Lesson Planning

I guess I am starting to get bored at home, or maybe, I just want to get a head start on next year. I have started making extensive plans for my classes next year. Two of the classes I teach have new GPS standards. So, it was necessary to make revisions. I didn't want to allow myself to get overwhelmed when the school year is underway.

I have spoken to some peers of mine, and they have said that school is not among their thoughts lately. I must admit that I kind of envy their ability to put it out of their minds. I just can't seem to do it. I feel like I will kick myself later if I get really busy and recall that I could have taken some of the hours out of my "lazy days of summer" to get prepared for next year.

I'm pretty excited about the templates I've created for my unit-level plans and daily lesson plans. I think that I will have much less stress on a daily basis.

School's Out...Professional Development Time

Although I have enjoyed the first few days of summer vacation, I realize that I can't allow the whole summer to go by without pursuing some type of professional development. So far, I have signed up for a 4-day workshop next week to develop lessons for Atlas Rubicon. I'm also going to a one-day workshop the following week to help me prepare for a brand new class I'll be teaching next year.

I love my summer vacation, and I think it's necessary to re-charge from a busy school year. Still, I know professional development will help me get ready for next year too. So, I encourage all teachers to seek out ways to improve their practice. Not only are there workshops, but there are online classes, books, and other sources.