Short Summer?
Posted by Sharon M. Tresino on 22 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Life After School, Organization and Supplies, Planning and Curriculum
Summers are getting shorter. At least that’s the impression I got during recent trips to discount stores. While getting ready for a beach trip, I went shopping for swimming supplies. What I found was that the outdoor-living area, which had overflowed into several aisles in May, 
was reduced to one aisle. In its place was—you guessed it—every kind of back-to-school supply imaginable! This was early in July! I felt like summer was being snatched away from me.
What do you think? Do you get excited about returning to the classroom when you see back-to-school supplies in early July? (I have to admit, there’s nothing better than a brand-new box of crayons no matter what time of year!) Or do you feel like you’re missing out on some of your summer?
Congratulations to Julie Ulm, Norkenzie Christian Preschool; Eugene, OR. She is the winner of a copy of the Best of Mailbox Authors, Prek-K.
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I remember when school did not start until after Labor Day. Now it starts the second week of August.
So I guess I would have to say school starts earlier and earlier every year. I do love the beginning of the school year though.
I am feeling mixed this year….I felt that this summer felt really short due to going later in June. Yet…I am getting a whole new team which to me is exciting….so I have about 2 weeks left before going back to set up my room. Once I get in there I will get more excited to meet my new class!
Summer? What summer? I teach in a year-round school. My last day of work for the 2008-2009 academic year is August 12. My first day of work for the 2009-2010 academic year is August 19… but I can’t complain… I’ll have track breaks throughout the year. It’s nice to break up the school year, I find my students don’t regress as much.
School Shopping!!! IN JULY the best. What is better than getting notebooks for 10 cents!!
Well, yes I agree with you that I love seeing the school supplies out at cheap prices and I used to get mad at the same time that they were cutting our summer short. But guess what? I now work at a year round school and believe it or not we need these supplies because school starts right after the 4th of July weekend!! Talk about the summer cut short, 9 days off before the next new class rolled into my room.
The only upside is that we’ll get a month off during different parts of the year.
Not sure about this crazy schedule, I miss the long summer months off.
I never like to see a season rushed but I do love to find great buys for back to school. All teachers spend money on classroom supplies and it’s nice to purchase, at sale prices, the things we’ll need for the upcoming year.
I love shopping for school supplies at any time. I teach a VPK class and buy all the supplies for their boxes cheap. I love Staples and Office Depot’s prices. They always run great sales during the end of July through August.All the new gadgets are fun to explore and try out.
I just love looking over all the good deals for school supplies. I buy what I need when it’s on sale. If you wait too long, all of the good stuff is gone before school even starts!!!
unfortunately we don`t have great stores like wall mart in cyprus, (europe).you definately do not get the kind of deals you do in the states or canada,so i miss those great displays at anytime of year.
I like shopping for school supplies. With the sales, you can buy a lot for not very much money, and that makes it even more exciting. I’m also looking forward to going back to school. I feel strange in the summer without my usual routine for work.
Back to school time is always exciting for me! Yes, it does seem to be getting earlier each year, but those school supplies are something I search for in the Sunday newspaper flyers each week. There’s nothing quite so great as the smell of a new box of crayons! Especially when they are on sale!
I love it when school supplies come out in the summer. I always have- since I was little (what a surprise that I became a teacher)! I think that stores are putting things out in general earlier and earlier (aka Christmas things in mid-October…no kidding…at my local Wal-mart). I like that school supplies are put out early, though. It gives me time to find the best deals because, as most teachers, I have to buy many of my own classroom supplies. I find that the best deals are at Staples in the last week of July and each week through August! Folders for 1-10 cents(depending on the sale)!! Eraser packs for 10 cents! Wal-mart offers similar deals to compete, but nothing like Staples. But I digress, I think that getting deals is definately worth the earliness! If I just think about school supplies, I guess my summer doesn’t seem too short!
It is a little crazy that our holidays (including back to school) are advertised so early in retail. I remember getting so excited when summer was almost over (really) and the back to school supplies were out in stores. I worry that the back to school excitement wears off (now replaced with dread of a short summer) by the time school starts for kids now.
I love getting a good deal. Since my school is tight on money and purchasing supplies, I buy all of my own. Just today I got a great deal on glue sticks. I only paid 20 cents for two packs. I saved over $28 on 16 packages. I teach first grade and go through a ton of these. My mom doesn’t quite understand how that happens but I just tell her to trust me. Keep buying them I tell her.
I too get excited to see the things out for school, but am always disappointed to see the summer end. Living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we didn’t see a whole of summer this year. Quite disappointing!
Even as a child I always loved shopping for back to school supplies. As a teacher I love when the items are on sale and I am able to stock up for the upcomming year. I always try to buy everything that I think I am going to need for the school year because I know that if I were to buy the supplies I would be paying 4-5xs the price for the same exact product. Purchasing my supplies early allows me to better prepare for the projects and activities that my Kindergarteners will be completing throughout the year.
Of course while I enjoy shopping for school supplies it is rather depressing to see the fall decorations out already. It seems like summer just started and it is going to be over already.
I think it is exciting. I love watching for those deals on school supplies to stock up my classroom.
I like to see the supplies out early because I like to get prepared early and then kick back and relax. My mom always told me to get my work done first and then go out to play so I guess I’ve carried that over into adulthood.
We saw school supplies out less than a week after school was out. Finding that having to plan ahead helps me to be more organized. And there really is nothing like the sight of a brand new box of crayons!
I have mixed emotions too. My kids and I walked into Walmart and ran right into new school supplies. It was kind of funny because we got so excited that crayons were only 25 cents!!! Of course, we had to look at all the cool new patterns of notebooks too. One lady was laughing because I think she was in shock over kids getting excited over school supplies.
Of course, I love shopping for new school supplies!!! I love my summer days at the beach, but in my heart, I am always dreaming of new ideas for kindergarten.
For those of you that start school early, we only have 6 weeks left!!!
I have mixed feelings.It’s exciting to buy new supplies especially when you find a great sale, but the reality that the summer break will be over shortly makes me think about all the things I planned to accomplish this summer!
I agree with everyone, it goes by way too fast. We teachers always look forward to the holidays that happen during the school year because we know we’ll have a few days off. However, when those summer holidays come, we wish they come slowly.
Stores do put out school supplies too early as well as the holiday items. It’s really depressing to see Christmas in July! I just wish our district would post the school supplies the kids need for the following school year in local stores. Each district is different as to what they request and some parents just are not sure what to buy. There are great bargains out there and you can get some really great things early. I admitt, I do buy those “sale items” early because they make such great Christmas gifts and other gifts.
Since we’ve officially been out one month as of today it summer does certainly feel like it’s going too quickly. Our local stores have had back to school items out for a couple weeks already.
Summer does seem to go faster each year. This is probably because we have staff development sessions the week after school ends and the week before school begins - cutting our summer short by two weeks from the very start. But… I have to admit that I am getting the “fever” and have already started working on little projects for the upcoming school year!
It seems everything is rushed. Halloween things out in August, Thanksgiving out in September and Christmas items out in October. As a child I do not recall seasonal items out as early as they are now.
Back then school did not start until after Labor Day either.
Times change and we must change with them or voice our thoughts and hope there are enough of us to slow things down again.
The summers are definately too short. My local craft store has up Halloween and Christmas items. I do not even want to think about those Holidays I am busy thinking about entertaining my kids for the next several weeks.
I need to say it made me depressed! I was just getting settled into summer and enjoying time with my family. I love teaching and am always excited to buy supplies. Isn’t that the best part of starting back to school? However, it is only halfway through summer. I know no one in my family is ready to start thinking about back to school.
As a former buyer, I can relate to displaying merchandise for Back to School (BTS) in July. It is purchased by the store usually between 12-18 months in advance. So it is important to sell as much as possible as early as possible in an effort to avoid markdowns and to get the return on the investment. Usually, BTS supplies are purchased in large quantities and the discounts are passed on to the consumers. Here’s a tip: STOCK UP; BUY SOME SUPPLIES FOR NOW AND SOME FOR LATER! In January, when you need to replenish your glue, crayons, lined paper, folders, etc., you will have to PAY PREMIUM PRICE for the same items, if you can find them at all! See, doesn’t the thought of saving money make it easier to look at all the BTS stuff in July? If it makes you feel better… next year’s swimwear was probably ordered in January…burrr! Have a great summer!
My school dist. starts the 2nd week of Aug. so I guess it is time to see the school supplies in the store. It seems the older I get the faster time flies!!
I have to agree summer does seem to be getting shorter. I also have to agree seeing the school supplies out does get me excited about setting up the years lesson plans. I enjoy seeing the childern eager to start the learning process.
I couldn’t agree more; I love planning ahead and being organized, but the stores are really making things hard by clearing out summer stuff so early! School supplies are sold out before the kids are back from camp, and the Halloween costumes are sold out before the second week of school!
With this being my very first year to teach, I would have to say that I am awfully excited to see the school supplies come out into the stores! As I prepare my Pre-K classroom, it is nice to be able to have those necessities at your fingertips (and usually on sale as well)! There is also a tiny twinge of fear as I take on my very own classroom, but exciting still none the less!
It does seem like our time off in the summer gets shorter every year. I used one week in June to take a class for credit toward renewing my license, but I felt like it was time well spent gaining insight into interventions. I am like many of you; I spend a good chunk of my time going through my Mailbox magazines and books and preparing and organizing materials for the new school year. I even find myself looking for things that I can turn into a quick learning center or activity when we are traveling.
A few years ago as I stood and watched a local store put up Christmas trees in September, I got upset.
Then I stepped back from the situation and decided to just “Let it be.”
Now, when I see the school supplies out on the shelves I know it signals the beginning of a new school year…..and nothing more.
Yesterday I bought a wonderful pair of sandals for 75% off the regular price, so I guess there is an up side to the early stocking of shelves too.
I will say, I really do get excited when I see back to school items on sale in July. I start shopping for my classroom as soon as they put the items on the aisles. I do, however, also feel a little sad that the time is growing short for vacation. But most of my summer is spent preparing an index of what is going to be taught the next year. A break is nice, but I do like the thought of the next school year.
I really hate seeing school supplies early in July. Every season is being rushed up us. I was in a store last week (the 2nd week in July) and the staff was putting out the Chrismas trees! Not what I want in the summer!
I hadn’t left for vacation yet and the back to school stuff was out!!! It seems stores are rushing Halloween, Christmas and back to school sooner and sooner!! I have to confess, I have started getting ready for next year - but I attended a seminar in the spring and I wanted to put some of the things I learned into practice. I think teachers are the kind of people that are always learning, wanting to pass that on to others, and just want to improve what they do. We all know that more and more we are having to teach kids alot more than the three Rs and we are figuring out better ways of doing our job.
If you think “back to school” is a bit depressing … consider this: I saw *Halloween* displays at a local Michael’s! And Sears has Christmas already …!
I can understand the desire to “look ahead” - but this seems more of a symptom of a consumer society than anything else.
I always feel a twinge of excitement but, also a little sad. We didn’t get out until June this year so July 5th was a little early to see school supplies. About a week after returning from spring break I am ready for summer. I love school but, I also love the time spent with my family. I usually start missing the students by mid August.
I think summer could be shorter with some extra days off through out the year. Our kids don’t get a break from Christmas until summer break. They get an extra day here and there but nothing were they can get away and play….
PS Or just have summer forever!!
Valerie
It’s not just the store aisle, it’s also ads on TV. I to have my mailbox books by my couch and find myself looking through them at least once a day. (starting in July) I want to get ahead start on planning so I don’t get so overwhelmed when school does begin.
I get so sad when I see the back to school stuff in July!!! I love it in August, that fresh chill in the air some mornings, but I live for summer! There is no such thing as a summer that is too long, but for me toboggan weather is 69 degrees or below =O)
I recently had the same experience! And then I remembered having it every summer at this time. It makes me realize that I need to enjoy the rest of the summer days left, and not waste them watching Oprah or sleeping too late! It also starts to psychologically prepare me for the start of the new year, kind of a bittersweet moment in time. I have also found that by the end of August, I am usually ready to “get back to work”. I do wish the stores would wait a bit longer though…..
I really can’t complain….we get out end of May and don’t start back till mid-August. My problem is I can’t seem to put school aside even for the summer. I always have a bag of books(from the education center)by my side going through ideas for the next year. I love preparing things for the new year! Of course, once school starts I won’t be able to spend as much time doing it by the pool!
I do get excited about school whenever I see school supplies out, but then reality sets in and I realize that I am missing out on my summer. School got out at the end of May and now I am already back to work (preplanning starts Monday) and others are out still enjoying their summer. I really wish summer break was longer, at least til the middle of August.
We didn’t get out of school until June 29th, and we go back on August 25th! I wouldn’t call it excited when I saw back to school stuff the next week!