Summer Plans

  Now you can almost smell that first cup of coffee or tea you'll be drinking after leisurely waking up in the morning.  It's a well deserved experience that teachers look forward to from March on.
   After a little time to decompress, it's time to evaluate the school year.  Not for some form that will be filed in some far away folder but for yourself!  A little distance helps to review what worked and what didn't.  I always found that, even if I didn't want it to, thoughts about the year seeped into my brain.
   As teachers, we don't turn off our brains at the end of the day.  There were times I wish I could leave it behind but teachers are constantly evaluating themselves.   "How did that lesson go?  Why didn't that student understand the material?  How can I teach that lesson and target everyone's levels?"  These are the questions we hear inside our heads. Non-teachers don't realize the pressure we put on ourselves!
   So take some cleansing breathes, sleep a little late (if you can), and take life a little slower.  When those ideas about how to "spice up" your direct instruction sneak into your thoughts, you'll be ready to explore some new ideas and techniques.
   Have a great summer and you'll hear from me in August.  RELAX and RENEW!