May and June are always hectic; and literally every teacher meme about ‘getting to the finish line’ is true. However, at least for me, it is a sad time. We say goodbye to our students, some for the summer and some forever as they embark on their post-secondary adventures. At the same time as we are wrapping up we are also gearing up for the next school year. There are a few things us educators can do that can make this time of the year better.
Teacher Wellness/Self-Care
This is increasingly becoming a popular topic. Compassion fatigue is real. Teacher fatigue is real. We can’t possibly be effective and look after others if we don’t look after ourselves. We may think to ourselves that we can just burn the candle at both ends and then ‘recover over the summer.’ But let’s face it…we never actually do…we just keep going. Attending PD sessions, planning lessons, buying supplies, adapting curriculum, preparing materials, decorating our classrooms, etc. Never underestimate the importance of sleep; make it a priority, not something you do for a few hours each night after working. Set a timer; once it rings put away what you were doing whether you finished it or not and “go the fuck to sleep!” We always stress how important it is for our kiddos to sleep but we don’t always practice what we preach. You can avoid the June burnout and pre-summer cold simply by getting a good night’s sleep on a CONSISTENT basis.
Have Fun With Your Colleagues
Some people subscribe to the belief that the people at your place of employment are co-workers and nothing more; but I strongly disagree. You walk into any school or staffroom and you find a family; a number of adults (from custodians, to educational assistants to secretaries to administration staff to teachers) who are all heavily invested in “their kids.” We are all riding the same emotional rollercoaster together, we are the ones in the trenches fighting tooth and nail to make sure the kids get the best possible education, feel safe, are supported and set up for success. There are elements of confidentiality associated with working with young people so technically we only have our colleagues to talk to about what goes on. Our colleagues are special! As much as we need to take care of ourselves we also need to make sure our “work family” is taking care of themselves. Leave the comfort of the staffroom behind and have some fun; take advantage of the nice weather. This will help you all re-charge and finish the year off on a strong note.
Find the Joy/Celebrate Success
There are lots of stakeholders in education and they all have differing opinions on what is being done, what should be done, and how you and the students have been doing. It is very easy to internalize and take things personally; a low test score, an interaction with a stakeholder than didn’t go as planned, a lesson that flopped, a new initiative launched by central office or the Minister of Education. We let those define our days, months and school years as a whole; we let them pile up over the school year. Let’s stop with the negativity. Re-frame your mindset: if something didn’t go what, come up with at least one way in which you can plausibly work toward fixing it for the next school year. Find joy every day; no matter how small it may seem. And do this overtly; reflect with the kiddos, your colleagues and your loved ones.
When the school year does end…
Don’t Let Work Take Over Your Summer
Don’t ever feel bad for taking a break; I know I struggled with teacher guilt for a while. I am getting better and making sure I have some ME time. I force myself to take the first week of July off with ZERO school work. Then I only do maybe an hour (or maybe 2) Monday-Friday. I have been scheduling more and more mini-trips or activities throughout the summer to make sure I actually get out, get moving and have fun.