Recharge Your Summer: Three Ideas for Teachers Before Back-to-School

Summer is a valuable opportunity for teachers to step away, recharge, and prepare for the year ahead. Finding the right balance between meaningful rest and intentional preparation can help you return to the classroom feeling refreshed, confident, and ready for back-to-school.

Here are three ways to make the most of your summer while prioritizing your well-being and professional growth.

Prioritize Real Rest

The school year is demanding, and summer provides a much-needed opportunity to recover mentally and physically. Give yourself permission to slow down. Read for pleasure, spend time outdoors, travel, enjoy hobbies, or simply catch up on sleep.

Rest is not just a luxury. It is essential. According to a 2022 systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, clinically significant burnout affected as many as 74% of teachers, while anxiety affected 38% to 41% and stress levels reached as high as 87% in some studies.

These findings highlight the emotional demands of teaching and the importance of taking time to prioritize your mental health. 

Research also emphasizes the value of hobbies and recreational activities in reducing stress and supporting educator well-being. A 2025 article in the International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health discussed how activities such as creative hobbies, physical activity, mindfulness practices, and social connections can provide emotional relief, improve work-life balance, and contribute to motivation and teaching effectiveness.

Recharging both mentally and physically allows teachers to return with the patience, creativity, and energy needed to support their students.

Reflect and Refresh Your Classroom Resources

Summer is a great time to look back on the past year and identify what worked well, what could be improved, and what you want to carry into the new school year.

Consider questions like:

• Which lessons had the greatest impact?
• What routines made classroom management easier?
• What would you like to approach differently this fall?

Technology can make this reflection process more manageable. AI can serve as a helpful tool by allowing teachers to keep notes throughout the year about lessons, assignments, and classroom strategies. Over time, AI can help organize those reflections, identify patterns, and suggest ways to refresh materials while preserving the practices that are already working.

When it comes to refreshing classroom resources, instead of starting from scratch, focus on improving what already works. Organize digital files, update favorite lessons, refresh classroom visuals, and create a few new activities you have been wanting to try.

Simple technology tools can make refreshing your resources easier and more efficient. 

Try using these free tools:

• Canva to create engaging classroom visuals, presentations, and handouts
• Google Classroom to organize materials and streamline communication
• Kahoot! to add interactive review activities and boost student engagement

Taking time now to organize and refresh your resources can help you feel more prepared and save valuable time during the busy school year.

Invest in Professional Learning

Summer offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace and focus on areas that matter most to you. Whether you are exploring new instructional strategies, earning credits for licensure renewal or salary advancement, or diving into a new topic, professional learning can help you start the year with fresh ideas and renewed confidence.

If summer is your time to grow professionally, the Albion Center for Professional Development at Idaho State University offers flexible online courses designed to fit the needs of busy educators. Explore courses that support your goals, fit your schedule, and help you prepare for the year ahead.

Visit the Albion Center for Professional Development today to find a course that fits your needs this summer!