Dear, we are teachers.
I just finished my first year and was ready for the summer. At least I thought I was. I feel like my stress this year is still the case and I can’t relax! What can I do to help me relax and/or recharge?
– Seeking Summer Peace
Dear SSP,
Congratulations on completing your first year! This is an important achievement.
I totally understand what you mean. My first suggestion is to give yourself a little grace. I usually need at least a few days (even if not weeks) to solve a school year after. Your body and brain need time to adjust “on” and time to adapt to new speeds.
Assuming you don’t have any plans, I like to make the first few days as gentle as possible. On my first summer without work, I spent a week asking myself: What do I really want to do? Have brunch? Do yoga? Read a new book? Sitting quietly in the park? Meet friends? No obligation is a huge privilege (I especially feel like a parent!), so take advantage of it! Don’t be afraid to keep the space the best way to you.
After that, it might be nice to reflect on which relaxation is good for you. Some people do need to disconnect throughout the summer. If it is you, you can plan a vacation, accommodation or a weekend trip. You can also spend time with friends or family you usually don’t see. Moving out of your usual routine (even a new workout class) is a great way to rejuvenate. If you want to work, consider engaging in a job that is not related to education. One summer I worked at the front desk of a yoga studio in exchange for a free class and I loved it.
Some people really like to develop their craft in the summer so they can come back and prepare. If that’s your speed, you can read a book to improve your craft or look for professional development (including online courses) that will be prepared for you next year. You can also take courses directly related to teaching, but can help you strengthen your work as an educator. For example, I often encourage teacher candidates to take performance or improvisation classes to engage in physical presence and live critical thinking skills. These courses help strengthen your overall work as a teacher and can also be very enjoyable!
Finally, you can try to recall who you were before you were a teacher. There is no “go back” (not what you want!), but may you lose or leave it with you? Maybe a hobby you like or a pastime you missed? If so, this might be the ideal time to find that part of yourself again.
In the future, you may plan some summer fun ahead of time. There are some huge funding (even paid!) opportunities for professional development. Take advantage of one of the benefits of being a teacher by using summer travel and developing your career in important ways.
I hope you have a wonderful summer. You deserve it!
Dear, we are teachers.
I am a new, introverted teacher who strives to build relationships with colleagues. Others seem to be easy to connect – they chat before meetings, make plans for school events, and always know what to say. I say hello and join the work conversation, but I never know how to go beyond that. I really want to feel more connected. Do you have any tips for a quiet teacher to try to find your place?
– Quiet but want to connect
Dear qbwc,
Thanks for this sincere and thoughtful question. As someone who is sometimes more inclined to be “introverted”, I understand how you feel
That is, we must examine our understanding of introverts and extroverts. Most people actually do! I propose this to remind us that if we label ourselves too quickly, we can permanently think of our abilities that do not allow us to grow.
I wonder if you might really be more shy in this case at least. This is understandable, too, because you are new to this community. Remember that the connections you see in other colleagues took some time to establish. I really like the concept that leads to a larger “tiny conversation”. The moments you have a smaller connection don’t matter. Hopefully they lay the foundation for a larger foundation.
Once I get into a conversation, I always think it’s important to ask questions and try to remember things about others. If anyone mentions that they have spent the entire weekend, how long have they been running. Ask them what kind of dog or lunch place they have. While these questions may seem stupid, they may help you find more connections with others to follow up (“Oh! I love Australian Shepherd!”). They also show that you are interested and help encourage more conversations.
You can also be bold and ask for connections. If you want to build relationships with people, you have to show that you need relationships, too. If people are in a carpooling event, ask if you can join or help with the drive. If they mention the meeting, say you want to know more. Sometimes we think people don’t want to talk to us, but they actually think we don’t want to talk because we don’t invest.
Another option is to look for any other shy, quiet person around the edge of a large party. I’ve done this before, walked towards them and said softly, “I don’t know what to do with these things either. I’m Christina. How are you?” Just making the first leap helped me meet other people who felt equally awkward and allowed us to tie down.
Hope you can find your people as soon as possible! Good luck, I believe in you!
Dear, we are teachers.
I just returned from the holidays since the end of the school year and opened my email for the first time. My last teacher emailed me the day after working day, worried about her child’s grades, and now I have several follow-up emails that force me to respond. The student did not hand in a few assignments and I felt I was forced to deal with it during the summer vacation. Do I need to respond to my parents?
– Clock
Dear otc,
It’s really a difficult problem! I’ve actually had the same situation a few times in my career. you are not alone.
Personally, I won’t reply to emails. If you are submitting your grades and after the school year, you need to go to the administrator. If parents have a strong opinion of this, they can email it to your administrator. I also often find that families have initial freaks about grades, but after a while, they calm down and sometimes learn some facts that weren’t shared before (e.g., the number of lost jobs) that changed their perspective.
Now, if you really want to respond (or you feel the school’s culture needs a response, I understand), be concise and clear. Thanks for their attention, send a PDF of student grades, write down the missing work, and end the email: “A good summer vacation.”
If your government does follow up, I would do something similar (although there is no summer signature). Clearly and simply share why students have achieved their grades. These jobs are also included if you follow up on students asking for work by the end of the year, or remind them in a course schedule or other message. Basically, you want to show administrators your chances of success for students during the year, but they responded too late.
Ultimately, I hope you enjoy the space and enjoy the summer vacation! While it is very difficult for teachers, students and families, disconnection is key. Good luck, I believe in you!
Do you have a burning problem? Send us an email at AskWeareTeachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear, we are teachers.
I was at the end of June (about two weeks!) and my first child expired, which was when time to go to school. The HR explained to me that a few months ago I had the option to take maternity leave at the start of the fall semester, which would put me off all summer, plus my maternity leave, so it was about five months in total – awesome! This week, my principal came to my room and asked me to consider taking down the rest of the year instead of taking maternity leave in the fall. The worst time, she said, was in the first few months of school. Is she? Should I rethink?
– Baby time
