Summer School Magic

Summertime memories are a mixed bag. People always believe that a benefit of being a teacher is the fact that you get your summer off.

In my experience, it is anything but. The end of the school year came, and the next week I was back in the classroom with a different bunch of kids. You see, I often taught summer school. For many years I would jump right back into the thick of things with barely a breath. But the big difference was the pace and pressure of educational expectations. I was able to teach FUN classes, classes that I would have loved to take as a kid.

Let’s Do a Play

As a class, I would engage the students in improv experiences where kids would use their imaginations. One favorite activity was “This is a…” You would all sit in a circle and I would bring in an object like a comb. Each person would hold the comb and say “This is a comb. But it’s not only a comb, it’s a ____.” Maybe the child would say “This is a comb, but it’s not only a comb. It’s a skateboard.” Then she would momentarily demonstrate how it would look to use the comb as a skateboard.

We would read a handful of plays that I had pre-chosen. After voting and deciding on one, we would practice for several days and then perform for students in other summer school classes and parents on the last two days of the summer school session.

The Ultimate Class of Kid Creations and Concoctions

I picked recipes from the book called “The Ultimate Book of Kid Creations and Concoctions.” At the beginning of the class, we would practice reading the recipe. Then we would follow the recipe and directions to create “grass head guys,” “shake and make ice cream,” and “treasure stones.”

Jumping Into Second Grade

I co-taught with others and moved children through various learning experiences. We’d start the day with camp songs and the “ELC Pledge”. The songs were a compilation of old Girl Scout favorites like “Going on a Bear Hunt” and songs from 4H like “The Wisconsin Milk Song“–complete with all the important motions. Then I would often be the leader of the reading/writing block. Kids would rotate through my classroom and enjoy journaling, listening centers, and phonics games.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)

Another favorite summer school class I taught was “STEAM” Science Technology Engineering, Arts, and Math. In that class, we would use simple items like straws and cardboard tubes to explore challenges such as “Can you build a marble run on a classroom wall that keeps a marble in motion for 30 seconds?” (It’s harder than it sounds.)

Teaching summer school was like embarking on a new adventure every day! From creating plays and concocting crazy projects to singing camp songs and building epic marble runs, there was never a dull moment. It may not have been the typical summer break, but the laughter, creativity, and sheer fun made it a whirlwind of unforgettable experiences. Who needs “time off” when you can have this much fun making memories with amazing groups of kids?

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