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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45 Responses to “Short Summer?”
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 » Show All Comments
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.