One day we’re standing in front of our students going over an assignment, quietly waking up a sleeping child, expertly using our “teacher stare” to stop a student who is dangerously close to falling back in his teetering chair.
The next day we’re standing in Target wondering if we actually need those cute bins for a reading corner. Then we stop ourselves because we promised we weren’t buying anything for school this summer.
(Or is that just me?)
We tell ourselves we’re going to relax this summer. Recharge. Rest. Practice self-care. You know, all the trendy buzzwords.
Then we find ourselves taking pictures of bulletin board ideas, saving teaching reels, and mentally rearranging our classroom library while floating in a pool.
Welcome to summer break!
Or at least the teacher version of it.
The version I like to call the Summer Teacher Identity Crisis.
For months, our days revolved around lesson plans, recess duty, missing pencils, and a hundred other little responsibilities.
Somewhere along the way, our students became more than students. They became part of our classroom family.
Then suddenly…it stops.
The alarm doesn’t go off.
No one asks to use the bathroom.
No one needs help finding page 42.
And while part of us is thrilled to be on summer break, another part is still learning how to slow down. After months of schedules, decisions, interruptions, and carrying the needs of an entire classroom, it can take a while for our teacher brains to realize we don’t have to be “on” all the time anymore.
Some teachers simply walk out of school. They pack away the teacher bag, ignore school emails, and don’t think about classroom routines until August.
Others can’t help but reflect. They replay moments from the school year, think about what worked, what didn’t, and what they want to do differently next year. They are planning their classroom decor and mentally rearranging their classroom floor plan. Most of us are probably a little bit of both.
I’m definitely a little bit of both.
As summer goes on, I find myself making lists, saving reels, and filling notebooks with ideas. Before I know it, my brain is juggling so many thoughts that I start feeling overwhelmed instead of inspired.
Some summers I’ve spent so much time thinking about next year that I’ve forgotten to enjoy the summer I was actually living.
That’s when I realized I needed a better way to hold onto the good ideas without letting them take over my summer.
I’ve started to do this every summer, and I’ve learned that I can completely enjoy my break while still making space for healthy thoughts about school.
I’m naturally a list girl. There’s something about a great list that just makes me want to check things off. I’ve learned that lists can get overwhelming so I really try to be more intentional (during the summer) with my “school” lists. I use a sticky note. It’s just the right size for one bite-sized thought. I simply complete the following thought:
One thing I want more of next year is __________.
That’s it.
Write down the first answer that comes to mind.
Don’t overthink it.
Don’t turn it into a 27-step improvement plan.
Just notice what your teacher heart is telling you.
Maybe it’s more laughter.
Maybe it’s more small-group time.
Maybe it’s more patience.
Maybe it’s more balance.
Whatever shows up on your sticky note is worth paying attention to.
Sometimes one small reminder can tell us more than an entire notebook full of goals.
So if you find yourself saving teaching reels from a pool chair or mentally rearranging your classroom while standing in line at Target, don’t worry. You’re not doing summer wrong.
You’re just a teacher.
And whether you’re spending this summer recovering, reflecting, or a little bit of both, I hope you give yourself permission to enjoy the break you’ve worked so hard to earn.
Now it’s your turn.
Grab a sticky note and complete this thought:
One thing I want more of next year is __________.
Then tuck it away somewhere you’ll see it again before August.
