Why Teacher's Appreciate Summer

#3) My email inbox can stay empty and free of new messages. We live in a connected society, which is a double-edge sword. It is easy to communicate, but the downside is that sometimes, some individuals want instantaneous responses. It is nice to see zero new messages during the summer!

What I like about Summer Break (2)

I have time to work out! Whether at the YMCA or running on the road, I am not pulled in so many directions by teaching and tutoring. Now it is hot in Texas, and it is only slightly cooler in the a.m., so running at 5:30 a.m. only provides a little less sun. And Dallas humidity is brutal. Nonetheless, I can catch up on my physical goals/workouts that were hard to squeeze in during the school year.

What I like about Summer break...

As a teacher, there are many reasons to look forward to summer break. Even though I taught summer school for 5 weeks and have 3-4 days of in-service training, my summer is great for a number of reasons. Here is my top 10 list...

10. I can wake up at 5 a.m. and take my time. I do not have to hurry to run (work out), grab breakfast, read, and be at school by 6:30 a.m. Even teaching summer school allows me some morning time. (starts at 8 a.m.). The challenge now is maintaining the discipline, which is still a struggle, to take care of those things when you get up early--not wasting my time, rather making my list and tending to it. Having a new baby at home has helped me get up early, but it also will zap your energy. The secret is disciplining myself to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, so the time will come when I can do what I want to do, when I want to do it.

Completing Summer School

My students have worked very hard over the past 5 weeks. It is not easy to give up the majority of your summer to spend 6 hours Monday through Thursday, not to mention homework time, to take an optional math class. Although the desire may not come from within (sometimes parents encourage), most of my students are highly motivated and want to be here. They enjoy learning and want to do their very best. It helps to have supportive parents, but after recently completing the book Outliers , I have a better understanding of why some students achieve more. In a nutshell, those students that continue their education during the summer months, be it in a classroom, by reading on their own, or with experiences with their families, have higher levels of success as compared to those students who spend their summers watching t.v., hanging out with friends, etc.

At the same time, how many of us as professionals continue to grow, read, and learn after our formal schooling has ended? We are either progressing or digressing, never remaining in the same place. How many times have I myself chosen to watch television or surf the web when I could be engaging in a book or other material that will take me to where I want to be. I am improving, but I am not yet where I want to be in regards to this level of discipline. I will continue to persevere and in time I will accomplish more.

The choice as to whether or not to teach summer school is difficult for some teachers. Yes, the extra income would be nice, however, we have worked very hard over the past 10 months with the hopes of recharging our battery during the summer months. Teaching a PreAP class as opposed to a credit recover class makes a difference as you are working with motivated students. I do remember my first tours as a rookie summer school when the job was much more demanding, but as I have paid my dues, I am fortunate to have a great group of hard-working students. Some factors to consider when deciding whether or not to teach in the summer:

1. Do I need/want the extra income?

Most teachers get paid for 12 months out of the year, so anything made during the summer is a bonus.

2. What does the schedule look like?

Monday - Thursday? Having a three-day weekend makes a huge difference.
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.?

3. Will you have any summer left?

Having 3-4 weeks before reporting back still gives me a break.

Whether or not you are teaching summer school, my hope is that you use your summer to make something happen. Have a plan and set some goals. WRITE IT DOWN! Even if your goal is to refresh yourself physically and mentally, have a plan of how to do it. Otherwise, you will wake up at the end of August wondering where the summer went.

You Don't Have To Be Great To Start...

...But you have to start to be great -- John Maxwell. This is one of my favorite quotes, and is on the bulletin board in my classroom. As I undertake this new project, there are many unknowns, but in the words of Zig Ziglar, "Anything worth doing is worth doing WRONG, until you learn how to do it RIGHT."

This is a project that has been in the works for the past 3 years. Right now there are many individuals considering teaching as a profession, and a worth profession it is. There are challenges and rewards, and there are many things that I never learned in all of my formal education.

My goal in putting this together is to help people at different places:

(1) If you are considering a career in education --what to expect, challenges and rewards, and common misconceptions.

(2) If you are a new teacher about to begin your first teaching job -- what they never taught us in our education programs.

(3) If you are a current teacher how to move from survival to stability, and eventually from stability to significance -- finding balance and staying power as a teacher.

If you fall into one of these three groups, this is the place for you! I will do my best to provide insight and wisdom from my time in the classroom.

The summer time is a great opportunity for teachers to recharge their batteries and find balance in their lives. It is also a great time for new teachers to prepare for the upcoming year.

Welcome Aboard!