People always ask me how I spend my time in the summer. They are shocked when I tell them that I spend a good bit of time working. "But there are no kids! What do you need to do?" they ask. Summer is a gift. For teachers it is a break from the constant thinking, managing, and planning that is unrelenting during the school year. It is a time to sleep through the night without waking and wondering if your lesson was good enough, clear enough, engaging enough. Summer allows teachers to slow down and distance themselves from the work a little bit. But, it is also a time to be reflective. It's a time to study, research, collaborate with colleagues, and build the excitement to begin again. I feel so lucky to have the time summer provides to focus on the planning of projects. For example, there is a large group of us who are using time this summer to work on bringing outdoor education to our elementary students. Also, our fourth grade team is spending several days this summer exploring possibilities and planning for a new departmentalized model for instruction. Another group of us is discovering how to best utilize technology in the classroom so we may enhance learning, differentiate instruction, and promote collaboration. Summer is a gift of time. When one has a love of learning, a teacher's summer work is not a punishment. It's exciting. It's inspiring. And when summer work is mixed in with relaxing mornings on the patio, walks with friends, time with family, and a schedule that is flexible...it's the perfect end to the hard work of the school year and a perfect beginning before the challenge ahead. Here's the link to another summer project of mine: A Year in the Life of My Backyard Summer BulldogsThese bullies believe that my time in the summer should 100% revolve around their needs and wants. They cannot and will not be convinced otherwise.
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AuthorAnne Kenney Archives
May 2016
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