WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Should teachers spend the summer developing their skills, or relaxing?

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Trying to get to teach Secondary Math and Science in southern California

What's "relaxing?" I need to

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What's "relaxing?" I need to be thinking and learning to be happy! But then I quit "retirement" to become a teacher.

Science/Math Teacher

I completely agree with this.

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I completely agree with this. Summer is a time to balance decompression and professional restructuring. Same thing goes for administrators--which for some reason, we don't see as much.

Don't know about 'most'

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Don't know about 'most' teachers but my summers are rarely for 'relaxing'. My summers are generally reserved for follow through on home improvement projects that I've had to let slide during the year due to my work load at school, (2) prepping for next year, revising my materials and my approach, and (3) finding a few extra moments with my family - finally! Frankly, I'm beyond irritated with non-teachers who 'envy' me because of 'all that time off' during the summer. As for 'developing my skills' - EVERYTHING I do provides me with an opportunity to develop my skills as a teacher. I have always found 'Teacher Refresher' courses a waste of my time, mostly due to their lack of practicality.

Relaxing summer? Not likely!

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I don't know about the rest of you, but I spend my entire summer (1) working on home improvements that I've had to let slide all year because of my work load, (2) prepping for the next year and refining my materials and my curriculum, and (3) having a little more time for my family.

High School Administrator

While I agree that it is

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While I agree that it is important that educators are given time to recharge and to do something non-school related, it is equally important to use some time to advance in their profession. In many communities educators are not given the respect that other professions receive and many educators complain of the same. However, those same educators don't see the need to attend professional development or take a class or workshop that will help improve their pedagogy. Education, like most other fields, experiences changes on a regular basis and we need to continue to keep up with those changes to know how to reach our students where they are now and in the future, not in the past.

Also, the innovative educator will find a way to bring their experiences into the classroom so their students will share in the experience. Those experiences may be the catalyst for a student to branch out into areas that they may not have considered before. There needs to be a good balance in what an educator does for himself and how that will affect how he approaches teaching.

I teach Middle School English, Humanities and coach sport

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It depends on what sort of term the teacher has had and how they are feeling! Sometimes it is absolutely essential to recharge your batteries by doing nothing related to work for a few weeks. I believe sometimes it is better for students to have a recharged, de-stressed and refreshed teacher rather than a more knowledgeable one.

Leadership and Instructional Coach

Summer: Time for Two Kinds of R and R

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Teachers absolutely need--and deserve!--time to recharge the battery over the summer. But it's also important to reflect on and revise your practice for the new year. Here are two articles w/ideas for doing this: one by me (The Other R and R ) and one by Marsha Ratzel (Summer Project: Tweaking Those Flawed Lessons )

Leadership and Instructional Coach

Summer: Time for Two Kinds of R and R

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Teachers absolutely need and deserve to recharge their batteries over the summer. But it's also important to reflect on and revise your practice for the new year. Here are two articles with ideas for summertime reflection and revision--one by me called The Other R and R and one by Marsha Ratzel called Summer Project: Tweaking Those Flawed Lessons

Lavon Jonson

Summer

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It's imperative that teachers maintain a balance. For those who give their all (as many of us do) it is crucial to have some down time. However, as our world continues to evolve at a faster and faster rate it is also crucial that we spend time learning about what is new/fresh and possibly better than what we've had before. For the last few years I have spent too much time learning/working and found myself near to being in the burnout realm of crispy. So...as in all things moderation is the key. Find a balance and take time for both--for sure.

Sherrie

Summer Vacation

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Only teaching in the public school system for two years, I feel spending half of my summer taking additional courses and attending professional development workshops won't hurt, but instead provide me with more insight on information needed to help me become an even better teacher. Having two months off will still give me time to travel, relax, and do things for myself.