Summers Off?

Yes, it's true.  Teachers have summers off.  Even some supervisors, like me, have summers off.  We spend two hazy, hot months lounging around in our backyards, community pools or at the beach doing nothing.  At least that is the perception of many of my non-educator friends.  Of course teachers have the option to be a sloth all summer long, never thinking about school, students or teaching.  But I don't know many who do.

The educators I know spend a lot of time working on their craft.  They read, take classes, revise curriculum, and more.  However, we do not do a good job of telling our communities or friends about our professional learning, which would be enlightening for many.  I think, then, teachers should compose their own versions of "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" essays and post them on their web sites and in class newsletters.  Teachers can announce their professional development experiences during Back to School Nights.  It is important for our communities to know how committed we are to the profession and to our students.  So write a list of all you've done thus far and (perhaps) even post it on your web site now.  Students are always interested in the mysterious lives of their teachers anyway!  Why not show them that you are spending time getting ready to be the best teacher for them?

Now, if you are an educator without anything to report...let's go.  We are given a gift of two months to improve our craft, to learn new strategies, and to expand our PLNs.  So do it, and do it now.  There are great virtual (FREE) webinars you can view, books you can read, and workshops can attend.  In the NY/NJ area?  Check out the State of Now - EDU  conference to be held on July 31 - August 1 at the 92nd Street Y in NYC.  Not near NYC?  Call your colleagues and do a book study of a text important to your teaching?  Have unmotivated colleagues?  Sign onto Twitter and participate in the many book conversations there.  The #njed group is reading and discussing Daniel Pink's Drive next month.

We owe it to our students to use our summers off to make sure we are ready when the school bell rings.  We owe it to ourselves and our profession to show our communities that our summers off are full of professional development experiences that make us better teachers.  So what have you done this summer to become a better educator?  Write it down.  Tell the world.  Share your learning.