I embark on my first full week of summer break; two months outside of the classroom to refresh and relax. Those words do not belong in the above-mentioned ‘R’s, though. The four words that I will pay attention to are:
- Rest
- Recreation
- Reflection
- Relationships
Rest: Since I stopped setting an alarm and I don’t have to eat lunch in the cafeteria in a 20-minute timespan, I figure I am resting. This really feels good.
Recreation: My ability to recreate has expanded as well. I can garden in the morning before it gets too hot, so I can curate these lovely spaces of earth. I can also fit my exercise regimen into a time of day when I actually have energy; this is not sandwiched between a full day of work and making dinner.
Relationships: I am very focused on relationships with my family, as I have missed them during the busy school year. With my daughter heading off to college this fall, I want to make sure I have a good foundation of communication with her before she starts that journey. Reunions with extended family, and a trip to the beach sound perfect.
Reflection: I left this one to last, because it is my challenge for the summer. According to dictionary.com, this word means “a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration”. I plan on ‘fixing my thoughts’ on the investigation of BME (a new acronym in education) – Brain/Mind/Education, which is the integration of neuroscience into lesson planning. This sounds like “very serious thought”! But, this excites me, as I initially had dreams of pursuing a career in psychology, yet time and money had me short-circuit to a shorter path. But, NOW . . . I can explore this passion and it has a real feeling of purpose.
I look forward to summer, and this one holds much promise.
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