Summer Vibes, Teacher Tribes

Wow! The 2023-2024 school year was a wild ride. I am so happy that summer is here and that I am able to enjoy time with my family and friends. The summer home projects are in full swing and so is my self care journey. This school year really amped up my stress and anxiety levels to a new level. My goal this summer is to get myself into a new routine that will help relax my body and mind going into the new school year in August.

My husband and I invested in the Peloton Tread last week and though it is new to our home, we have already found that we absolutely love it. My goal is to walk/run each day and get some much needed motivation to get back into shape. I have been dealing with back issues for the past few years and I am finally getting back to normal with my pain levels thanks to my AMAZING chiropractor Dr. Oak. This has motivated me to start walking again and since it is so hot outside here in Florida, we thought this was a great option for us.

We are also getting ready to go on vacation in just a few short weeks. We are going to Key West for 5 days and taking my Mom, Aunt, and Cousin along for the ride. My mom has lived in Florida for 40 years and has never been able to enjoy time in the keys. We have booked a few excursions and some reservations at restaurants and can’t wait for our stay. I am excited to share with her some of my favorite stops and activities that the keys have to offer.

Planning this trip has brought back so many wonderful memories from my teenage years, going with my dad and his family for spring break each school year. I will definitely be reminiscing and honoring the memories made on the islands while we are there. I am looking forward to all of the adventures that will come with this trip and getting to make new memories with my mom and family.

Now, I know I have so many wonderful things to celebrate and look forward to this summer but one major thing is still on my mind. Next school year! I know I shouldn’t be thinking about it yet but I am! So much change is happening next year for me, good and needed change. I am moving up with my kiddos and teaching 10th grade which is so exciting for me. I want to make next year the very best for my students. I pride myself in making my classroom a calm and welcoming environment where my students thrive in their learning. Since I am teaching a new grade level I am already thinking about how I can expand on what I taught last year and make this year even better for my students.

I have such a wonderful group of teachers that I work with and I know that this year will be fantastic when it comes to collaboration. However, while moving to my new classroom I unfortunately realized that it is time to replace quite a bit of classroom decor and supplies that have just run their course over the last 10 years. This overwhelms me like you wouldn’t believe. I am doing my very best to craft and make new things, but since my room is much bigger it could definitely use some help. I also had many items break or tear in the moving process and just need replacing. Many of my supplies have dried out or have been broken and it is just time for a refresh.

I will put my shameless plug here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/0XO2Yzx?ref_=wl_share

If you would like to contribute to my students education this coming school year please visit the link above. I will be adding things as I find out what I need.

I am looking forward to next school year and all of its challenges. I am losing one of my absolute favorite teacher besties this year, but I completely understand and support her decision to move on and find a new home. I was honored that I was able to help find her replacement and my counterpart for next school year and I am looking forward to the new dynamic of our team. I am moving into a new era in my teaching career and I am very excited for the changes that are coming. I will be incredibly busy this year and will need to find a way to keep the stress and anxiety at bay.

I hope that by organizing my thoughts and taking the time that I have this summer to come up with a new game plan for next year will help me keep my mental health up and prevent me from struggling with anxiety next year.

If anyone has any suggestions for teaching phonics and morphology to high schoolers and are able to make it “fun” please send your ideas my way! It would be absolutely appreciated.