I remembered this great article in which a teacher
It's the old familiar refrain: "Oh, you're a teacher? It must be nice to have those summers off." Or, the more sneering version: "You know, those of us in the adult world have to work the whole year." ...
Although these comments are frequently dripping with condescension, I'm personally more offended by their sheer untruth.
Check out the article here: http://thenotebook.org/articles/2009/08/25/summer-break-not-really-a-break-for-teachers
Two years ago, I worked my first summer in the Tech Department. I remember wondering what I would do with all the time I had to get things done. I mean, I had two whole months. Well, I learned very quickly (especially during the last week before teachers came back), that summer is no break. I constantly saw teachers in and out of their classrooms, preparing their rooms, taking professional development or classes, mentoring new teachers, mentoring new and old students, preparing lessons for the next year, meeting with parents and students, teaching summer school, coaching summer sports, working with custodians, adapting curriculum to the new standards and new state assessments, and much, much more.
Even when I was teaching, summers were time for me to find a summer job and earn extra income, while still trying to do some of those same things on the list. Teachers in Illinois (and across the country) are required to take classes and professional development in order to maintain their teaching credentials. Knowing how busy it gets throughout the school year, summer becomes a prime time to get these things done.
Check out the article here: http://thenotebook.org/articles/2009/08/25/summer-break-not-really-a-break-for-teachers
My Summer
It sure gets quiet around here in the summer and that is not a bad thing. Its a time when I can get things done, well not really.Two years ago, I worked my first summer in the Tech Department. I remember wondering what I would do with all the time I had to get things done. I mean, I had two whole months. Well, I learned very quickly (especially during the last week before teachers came back), that summer is no break. I constantly saw teachers in and out of their classrooms, preparing their rooms, taking professional development or classes, mentoring new teachers, mentoring new and old students, preparing lessons for the next year, meeting with parents and students, teaching summer school, coaching summer sports, working with custodians, adapting curriculum to the new standards and new state assessments, and much, much more.
Even when I was teaching, summers were time for me to find a summer job and earn extra income, while still trying to do some of those same things on the list. Teachers in Illinois (and across the country) are required to take classes and professional development in order to maintain their teaching credentials. Knowing how busy it gets throughout the school year, summer becomes a prime time to get these things done.
Comments
Post a Comment