. This is a cheaper way to give your students a book on their reading level. If you have not signed up for Scholastic Books Club yet, use this code (00091 – Casey Keyser – 2473029383) to earn an Extra 250 Bonus Points to redeem for FREE books!
I have also gone through my own classroom library books and weeded out ones that I can give away. This allows my students to pick their own book to take home.
Preparing our Students for Summer at Home
My class then discusses ways to be able to access FREE books from the local library and school and how to read books online for FREE.
Here are some of my favorite online book websites!
Epic Books! – Unlimited access to hundreds of high-quality kids read-along books.
Capstone Reading – The perfect Capstone Interactive eBook is waiting for you! Choose from different subjects, genres, and levels to find just the right book.
Vooks – Vooks is a streaming service for kids, where storybooks come to life!
Noggin – Noggin’s ever-expanding library of downloadable eBooks feature your kids’ favorite Nickelodeon stars.
Time to get started; we cross off the first box together! This way all of my students get to start with one box already crossed off — it’s like a FREE space! You can pick any that work for your classroom but I do “Read on the Dark with a Flashlight.”
I have a class set of mini flashlights from Amazon and I have the students crawl under their desks and read in the dark with their flashlights for 20 minutes. It’s such a fun and peaceful way to get them excited about reading!
Summer Favorites
I love so many different books, but here are four of my favorite summer reads. I love to select and focus on books that are thought-provoking and entertaining. “Be You!” By: Peter H. Reynoldsis a book about being all the things you were born to be. “Do Unto Otters”: A Book About Manners By: Laurie Kelleris a book to remind students about manners and how to be a good friend and a good neighbor. “The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors” By: Drew Daywalt is a witty fun adventure about the classic game Rock, Paper, Scissors. I always challenge my students in a battle of this game and it’s a great time to review the rules of playing fair. Lastly, I love the book, “Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great” By: Bob Shea. This book is about a goat who thinks he wants to be a unicorn. Join him on his adventure to discover himself and why he is great himself.
Helping your students or children find a love of reading is so very important, for more blog posts on Summer fun, head over to Fair Winds Teaching.
Thanks for reading!
– Casey Keyser
Other Favorite Summer Products
Summer Minute to Win It challenge – Grab a one-minute timer and have some fun. Includes the directions and materials needed to play 13 different Summer/ End of School themed Minute to Win it games! Living those summer vibes! Use this digitally, at summer school, during the summer with your own kids, or at school at the beginning of the year! Check out my YouTube channel here for 3 free games now!
Casey Keyser is a third-grade teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary in Frederick County, Maryland. She was recently recognized as the national winner of the NEA Foundation’s 2021 Teaching in Excellence Award. Casey is the proud owner of the Education Resource Blog, Fair Winds Teaching, and loves to connect with her education community through her TeacherPayTeacher’s business.
Teachers are like solar panels, we recharge in the Summer. However, this shouldn’t be the only time we recharge. We should have an ongoing plan to help energize ourselves daily and when done so correctly, rarely need a recharge at all. 
