Shop Subscribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Schoolyard Blog | Teacher Resources | School Specialty

Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

schoolyard-logo
  • Education Essentials
  • Inspiration & Planning
  • Learning Spaces
  • Podcasts
  • Topics
  • Search
  • < Previous post
    Next post >

    Teacher Life

    Maintaining the Balance: Relaxing vs. Becoming a Better Teacher

    Every summer, some teachers start feeling guilty during their relaxation time. Shouldn’t they be planning lessons or studying that new trend to get ready for next year? On the flip side, if they find themselves working too hard over the summer, they get mad at themselves for not taking a break.

    There are ways to do both. Here are some ideas.

    Balance your reading

    Some teachers are only able to read school work during the year, so they take the summer to read all of the books they’ve been putting off. What if you could do both?

    We know “education” books aren’t the typical beach-read fare, but branch outside of the education section and you can find biographies, books on economics and social issues, and plenty of other works that might not be about “education”, but have implications on what goes on in school. And they’re probably a more interesting read.

    Attend summer meetings without leaving the house

    Veteran teachers sometimes feel obligated to attend candidate interviews, scheduling, or budget meetings over the summer. If you’re a department head, it’s what you signed up for. But see if there is a way to videoconference the meeting or have it over social media. That way people won’t be able to see that you’re by the pool.

    If you don’t have those kinds of obligations, but still think you should attend some “optional” inservices or conferences, take a look into the social networks built for teachers like the #edchat hashtag on Twitter. You can learn things from colleagues without leaving home.

    Find out when administration is taking their break

    Your school’s administration tends to stay a couple of weeks after the school year is over and comes back a few weeks earlier than you. Find out when those dates are.

    That serves two purposes: first, you’ll know they will be just as interested in relaxing as you are, meaning official business will be postponed. But second, you’ll know nothing PD related will be offered during that time. You’re truly free to do as you wish.

    With a little fortitude and creativity, there is definitely a way to balance your responsibilities as a full-time educator with your need to unplug over the summer.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Recommended

    Why Being a Mentor Teacher Matters (More Than You Think)

    Teacher Life

    Why Being a Mentor Teacher Matters (More Than You Think)

    Summer Fun: Time to Relax, Recharge, and Take a  Break!

    Teacher Life

    Summer Fun: Time to Relax, Recharge, and Take a Break!

    Tips on Packing Up Your Classroom for Summer Break

    Teacher Life

    Tips on Packing Up Your Classroom for Summer Break

    Celebrate Our Nation’s Youngest Learners During Week of the Young Child®

    Early Childhood

    Celebrate Our Nation’s Youngest Learners During Week of the Young Child®

    Explore The Schoolyard

    Education Essentials

    Inspiration & Planning

    Learning Spaces

     

    TopicsShop Subscribe

    Copyright © 2025 School Specialty, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement · Do Not Sell My Personal Information - CA Resident Only

  • CATEGORIES

    • Education Essentials
    • Inspiration & Planning
    • Learning Spaces
  • TOPICS

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Early Childhood
    • Special Needs
    • Physical Education
    • Educational Technology
    • Student Resources
    • Organization & Storage
    • Classroom Management
    • STEAM & STEM
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Healthy Students
    • Teacher Life
    • Back to School
    • Celebrations & Seasons
    • Out of School
    • News
    • Math
    • Science
    • Podcasts
    • Topics
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube