Did you know that teachers don’t really live at school? While it is quite a common myth, especially for younger children to believe, teachers actually have a life outside of school. All year long for 9.5 hard and strenuous months, I work my butt off. My brain is always moving, thinking, planning, acting (not reacting!). My brain gets tired. My brain is pooped. My brain needs a break.
The infamous question always gets asked - “So, what do teachers really do on summer break?”
What a great question — the easy answer: everything they have been meaning to do since last August.
More specifically:
Cleaning and Doing Laundry
Okay, while I may not have put cleaning and laundry off for the last 9.5 months, I can sure tell you that it hasn’t been getting done very often… or, very well. Funny thing is, cleaning and doing laundry was on my list of things to do today — and well, it just didn’t get done. Funny how that works out.
Read Good Books
I always read before I go to bed, but during the school yeah I can only make it through about 3 pages before my eyes start glazing over and my head starts bobbing up and down. Thankfully, in the summer I much more apt to read longer and well, there’s that down time outside that I don’t seem to mind. My goal within the next week is to compile a “Summer Reading List”.
Which brings me to…
Relaxing Pool Side
Although I wish I had my own pool, that’s just not an option right now. Therefore, I’ll take the next best thing and go to one of the two community pools in my town. Thankfully both of them are clean (nothing’s worse than a dirty community pool), and I really only go in the pool to cool off every once in a while. Both of them are exactly 5.7 miles away from my house (weird, right?) so it’s a quick trip to either.
Long Runs
And well - more time to be active in general. I love riding my bike and running to the gym in the summer. There’s nothing better than working up a sweat only to go lay by the pool later in the day!
Creeper alert!
Babysit
I have my sister’s kids one day a week (Tuesdays) this summer — they will be spent playing outside, going to the movies, and breaking up many (MANY) fights.
Tutor
A student of mine needs some extra help over the summer before he heads off to middle school, so Friday mornings will be spent helping him out!
Vacation
Punta Cana — check!
Secret Surprise Vacation — check!
Working
Working? In the summer? Who am I?
Believe it or not, I kind of consider blogging a part time job. While I enjoy it a lot, and think of it as a hobby, this summer will be all about making some big changes to CEC!
I am also taking a class and going to a Teaching conference in the middle of the summer! Teachers work hard in the summer too!
Here’s to the next 2.5 months of my life!
Question: Is your work schedule different in the summer than it is during the rest of the year?
{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
Ohhhh Winter Garden is the next book on my list after I finish my current one! Since I go to a “year-round” college, I don’t really have a summer, but this year I have off July and August. My goal is just to read a lot and spend a lot of time outside doing whatever I feel like. I’ve already made it through 5 books since the middle of May. I really was (maybe still am?) one of those people who was always so curious what happened to teachers over the summer.
Look atchoo all freckled!! I wish I had freckles sometimes. I am jeal of your ability to lay by the pool, I would dieeee to have a nice pool nearby!
waaaahooooo for your well-earned break!!!I don’t really have a different schedule because I’m a student but I know my dad gets Friday’s off during summer
I always wondered what my teachers were doing during the summer.
I have the summer off too (I’m a special ed assistant). Although I’ll still be “working,” very, very part-time tutoring kids at school. So I’ll still get to do everything that you’re planning on doing: reading, running, cleaning, and relaxing by the pool. I love summer!
My mom is a teacher, so I know the summer life of teachers pretty well. I’ll always envy teachers for their summer schedule.
oh I am so happy for you. Well deserved break. you teachers WORK HARD!!
I don’t think I’ve ever once thought about how my teachers were spending their summers. Maybe I really did think they lived at school!
I love your plan to read a lot. I always try to do that too.
Oh yes! My sceduale as TOTALLY changed since school’s been out. It’s crazy how short of a time it took to change.
I never knew you were a teacher!!! What is your favorite subject to teach?
hmm that’s a hard question - I love doing novel studies and discussing literature - but I also love teaching math, which is crazy because I don’t like math.
Sounds like a good summer to me! Especially that traveling….WOO HOO! I love going to new places and the surprise should be a blast! Can’t wait to hear about it!!!!
Lol I once ran into one of my profs sitting in front of a coffee shop, and I was like “What… what are you doing here? You belong in the classroom and not out in the real world”. Crazy to think that teachers have lives outside school
Glad you’re enjoying your summer, tho!
I’m a teacher. I honestly don’t feel like I’m the same person in the summer! I read A LOT during the summer. I also do projects around the house, paint, go to music festivals, spend time with friends and family…
Good for you, Chelsey! I imagine you are an awesome teacher, and you really do deserve the summer to do what it you love!
And unfortunately, my summer schedule is no different from any other time of the year…woo hoo Corporate America…LOL!
LOVE fun in the sun!! Enjoy your time outdoors and soak up that vitamin d:)
Summer has a whole new meaning when you’re a teacher. I just finished student teaching a few weeks ago and have been subbing in the time since. Enjoy your summer to the fullest!
My schedule is completely different during the summer than during the school year. Because I don’t take classes during the summer I work a full-time job and this summer I got a second part-time job to go along with it. On a side note I LOVE Kristen Hannah! I have only read one of her books but I really enjoyed it and liked her writing style!!
That all sounds wonderful! That’s so funny that kids think teachers live at school!
My schedule is pretty open in general but during the summer I do love to spend more time outdoors!
I’m a little jealous of you for sure! Not so much because it’s really “vacation” because my parents were teachers, too, and they stayed crazy busy, but because of the little mix up in the schedule you get for the few months out of the year…
Wait a minute… are you sure teachers don’t live at school? Haha your summer sounds great! Can’t wait to see what’s in store with your bloggie!!
My work schedule is different because the summer months are our busy times at the hotel. During the winter, because I’m the newbie at the desk, I get cut hours. But thankfully I have a mom who lets me work with her some days a week to make up the extra cash.
you definitely deserve the 2 months off! my schedule is the same for work (i’m a nurse!) but i went back to school and i’ll finally be on a break in two weeks
Glad you will be relaxing! Anyone who works with kids definitely deserves such a break!
This post made me laugh out loud! (more than once…) Have you read this book? It’s my favorite! I read it to my kiddos at the beginning of the year. http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Sleeps-School-Picture-Puffins/dp/0140505598
I hate the question “So, what are you doing this summer???”…. I always want to reply “Living! …Because I haven’t done it since August. I think I’ll give it a try…”
HAHA! That’s so funny about the “living” comment. I have seen that book before. What grade do you teach again?
I’ve taught Kindergarten, 2nd grade…. and now I’ll be teaching 3rd grade, next year will be 4th….
I think I’m part of a cruel experiment to see how much a teacher can take before she goes nuts!
Sounds like a good summer if you ask me! I’m excited to see said “big changes” to CEC!!
Secret surprise vacation to Utah right??? I am so so happy it is finally your summer vacation!! Yay for running, laundry, reading and babysitting….once again we are twins (except I am doing stupid summer school for 1.5 weeks, boo). Wish I could spend my summer vacation playing with you!
You figured me out!
Summer breaks is one of the only reasons why I would consider being a teacher haha…it’s no faaaiiirrrrr (said in whiny 5 year old voice). I guess with going back to school, I technically will have summers off, so I can’t really say much!
My mom is a 5th grade teacher, so I totally understand what teachers love to do in the summer-RELAX! Y’all work so hard. You deserve it!!
Sounds like a fantastic time. It’s great that you’re a tutor to one of your students! Teachers work SO hard, so you deserve the time for you
Have a FANTASTIC summer, Chelsea!
This is my second summer since graduating college, so I’m still kind of adjusting to the “summer is the same as the rest of the year” schedule, but that’s not TOTALLY true, because there are more vacations in the summer… not to mention more cookouts, trips to the river, and random adventures! I LOVE SUMMER!
Hope you have a nice relaxing break! You deserve it!
Funny, one of my friends teaches first grade, and he posted on Facebook today, “Anyone who says teachers get 2 months off needs to be a teacher. They would run screaming from my class before lunch!” So true-I’m a high school teacher & I know I don’t have the temperament for elementary! I was out the Friday before Memorial Day, but am working through June on various grants & a two-week summer writing academy.
I hope you enjoy all your summer plans:)
Yay for changes! I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.
Hi! Just wondering which Asics those are and how you like them? Thanks!
They are GT-2150′s - I love them! I’m an Asics girl!
Working up a sweat, then laying by the pool is one of my favorite things to do in the summer! We have a neighborhood clubhouse with a nice pool that’s only a 5 minutes walk from my house - so I’ll be spending a lot of time there!
How nice!
Wellll, my schedule was different in the summer but now that I’m graduated it’s just different all together. I’m glad you get a break to do some of the fun things you’ve been wanting to do
I’m hoping to do the same! Reading, taking my time exercising/cooking and updating my blog!
I’m currently a PhD student so my schedule is currently the same throught the year, however I will be taking some extra breaks for mini holidays this summer.
AHH so lucky u get a summer break! there are so many workers out there who are JEALOUS!… well for me. since im still a student. fo who summer= HAPPINESS! and EVERYTHing is different!
Yes, a lot of those things are also on my summer “to-do” list and I can´t wait!! Only a couple of weeks and summer here I am!
I can’t WAIT till summer!! Yours sounds awesome- specially this surprise holiday thing!! And wowzers you’re looking TANNED Chelsey!! Clearly those outdoor runs are paying off!
We could totally be book buddies, loved winter garden
My Dad was a teacher and it was so much fun to have summer off with him! Enjoy!
summer vacation sounds fantastic!
My schedule pretty much stays the same. I take of 4 weeks during the summer so my husband and I can visit his family in Italy. Then, my schedule completely changes. Something like, go to bed around 1am and wake up around 10am. I’m hoping to get on a better schedule this summer, but it’s hard with Italians! lol
I love summer and i’m jealous of your break. Its awesome you have a game plan though instead of just sitting around relaxing! I’m jealous of your trip to punta cana we just got back from riveira may it was incredible.
i’m in the wrong field. i would be happy to work my buns off for 9 months to get 3 {relative} months of freedom. enjoy!!!
I can totally appreciate this list - my boyfriend is a teacher too and he lives for his summers! Even though he works a different job in the summer, it’s completely different than teaching which I think is a necessary change of pace. You teachers work so hard and totally deserve (and need) the break.
It seems like a great time to catch up on things you don’t normally have time for, like running, reading, and working on the blog. Excited to see the changes! I’m sure they will be fabulous!
Summers are the reason high school is worth it. This is my last one at home before going off to college, so I’m going to enjoy it!
Ahhh summer break! I loved summer break!! And funnily enough I got questions from HIGH SCHOOLERS when they would see me out in public. Like at the grocery store…”Oh. Senora R what are you doing here? Why are you here?!” — Um, I eat food too. Kids are special. LOL
Excited for the CEC changes, even though I love it just as is too. It’s fn doing blog work. And I totally consider it a job! A great, great, great one but a job nonetheless.
haha! That is one reason why I don’t work in the town I live in - I don’t have to see anyone!
i would not be a good teacher, but ohhhh how i long for a few weeks off to get all those things done as well!!
Your summer sounds like it’s going to be amazing! You totally deserve to relax after working so hard throughout the school year.
As a student, I love that I still get summers off! I have a job for the summer, but it’s still a nice break from studying and stressing about school. I’m dreading the day when I don’t get a summer break.
I work the same year round, but I think having the summers off would be great. I’m definitely making a summer reading list for myself. I will have a little more down time than I usually do.
I’m so happy you posted about teachers!!! I’m counting down the days until I get to do yard work and laundry
I teach in the summer, too! I teach teachers- getting their additional qualifications in Phys Ed. (But, it’s only 5 hours a day and Fridays off!) Also still teaching yoga and fitness at the gym! So happy that you have planned your summer to include work time AND much deserved down time.
Hi Chelsey!
(And as mentioned in a previous post, keep posting often because I’ll be back!)
I recently found your blog through someone else’s blogroll (Unfortunately I saved the page on my laptop a few days ago and can’t remember who’s, so lack of credit there - sorry!)
Love your style of writing! I’m taking up a new school job in about 6 weeks, and have recently been compiling a list of things to get in before I start (I work part time at the mo so need to start making the most of that!) - This post was great for some ideas so thanks for that!
Keep up the good work!
you actually make being a teacher sound enticing! enjoy your time off!! all of these ideas are time well spent - wish I had some to borrow!
-courtney
{ 3 trackbacks }