Teaching well takes lots of prep.
As I think about the topic of prep, I realize that the one or two days some systems provide for official preparation are inadequate since today's teaching requires substantial preparation.
You may prepare to teach well over the summer months with the following actions:
Establish or continue healthy routines. Teaching well requires that you're energetic, healthy, and flexible.
Simplify. After a long day of teaching, the last thing you want to do is come home to extensive home care jobs and activities. The simpler your home, the more time you'll have for relaxation and family after a long day of teaching.
Read, research, and learn. The more you know, the better you'll teach. Make time for daily learning.
Life long learning. If you learn in the ways that you encourage students to learn, your message and coaching will be much more powerful. Read books, keep a journal, connect online, create, solve problems, invent, and discover.
See mistakes as opportunities for growth and practice using language that emphasizes that such as, "I made a mistake, and now have learned that . . . so next time I'll be able to do that better, get closer to solving the problem, or see a new learning path."
Prepare the stage for optimal learning. When possible fill in the gaps of the upcoming year's syllabi, supplies, organization, and communication. Make the time to create a learning environment that's accessible to learners 24-7 online and off in child-friendly, responsive, independent ways.
Create easy-to-follow organization, structures, routines, and communication which make learning engaging and effective.
Preparing the stage for the upcoming school year with the actions above will ensure that there's more time during the school year to attend to individual student's needs, interests, and passions with care and success. This effort will also help you to keep healthy, reasonable routines during the busy teaching days and weeks--a positive way to do the job.
