Summer Vacation

Summer is just about here. The school year is over. How does that make you feel? If you are like me, your emotions are all over the place. You are exhausted, excited, sad, hopeful and relieved. Just to name a few.

Regardless of how you feel, a few things will be different. For one, you will probably not have the same schedule. Your days will be less tied to bells and meetings. You will have the ability to decide what you want to do and when you want to do it. This is both liberating and overwhelming – all at the same time. Creating a new schedule is one of the joys of summer. It also takes some time to adjust to this new found freedom. Be kind to yourself as you navigate this change. It is harder than it looks.

Another difference will be that fact that you have to let go of the last school year. You no longer have one more day with that particular group of students and the community you worked so hard to build all year long. You need to trust in the work you did and then let it go.

I know, easier said than done. I always tell my students that I come with a lifetime guarantee. I will always help them but I know our relationship will never be the way it was and that is okay. Give yourself time to grieve those losses.

And finally, the biggest difference of all – you get to focus on you. What will you do to love and support yourself. You do such a wonderful job loving and supporting your students, how well do you do the same for yourself? Please do not forget that part of being a good teacher is taking care of yourself. I would even argue that it is the most important part.

So happy summer vacation! Take care of yourself and enjoy this precious time. Remember, the goal is to be ready for the next school year – but you have lots of time before you need to think about that.

Thanks for reading, kim!