Are you looking for some professional development ideas for teachers for the upcoming summer? Check out this blog post to spark some ideas and decide which ones are perfect for you.
Life-long learning and continued education should be an ongoing commitment of an educator. Summer break usually provides the best opportunity in many ways. Although there are employment opportunities for teachers during the summer
Keeping your teaching skills up-to-date during the summer is essential to staying on top of your game as an educator. As with students, learning while on summer break must be reinforced. By practicing instructional skills, developing new classroom management strategies, and researching cutting-edge methods, you will ensure you can easily get back into the swing of things in the fall.
The summer break is a great time to learn new skills that relate to the classroom. For instance, if you struggle with utilizing or integrating specific technology, enroll in a course or hire a private tutor. Once you have your head wrapped around technology such as SmartBoard, iPad, and digital cameras, you will feel more confident using them with the students.
You may also want to design lessons and activities as you go, while the information is fresh in your head. Other skills you may wish to focus on include connecting with students, bringing the classroom to life, and incorporating unique topics and themes. If you are looking to reinforce skills focused on student engagement, consider volunteering for a summer camp or children’s reading program, where you can work one-on-one or in small groups with youth and get to know their interests to a greater degree.
Summer is also the perfect time to plan and schedule popular, hard-to-book field trips and guest speakers. While other educators have checked out, you can get a jump on your colleagues and book the hottest events that all students want to attend. Now we know teaching isn’t supposed to be a popularity contest, but wouldn’t it be nice to be the fun teacher who has scheduled the best field trips? Furthermore, when you plan, you are much more likely to get a better rate, find discounts, and locate hidden gems for programs, technology, and guest speakers.
During the school year, you spend almost all of your time focusing on students, reading, and grading tests and assignments. Take this time off to do some of your own reading. Read for the fun of it. Read for your profession. Discover new authors and novels that fit your own tastes, or locate fun new literature that effectively complements next year’s lesson plans. Take the time to research what students find interesting and exciting, learn the novel, and design-related units and activities.
Some of you may look for employment opportunities for the summer; however, the most important professional development initiative you must take is to take a break and relax.
One of the most important aspects of spring break
Let yourself unwind and recharge. Revisit hobbies that you once loved but don’t have time for during the school year. Re-energize yourself through exercise, sports, and other physical activities. Take time to explore the great outdoors, travel, and visit new towns and cities. Re-connect with family and friends. Center yourself and mentally prepare for the next school year, going into it with an open and eager attitude.
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