A is for ABC Books. This activity is one of my favorite ways to review and conclude a unit. The class and I brainstorm vocabulary words that begin with each letter. Then each student creates his or her own page complete with illustrations. I can save the book for the next year or display it during conferences. With “vacation” half over, here is my ABCs of Summer Break!
B is for Book Stores. During the summer the average teacher makes 14 trips to book stores. Most of these teachers frequent specific stores for certain things. For example, Bookman’s for specific authors, St. Vincent DePaul for National Geographic magazines, and Half Priced Books when just looking. I have made 2 trips this summer spending less than $25.00.
C is for Curriculum Mapping. Creating a general plan for the year is helpful, and can ensure that all standards are accounted for. When better to update the plan then during the summer after a year has passed? If hindsight is 20-20 then it can be applied to the recently expired year to plan for the next. C could also be for Common Core, new, more nationally aligned standards. I started each subject map by placing these standards on a tentative time line.
D is for Day Time TV. I love sports. Around the Horn and PTI do not necessarily fit in to the Day Time TV category. But, out here in the West, these shows air at 2:00 and 2:30. Guess which shows I enjoyed this summer that I can’t watch during the school year?
E is for Eating. I ate 3 regular meals a day for the first time since last July excluding Winter Break. (You always exclude Winter Break when considering eating choices, trends, and habits.)
F is for Fiscal Year. That ends on June 30. Then you get to sweat out whether or not funds were left for an adequate Prop Bonus. (By adequate I mean anything over $100.)
G is for Grants. (Please notice that G is not for golf.) I didn’t have a lot of time to investigate possible funding opportunities during the hustle and bustle of the school year. To date, I have completed 3 applications this summer. If I don’t complete another one, I’ll be happy with that.
H is for Hiring. Site based decision making is huge at our school, and this is evident when filling positions. Teachers facilitate most of the hiring process. Sorting resumes, scheduling and conducting interviews, and making decisions has been time consuming. But, the result will be a strong cohesive team of teachers for the coming school year.
I is for Identity Verified Prints. My finger print clearance card expires in September. This is just another one of those little things that you have to be proactive about. Because the police department finger prints during specific – and quite limited hours – this is another task that needs to be taken care of during the summer.
J is for June and July. I used to cringe when people – even jokingly – said they became a teacher for three reasons: June, July, and August. Besides the fact that anyone making this point in seriousness shouldn’t be a teacher, statements like this have perpetuated the myth that teachers take 3 months off after Memorial Day. Our summer break only lasts for 7 weeks in June and July. Between, PLAA, summer school, the National Forum, participating on the Hiring Task Force, authoring grants, and refining the curriculum map, the first week after the school year ended will be the only week where I paused for a break. I’m content with that. I need to be active. And, I believe that most teachers care for the students they have, and will have, even during the summer.
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