3 Ways to Curb Summer Teacher Brain

 3 ways to curb summer teacher brain

Now before you go scrolling, hear me out.  Sometimes ignoring all things academic is simply not our skill set.  

Some of us can compartmentalize like champs!  Summer = Whatever we wish to do.  Rest of the year = whatever we're told to do.  

I'm not that way.  My husband is.  Some friends are, but mostly of my fellow educators spend at least some of their summer months on School Prep!

Did you hear that correctly?  Preparing for the school year during the oh-so-precious summer?!   Aren't we supposed to be "Beaching, not Teaching" during the summer?

At first I thought, "Hard pass!" because the work-life balance during the school year leaned hard towards school and summers should be for fun, family, and friends.

But being a teacher isn't a 9-month gig.  I found that I wasn't able to really turn off the teacher brain.  My teacher 'gram didn't suddenly stop showing teacher content reels, my coworkers didn't go incognito, I didn't stop seeing storage solutions for manipulatives and instruments, and I certainly did not stop hearing music that I wanted to arrange for my acapella choir.

If your teacher brain takes a vacay - awesome!  Lucky you.  Enjoy your summer and we'll catch up in the fall.  For the rest of us, there are 3 things that will help curb your teacher brain.

1. Reflect
2. Relax
3. Revamp

How do I reflect?

Those things that still nag at you about the last year...yeah, resolve those.  

Two ways I like to reflect are with lists & colors.

Option 1: Make a copy of your curriculum map and color-code your successes and opportunities.

Yellow for yay, orange for opportunities to improve?  Sounds good to me!

Option 2: Make lists.

• Pick something that sticks out as a wow moment & reflect on it.  
• What went well?
• How did you define success?
• Was there feedback that supported your feeling of success?  
• How do you categorize that?
• Were there elements that need to be changed?
• Consider a lesson, activity, or event that didn't quite go as planned to reflect on.
• What went poorly?
• How did you define success?
• Was there feedback that provided solutions or alternatives?  
• Would changing elements overcome the challenges you experienced?

  What is this "relaxing" of which you speak?

Being productive brings me peace. Being a helper brings me joy.  Being a problem-solver is a trait comes so naturally that I can't hardly help but work towards a resolution.  

Relaxing does not bring me peace.  It feels counter intuitive to being a helper or problem-solver.  But then I remembered: You can't Pour from an empty cup.

So try to relax.

• Ground yourself in nature, go to a pool, read a good book, play a sport, or go on an adventure.
• Treat yourself.  As my mom would say, "Give yourself a happy."  It doesn't have to be big.  Perhaps it's a new notebook, sweet treat, or permission to be unscheduled for a day.
• Whatever you choose, go ahead.  Enjoy it!  There's no wrong way to relax & recharge.

Where do I start "revamping" my class or curriculum?

Start with what you know; 

• what classes you'll be teaching
• Are there performance or presentation responsibilities?
• Pre-existing curriculum 

Then, set goals such as:

• 
  
  Increase engagement through centers & task cards
• Play more review games & reduce printing
• Select music, books, & stories that are inclusive & represent your students.
• 
  Find growth mindset posters to improve mental health.
• Incorporate more movement into lessons
• Better balance work & home life

How are you spending your summer?  Let me know in the comments to send a message to me via Instagram.