The Pull of the Classroom
Posted by Amy Erickson on 05 Jun 2009 | Posted in: Inspiration and Motivation, Life After School, Planning and Curriculum, Teachers and Teaching, The Mailbox Books
For a teacher, there’s nothing quite like the end of the school year. It’s busy, tiring, fun, gratifying; the list goes on and on. For me, it was a time of conflicting emotions. I found it hard to say goodbye to my students, but I also looked forward to having time off. I longed to spend lazy mornings at my favorite summertime destination, Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It’s such an incredibly peaceful spot! But a funny thing always happened soon after vacation started: I would start getting excited about the next school year.
Somehow or another my mind would wander to the topic of school, and I’d start thinking about revamping part of my classroom routine or trying something new for literacy or math. Once I started thinking about it, the
ideas would keep coming and the anticipation would build. It sounds crazy, I know, especially since I so looked forward to rest and relaxation in the summer. But that’s what happened, year after year. It was even harder to “turn off” the ideas during the summers before I changed teaching positions or classrooms.
How about you? In the midst of the summer, do your thoughts stray back to your classroom and next year? Or are you able to put those thoughts on hold until just before back-to-school?
Congratulations to Lynn of Dayton, Ohio. She is the winner of the Grades 4–5 Building Math Basics book in our weekly blog drawing.
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31 Responses to “The Pull of the Classroom”
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All Comments
I usually am ok until the Fourth of July. We start our inservices about a week to a week and a half after the holidays so I know my time is drawing near. I also look at the mailbox companion as soon at it comes on line.
Today is my start of summer break. I have already been looking for ideas for next year. I love summer and can’t wait to relax but in the back of my mind is school. When I am out shopping or at garage sales I am always looking for my classroom. On the other hand, I also have already started my mystery novel!:)
Hi:
I have been retired for three years but re-entering teaching. I will be teaching first grade this year. Even though I have plenty of time, I am already anxious and impatient. I keep thinking of ideas and how I want my room and door to look to welcome students. I am excited with anticipation; but also, having been a substitute these past three years, I can hardly wait as I love to teach. What a ministry and an opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives.
I have been teaching preschool for the past seven years and I look forward to getting the magazine and putting this idea into actions along with my creative
I have just finished my Elementary Education degree k-6th. I have already started collecting things for my classroom one day. There are not many teaching jobs available at this time. All I think about is how am I going to do my classroom and will I be a good teacher. It’s soooo exciting!
I’ve only been on summer break a couple of weeks, but here I am - looking at preschool-related websites and buying curriculum books to get inspired for next year’s program. It’s great to have time off, but I’m already excited about next year.
I always spend the first half of the summer reading the latest novels that somehow eluded me during the school year. Then after fulfilling my hunger to read a few of those…I end up reading the latest professional research. I decide if I want to try it out this next year. There is no way to contain my brain! The next school year is the only thing I can think about!