Top 7 Ways Educators

Are Spending Their

Summer Vacation

Based on a survey of 82 teachers, principals, administrators and superintendents in the Milken Educator Network

Q: How are you spending your summer vacation?

Q: How are you spending your summer vacation?

There’s a common perception that teachers have a lot of downtime. (Entire summers, in fact!)

At the Milken Family Foundation, we decided to put this perception to the test by turning that age old back-to-school question back on them.

Here are the top 7 answers we received…

#7: Researching and Incorporating New Standards

#7: Researching and incorporating new standards

As education policy and the needs of the student body change, teachers use their summer to study and figure out how to implement the latest standards into their classrooms including:

• Common Core State Standards

• Next Generation Science Standards

• New Teacher Evaluation methods

#7: Researching and incorporating new standards

“I read up on anything current going on—Common

Core, Block Scheduling/ Differentiated Instruction, and

Response to Intervention/Instruction. I do best when I

read professional materials over the summer. I have time

to digest and think. Nothing beats poolside reading, even

if it is Common Core related.”

— Jennifer B. Smith (CA ’06)

#6: Training on New Technologies

#6: Training on new technologies

The digital revolution irrevocably changed the way we live. Whether it’s tablets, laptops, mobile phones or spreadsheets, before they can bring the latest technology into the classroom—teachers have to explore how to use them effectively to bring learning to life for students of all ages.

#6: Training on new technologies

“I have 32 iPads in my science classroom for the

second year now and need to choose effective

apps for my students to use for research,

reinforcing information, current events, and

motivating activities related to physical science.”

—Sue Nielsen (MN ’01)

#5: Collaborating with Other Educators

#5: Collaborating with other educators

Whether district superintendents, principals or classroom teachers, educators know that it takes a great team to deliver the best education. So it came as no surprise that a large percentage of our respondents are spending their summer “vacation” working with others to institute new ideas and best practices.

#5: Collaborating with other educators

“This summer I have had the opportunity to

work on a committee to strengthen our math,

reading and writing curriculums. I am excited

to share weekly math presentations which

include fantastic hands-on activities.”

— Peggy Rogers (ID ’04)

#4: Reviewing and Refining Curricula

#4: Reviewing and refining curricula

It’s hard to turn a ship around mid-stream, so while their classrooms are docked for the summer, educators are evaluating their own practices and incorporating lessons they’ve learned from their results as well as from outside input on national, state, district and school levels.

#4: Reviewing and refining curricula

"Exploring new teaching practices is critical to

entering each new year with a fresh, new

perspective; continually reinventing oneself is

vital for teachers and students alike. I've heard it

put this way before: ‘A teacher should strive to

have 30 years of great teaching, NOT one year of

great teaching 30 times.’”

— Corey Oliver (AR ’07)

#3: Going Back to School!

#3: Going back to school!

Great teachers strive to do more than just teach students a lesson, they hope to inspire a lifetime of learning. So why would they be any different? This summer, teachers are going back to school to continue their professional development, work towards their next degree, study the latest teaching methodologies and more.

#3: Going back to school!

“For the third summer I have taken an internship with

Wright Patterson Air Force Base Research Laboratory's

Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratories.

I work with engineers, research scientists, educators and

outstanding math and science students to produce high

school STEM curriculum. I then get to implement that

curriculum when school starts in the fall. It is an

extraordinary learning experience.”

— Kimberly Puckett (OH '01)

#2: Reading, Reading and Reading

#2: Reading, reading and reading

In addition to taking classes, teachers take the summer to catch up on their reading. Not quite your usual summer sizzler beach fare, our teachers are reading articles, studies and books that will impact how they structure their lessons and reinvigorate their passion for teaching.

#2: Reading, reading and reading

“Reading inspirational literature can recharge

our minds and hearts and help us focus on the

incredible moments in the classroom that are not

celebrated enough.”

— Michael Berndt (KS ‘12)

#1: Recharging with Some “ME” Time with Family and Friends

#1: Recharging with some “ME” time with family and friends

In between all of the activities of answers 2-7, some educators actually do manage to take a little time for themselves to rest, reconnect with their families and recharge. It may be the most selfish thing they do all year, but for anything but selfish reasons.

#1: Recharging with some “ME” time with family and friends

“Teaching is such a time consuming job that to balance it all can be a

challenge. My boys make sacrifices throughout the year because I am

a teacher (Back to School Nights, weekend workshops, late night

parent conferences, and after-school-hour special programs for our

students that need teacher volunteers)…So I try to give back some of

that Mommy and Me time to them during summer. It’s important

for teachers to also take time for themselves. We give so much of

ourselves during the school year, that we need this short break to

regroup, reflect, and reenergize so that we are ready for the school

year ahead.”

— Jane Fung (CA ‘02)

Read more answers from our

educators survey at

MilkenEducatorAwards.org

Milken Educator Awards is an initiative of the Milken Family Foundation. You can join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel.