Summer School

 

As summer approaches for students, teachers, and families, the question of summer school naturally comes up. This year, I’ve decided to teach summer school, though I haven’t taught it every year. If you're thinking about whether to take on a summer school position, here are a few important things to consider:

1) Do you have the energy for it?
Summer school is often fast-paced and can feel more intense than the regular school year. I've taught in programs where students were in the same class all day, and others where each class lasted only 1.5 hours. Either way, the condensed schedule can be demanding and may leave little room for downtime during the day.

2) Do you need—or want—a break?
Summer school often begins the Monday or Tuesday after the school year ends and wraps up just a week or two before the new year begins. This tight timeline can leave little opportunity for teachers to rest, travel, or recharge. If you're feeling burnt out by the end of the school year, jumping straight into summer school might not be the best choice.

3) Would you rather work elsewhere, or not at all?
Many teachers use summer to take on a different type of job, explore a new interest, or simply enjoy a well-earned break. Since teacher paychecks are often spread out over 12 months, many educators still receive income in the summer for work they did during the school year.