The most common question I will be asked for the next month is about what I do in the summer. With my whole heart, I wish all professions provided an extended break for people to rest, explore, and enjoy their loved ones because I know how valuable that opportunity of a 10-12 week break has been for me.
Daniel H. Pink in his New York Times bestselling book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, agrees. Late in the book, he talks about well-known graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister who takes a yearlong break from his work every seven years and has found that those breaks make him better at his craft. Summers do the same for me. I am a better teacher because of summer breaks that give me time for rest, as well as personal and professional exploration.
When I started teaching, I liked teaching summer school and signing up for committee work. As a rookie, the extra income and professional experience was helpful. Just today I ran into a current rookie teacher who is working 30 hours a week at Target this summer. Some of my colleagues have their own businesses in construction and landscaping. Others work seasonal jobs at pools and parks. For teachers, summer can be a time to bolster our income and get a taste for other types of work that many of our students will pursue one day.
Once I had children, I cherished my summers at home with them. We went to pools, parks, plays, playgrounds, lakes, libraries, baseball games, and softball games. We woke up late together and stayed up late together. They had their friends and cousins over, and we took drives to see their great grandparents and grandparents. Many of my most cherished memories as a parent and my children’s most cherished memories from growing up occurred in the summer. Having the same breaks from school as my children is one of the greatest benefits that comes with teaching.
I’ve also used summertime to learn and grow professionally. Many, if not all, teachers have spent time in the summer working on graduate credits for advanced degrees and license renewal. For me the summer has been a prime time to complete classes for my masters degree in English, an EL (English Learners) Endorsement, and an additional 24 graduate credits beyond my masters degree. Advancements in educational research, along with changing technology and students, make continuous learning a must for educators, and summer provides the time to do that.
Summer break has also been a great time to explore new places and interests. Some of my favorite trips during the summer have been to Okoboji, Northern Minnesota, the Black Hills, Minneapolis, Houston, and Los Angeles. I have colleagues who go on extended camping and hiking trips, travel overseas, and even live in another place during the summer. In addition to travel, I have also had the time to explore interests such as yoga, adult league softball, and book clubs. Summer is a great time to enjoy all life has to offer.
No one should become a teacher because they want a summer break. The intense physical, mental, and emotional labor of being a teacher will be too much for anyone whose priority is having summers off. But, for those who love the idea of dedicating their life’s work to helping young people learn and grow, summer is certainly one of many valuable benefits the career has to offer, and I am grateful.
