Teacher Summers: Balancing PD, Planning & Plain ol' Relaxing

One of the big perks about being a teacher is Summer Vacation, but any teacher with a few years of experience can tell you that summer becomes a time to catch up on all of those tasks you neglected to do during the school year - from personal business, to reading those teaching books you've wanted to read, to lesson and unit-planning, to attending professional development. Of course, we all need time to relax and recharge, and sometimes it's tricky to balance "free time" and "work time" when the days stretch out ahead of us without a strict bell schedule.

Here are three resources to help teachers balance work and play over the summer:

1. Angela Watson's blog post: "How to make a (realistic) plan for summer that will leave you feeling rejuvinated" 

This information is also available in audio through Watson's "Truth for Teachers" podcast. Watson outlines a way for teachers to prioritize tasks they want to accomplish over the summer (both personal and professional), set deadlines for yourself, choose a "theme" for the summer based on your priorities, and create a realistic to-do list.

2. Chris Nesi's "House of EdTech" podcast episode: "How to Grow Your #EdTech Skills During Summer"

Nesi's podcast has some useful tips for teachers wanting to learn more about educational technology this summer.

3. Read George Couros's recent post on his blog, "Principal of Change," and reflect!

Couros walks through four questions that will challenge teachers to think critically about their teaching practice and allow them to focus on how they want to grow in the next school year. I recommend that you do this in June, when the school year is still fresh in your mind.

Have more tips or ideas about how to balance your summer? Leave a comment!