What do teachers do during the summer?

Answer 1

1.) Many take courses in July to increase in salary grid or for professional growth.
2.) Many work (summer school, camps, etc.) to supplement income.
3.) Many chillax and get ready for another stressfull year. This is very important. This can be done a variety of ways, but not limited to: traveling, hanging around the house, enjoying some fine wine and beer.
4.) Catch up on life (house chores/projects, contacting friends/relatives, etc). It's unbelievable how much teachers leave for the summer.
5.) Professional reading. Never have time to do it in the school year on the latest pedagogy.
6.) Prepare units and long range plans for next year.

By early August most teachers are thinking and getting set for school. By mid August, many are in schools getting classrooms and materials ready for the first day.

I have done # 1 and # 2 way too many times... this summer, I am going to chill at home, catch up on life, improve my units and read professional 5 books gathering dust this past year. lol

Answer 2

Well, when I was a teacher, I worked during the summer (teaching in a summer program) -- couldn't afford not to earn any money all summer! Keep in mind, too, that teachers don't get out of school until several days after the kids do (they have to pack stuff up and things like that) and start school a week or two before the kids do (to set up the classroom, develop lesson plans, etc.).

Very few people who haven't been teachers understand how much work it really is!

Answer 3

Most of them actually have jobs in their field of teaching. My electrical technology teacher was an electrician during the summer, my basic drafting teacher was an architect, and my math teacher was an accountant for a company.

Answer 4

I am a teacher and most newer teachers work summer jobs to help supplement their income in the summer. Other teachers who can afford it travel or take college courses to increase their salary.

Answer 5

Read yahoo answers saying what horrible people we are and how overpaid and underworked.

Get life organized for another year. This year I am spending my summer settling my parent's estate and cleaning out their house and getting it on the market.

My principal always gives us a book she wants us to read. I have a pile of novels I have collected and haven't had time to read.

Most years I go to teacher inservices since I don't have the energy to go after school for 3-4 hours and spend my Sat. doing that.

To all the people who think teachers are underworked and overpaid- why aren't you teachers? If it is such a simple job why aren't you doing it? You can even sub just to get some experience.

Answer 6

Last summer, I taught algebra in summer school. I had eight weeks, 4 hours a day, to cover everything the students should have learned in the entire school year. Since teaching pays so little compared to other careers, most teachers have summer jobs. We also have to take classes ourselves. In my state, teaching licenses last only 5 years, and you must take 6 hours of classes in order to renew them.

Answer 7

We attend workshops (many at our own expense) as we are required to accumulate a certain number of annual professional development hours to stay abreast of current instructional theories or methods. We also plan for the next year. There is no such thing as just walking in the door the first day of school without many days of preparation. As far as whining about what our salaries are as one person said, yes we probably do that about as much as everyone else. While many of us do get summers/holiday off, keep in mind that I rarely get to go home at night during the school year and watch television or go out with friends. As an English teacher, I rarely venture away from school without armloads of papers to grade. Additionally, we have extra-curricular activities to coach and sponsor, evening meetings to attend, and some of us are Homebound teachers to boot, which means that when the day ends, we still have students to see. Summers off? I am still tying up loose ends from the last school year at the same time I'm reading novels and planning lessons for the next school year. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't do something associated with my profession. I'm not complaining, because I love teaching -- not for the money -- not for the time off. I love it because I am able to see the positive effects of my time spent with my students on a daily basis. You see, though, you really have no clue of what's involved in our profession, whether it be the amount of work or the amount of rewards, unless you've been a teacher. Oh, and most of us possess really high morals and work hard to be good role models for our students (your children)...not prey on them. Don't judge me or my profession by the actions of a few sick individuals...those kinds of people are in every walk of life and in every profession.

Answer 8

I am a teacher and in the summers I spend time with my kids (like I do all year long) and increase my knowledge and learning. I attend many professional development workshops, seminars & conferences.

I usually try to "Spring Clean" and declutter my house becuase I don't have time during the year.

Answer 9

Currently I am working at a year-round school. Before this I would work, take classes, do stuff around the house, relax, plan for the upcoming school year, learn any newly adopted curriculum, attend workshops.

Answer 10

Wow, Flower Girl must not have any teachers in their family. A majority of people in my family are teachers. And they love it. But teachers have to discipline and teach your children and usually put up with them more than the parents do. They are underpaid and definetly unappreciated (she showed that fact). I would dare her to try to teach for a year and live on a teacher's salary and see if she still whined about teacher's whining.
speaking of IGNORANCE