If you've ever peeked onto #TeacherTok or #TeacherGram, you know there are two sides to the summer planning debate: those that do the MOST over the summer, and those who don't give school a second thought until the first day of their contract.
So, what's the reality? Is there a right or wrong way to approach summer break? The quick answer is NO - there are valid reasons to prep over the summer, and equally valid reasons to kick back and relax and let the work wait. The only wrong way to go about the summer planning debate is to shame other teachers for their choice. Because let's be honest - teaching is tough enough already. The last thing you need as a teacher is other teachers judging you for how you choose to spend your summer.
So let's talk about it - How can you find a healthy balance so you start your school year feeling refreshed AND prepped? What are some things you can prep before you head back into the building? What are some things that can (and should) wait? What advice do I have for newer teachers trying to decide what, if anything, they should do before school starts?
Know Yourself - Are you the type of person who prefers to soak up every minute of summer, and then shift into work mode at the start of your in-service week feeling recharged and ready to take on the new year? Or do you prefer to work a little here and there with Love Island on in the background so that you can head into the work week feeling like you've got your feet under you? Knowing your preferences, and what will give YOU the best start to your school year, is step number one.
Know Your Situation - Are you switching themes this year? Refreshing all of your decor, bulletin boards, and more? Heading into a new grade level? A new teacher starting fresh? These are all great reasons to start some prep ahead of time. If you know you're going to have 847 things to print, laminate, and cut out, you might want to do it in baby steps throughout the summer. Setting aside an hour here or there can make a big difference on your workload when you get back into the building. On the flip side, if you love the way your room looked last year, if you're staying put and not much is changing, if you got to prep your bulletin boards before you left for summer - you might not need to spend your time and energy on classroom prep over the summer.
Know What You Need - If you're a brand new teacher (yay!) or if you're switching to a new school or district, you might want to connect with a teammate before you invest lots of time into prepping. There's nothing worse than buying, printing, laminating, and cutting out 26 alphabet posters only to find out that your district requires you to use the ones they provide (trust me, I learned this the hard way).
Know What's Effective - Not all prep is created equal! If you want to print some cute trolley labels for your 10-drawer cart, go for it! But if it involves your class list in any way, I'd strongly suggest you hold off. Take it from someone who has thrown away too many name tags and birthday displays to count - your list will change. Don't put yourself in a position where you have to do the same work twice!
Know Your Limits - If you decide to prep over the summer because it will take stress off of you during the work week, that's awesome. But don't do it because someone on Instagram told you that you have to, don't do it because you think your classroom has to be Pinterest-worthy and perfect, and definitely don't do it if it will cause you MORE stress. Remember that this is your job, not your life.
So to sum up this hot take on summer prep - it's okay to be excited, it's okay to be passionate, it's okay to do what YOU need to be the great teacher that you are... but it's also okay to take a break. It's okay to sit by the pool with a good book and not think about your classroom. It's okay to show up to your in-service week with nothing but an iced coffee and a tan. Whether you're a "prep all the things" teacher or a "see you in September" teacher, don't forget to take care of yourself, and the rest will be okay.
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