Planning ahead for a new school year is one of the most proactive measures teachers can take during summer vacation. Because it reduces stress and promotes better organization, teachers who plan ahead will reap the rewards throughout the school year. Here are some suggestions teachers can implement over the summer months.
Teacher Reflect on Lessons During Summer Vacation
Since most teachers find the school year packed with activities, little time may be devoted to teacher reflection. However, in order for teachers to improve on their content, style and delivery, they must reflect on their classroom activities. One way teachers can reflect on their lessons and assess their overall effectiveness is to take brief notes in their daily lesson plans during the school year. They can be as simple as the following model.
- Whole group activity took much longer than expected.
- A PowerPoint presentation should be created to summarize key points.
- Students needed a collaborative activity to practice skill.
By expending only extra seconds per day, teachers can map out a path to later reflection by maintaining their daily lesson plans. They can review their notes along with the lessons for each day and make improvements to enhance their effectiveness. Here are some questions teachers can ask during their summertime reflection:
- Would this material have been better presented in collaborative groups?
- How can images, video clips, podcasts or other technology be added to enhance instruction for this lesson?
- How can the assessments be enhanced for this unit?
- Should a rubric be created for this project to improve student understanding?
- Did students feel encouraged to reflect on their own progress in the course?
Teachers are experts at asking questions; they can use this expertise to question their own practices. Once these questions have been answered, teachers can identify actions they can take during the summer. They can also prepare new materials or edit those they have previously created.
Teachers Conduct Research to Improve Instruction
Every year new research emerges supporting new trends and practices in education. Teachers who are committed to lifelong learning can use new-found research to benefit themselves and especially their students. Teachers can accomplish this by subscribing to monthly teacher journals and catching up on their reading during vacation. Also, organizations such as the NEA Foundation provide a variety of current, informational reports that are easily accessible online.
Internet resources for teachers are ever-growing. In the spirit of both professional development and practical classroom application, teachers should investigate the many blogs, teacher-made websites, message boards and other online venues. Here, they will often encounter the latest research as well as new resources and ideas to implement in the classroom. These sites can be added to a "favorites" list and revisited during the school year. Finding those sites which best meets an individual’s needs is often the most time-consuming part. Beginning the school year with a variety of resources at their fingertips will assist teachers in developing exciting, engaging lessons.
Summer vacation passes quickly for most teachers. Therefore, it is helpful for teachers to set specific goals that can be met in small increments throughout the summer. Engaging in meaningful reflection, asking questions and conducting ongoing research will provide teachers with a plethora of opportunities for growth and renewal. Of course, teachers should also take advantage of their down time and mentally switch gears for a while so that they may return to school in the fall feeling refreshed and energized.
Thadra Petkus - Thadra Petkus is currently a freelance writer, English teacher and mentor. Although she has taught students from age two through ...
