The summer holidays are a time when teachers don’t have to plan every minute of every day – no worry over if there’s enough milk in the staffroom for tea, or if you remembered to reload the photocopier with paper and best of all, sleep in with no alarm! This is a time for teachers to relax and recharge, but it can be hard to take off our teaching hats. Here are 8 ways that Primary teachers can make the most out of the summer break!
#1 Plan Ahead
The key to a great summer – and realistically so many other elements of life, is to plan. You do not have to plan every waking moment of every day during the summer, but the truth is that the need to plan ahead just comes naturally to teachers. Having a rough schedule or maintaining a routine can help you have a sense of structure and accomplishment, and with a little bit of forethought , you can easily plan some enjoyable summer activities while still getting all the rest and relaxation that you need.
#2 Catch up on sleep
Sleep is essential for recharging your batteries. After a long and stressful school year, summer break is the perfect time to catch up on sleep and well-needed rest. Take advantage of not having to set an alarm clock, but be sure to establish a routine and sleep schedule so you don’t end up sleeping the entire summer away!
#3 Prioritise yourself and your needs
Teachers have a natural tendency to put others’ needs before their own, particularly if they have children of their own and people who depend on them. This can leave you feeling physically and emotionally drained during the school year. It’s important to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup, so with the free time that summer break affords you, make sure to schedule in some time each day to do something that you enjoy and makes you feel relaxed.
#4 Volunteer
Bringing us back to the point of teachers putting others’ needs before their own, why not take some time to engage in volunteer work? Getting involved in your local community or a charity close to your heart over the summer is a great way for teachers to fulfil that passion and desire to help people, and it can also be a lot of fun. Not only will you be making a difference in your community, but you’ll also get to meet new people and learn new skills. Volunteer Ireland is always looking for new volunteers in a wide range of roles.
#5 Read
Reading over the summer break is a great way for teachers to relax while also affording a sense of productivity and accomplishment. Whether it’s a great book to help you improve your teaching skills and overall professional development, or just something to entertain and spark inspiration, summertime provides the opportunity to get stuck into a good book! Not only will reading give you something enjoyable to do during your time off, but it will also help you refresh and recharge for the next school year. So make sure to set aside some time for reading this summer! Here’s a few we’re looking forward to getting our hands on:
- WISE (Wellbeing in Schools Everyday) by Fionnuala Tynan & Margaret Nohilly
- The Behaviour Code by Jessica Minahan & Nancy Rappaport
- The First Six Weeks of School by Paula Denton
Non-educational:
- We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
- The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
- And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
#6 Travel
Teachers often look forward to summer break as a time to travel and experience new and exciting places. If you’re lucky enough to travel this summer, consider taking pictures of your experiences to share with your students when you go back to school. This can be a great ice breaker activity, in which students can share their thoughts and their own summer experiences. Not only will you be able to bond with your students over your shared summer experiences, but you’ll also be able to teach them a little bit about the world beyond their everyday lives. So, whether you’re taking a trip to the beach or exploring a new city, make sure to snap some photos along the way!
See the below resources for other icebreaker ideas:
#7 Hobbies
It’s common for teachers to feel like their job takes over and they have little time away from school or the fun things in life. Be sure to take time to reconnect with your hobbies and non-teaching passions that you may not have much time to pursue during the year, or maybe even discover some new ones.
#8 Get a head start on the academic year
If you are the kind of teacher that likes to get a head start on the school year, summer is a great time to revamp your curriculum plans. Although we highly recommend enjoying as much downtime as possible, taking some time to prepare for the upcoming school year will help you feel more confident and organised when school starts. The Primary Planning Tool has it all right at your fingertips so no need to worry about getting started too soon.
Summertime is a time to relax and recharge before the school year starts again.
We hope these tips will help you take care of yourself and make the most of the summer holidays so you can come back refreshed and motivated.
With the Primary Planning Tool, you can have a summer full of relaxation knowing that the curriculum is pre-populated to your device, so you can spend less time planning! Visit our website today to learn more about this powerful planning tool and how it can help make your life easier during the busy school year ahead.
We wish you all the best in your preparations for another successful school year. Have a great summer!