The Three Best Reasons To Go Into Teaching?

June, July and August. 

It's an old joke, but actually, one that I believed in when I was deciding to become a teacher.  Without those three reasons, I might never have settled into education.

Like a lot of young people, there was a long period of time where I enjoyed being outdoors, carefree and open to whatever might come my way.  Aren't these nearly universal attributes of being between 18-30 years of age?

And, in general, summer is one of the great benefits of being a teacher, whether that means travel, performing other work, having time with family, taking opportunities to learn--it's up to the individual.

Funny that, in my case, for many years, the first weeks of summer were kind of tough.  I mean, how does one "gear down" from having 150 kids every day to being without any schedule or human context whatsoever?  Answer:  slowly.

Unfortunately, that's not the way it happens.  One day there are a thousand things to do with more people than you can handle, the next day, total deafening silence:  no bells, no voices, and no one needs you.  You wake up in the morning and there is that kind of existential angst rising within:  what should I do with myself?

Thus begins the big challenge for this part of a teacher's life:  summertime and the living is easy.  Too easy?  Can too easy be too hard?  And, what is the best way to spend the summer?

These are worthy questions to explore, and I hope that other teachers will chime in on this topic, especially ones with years of experience who know how to handle "time off" so that, in the fall, "time on" becomes more productive and effective, maybe even more balanced and fulfilling.

I can only speak for myself, but it did take a long time before I became more comfortable with summer break.  I learned that a mix of activities, some work, some learning, some travel, some total down-time, was the best way to parcel out my time.  But, the key is:  to be intentional and pro-active rather than feckless and reactionary.

But, figuring that out itself took time.  Years really, in my case.

So the message this morning will be of the same thematic gist as other things discussed at this site over the course of the school year:   there is not a standard approach or one correct way of doing things.  As a human being, and as a teacher, the task is always to reflect on what you feel inside, to connect with what you see happening outside and push yourself into areas and domains that will lead to personal growth and development.

Stretch yourself, even if a little bit.  Yoga is good for you, especially the yoga of interiority. 

We are all students;  we are all teachers.  And in the summer, for teachers, the biggest area to learn about is still that big mass of impulses, feelings and intellect that we call the self.

Look for it.  And take your time.  There are almost three months to come up with something new and different that will be just the perfect patch for those students and classes next fall.