Happy Summer, Super Teachers!
July is almost over, and if you're like me, cabin fever is starting to set in. You might be feeling BORED, IRRITABLE, and RESTLESS. This happens because, as Super Teachers, we resist our natural urge to be productive during the summer.

It was easy to shut down in June, and up until mid-July, we enjoyed being free of all work-related thoughts. But now, as August approaches, that cabin fever feeling starts to creep in and disrupt our summer fun.
So, what's my cure for cabin fever? Start preparing for the school year! (Yes, you heard that right!)
I know, I know; it's summer—our only real break from the constant thinking, planning, and doing. Some of us are trying to avoid burnout, others are busy caring for our families, and some are committed to not touching anything related to teaching until contractually required.Â
I get it! But trust me, you'll feel much better if you put a little effort into doing what you LOVE— during the lazy days of summer. Yes, the secret is out. You love your job! You look forward to the new school year as much as you look forward to summer break. Both can be true.
If you're like me, you spend all year counting down to summer, but also half the summer counting down to the first day of school. So, let's just get on with it, together.
In this series of posts, I'll share how I beat cabin fever by prepping for the new school year. Surprisingly, this also helps me enjoy my summer more. As educators, we value productivity. It's hard for us to just relax and do nothing all summer.
The paradox of preparing for the school year is that being minimally productive frees up mental and emotional space to truly enjoy summer. Preparing in small chunks allows us to work a little and still bask in the joys of summer.
Here's a preview of what's coming up in the next post:
Three Steps to Prepping for the Upcoming School Year
1. Unpack Your Grade Level Standards and Internalize the Action Verbs (2 hours)
2. Locate and Take the Standardized Grade-Level Assessments for Your Content Areas (3 hours)
3. Preview the Curriculum You’ll Be Teaching (2 hours)
That's it—7 hours in total! You can spread this over seven 1-hour days or in larger chunks over fewer days.Â
The cool thing about prepping in small chunks over the summer is that it leaves plenty of time to enjoy the lazy days of summer or the rush of keeping little ones entertained.
Pro Tip: Set a timer. It's summer—no deadlines, no papers to grade, no parents to call. When the timer goes off, stop! Pick it back up the next day until you've completed all three steps.
Thank me later because, even if there are last-minute changes, completing these steps even once, will create the muscle memory needed to make planning easier the next time.Â
Leave a comment:Â
How long did it take you to complete the steps? What changes or additions would you make?
Up Next:
- Unpacking Your Grade Level Standards
- Take the tests your students will take (the How and Why)
- Preview the curriculumÂ
A Peek into the Future:Â Unit Zero (The Most Important Unit of the School Year!)
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