Summer is a time to step back, relax, and enjoy a little "me" time. It is also a time of reflection. How did the 2021 - 2022 school go? What did we do well? Where are areas of growth? What do we know about our teaching duties for the upcoming year? How can we use summer to prepare for returning to school in the fall?
1. Keeping abreast of the COVID situation There is no denying that the pandemic has been a defining feature of how and what we teach for the last couple of years. During the summer, it would be wise to travel safely and be aware of the numbers in the areas in which you choose to travel. Keep a few at-home tests handy, and take the precautions necessary for your health needs so that you are infection-free when you need to return to school. 2. Keeping what works, dumping what doesn't Given the challenges we have endured the last few years, you likely have tried new things in the classroom, and while some may have worked wonderfully, others were likely less than ideal. These could have been anything from new policies around homework, to using new technology or apps in the classroom. Take some time to sit down and make a list of what worked and what didn’t and cut the “didn’t” items from your fall 2022 plans, while making an effort to incorporate the “did” items more thoroughly. 3. Professional Development Summer is a great time to evaluate the areas of professional development you need or would like to try. One up-side of the post-pandemic world is the plethora of online opportunities for personal and professional growth. 4. Practice good self-care Pessimists are predicting that there will be a teacher/staff shortage in the next couple of years. Use this time in the summer to re-energize your passion for teaching. Set healthy boundaries on your time. Don't spend the entire thinking about and preparing for the fall term! Connect with other teachers and people with interests similar to your own. Celebrate your success! Then gird your loins for next term!
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AuthorI have been teaching since 1996. I became a special education teacher in 2013. I currently work at a therapeutic day school in suburban Chicago. Archives
May 2022
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