It starts innocently enough.
You open your email and see announcements for summer workshops, webinars, certification opportunities, book studies, leadership programs, and curriculum revamps. The links are shiny. The ideas are inspiring. The possibilities are… endless.
Suddenly, what was supposed to be a season of restoration starts looking like a second job.
Because as teachers, we’re wired to grow. To serve. To make use of time. And sometimes, that same drive pulls us into summer burnout before the school year even begins.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to do everything.
You just need to do what matters most to you.
A Tiny Disruption: Make a Micro Map, Not a Master Plan
🌀 Disruption: Create a simple, joyful summer learning map rooted in curiosity and capacity—not obligation.
Instead of asking, “What should I learn this summer?”
Try asking, “What am I ready to explore?”
Here’s a tiny, 3-part framework to help you build your Micro Growth Map:
1. Reflect: What’s calling to you?
Start with one honest question: What’s been on my mind this year that I didn’t have time to dig into?
Maybe it’s rethinking assessment.
Or student-led learning.
Or strengthening your classroom routines.
Or finally reading that book on storytelling and voice.
Give yourself permission to grow from a place of curiosity, not urgency. This isn’t about keeping up. It’s about tuning in.
2. Choose One Thing to Go Deep On
You don’t need a five-course learning menu.
You need one thing that feels meaningful, manageable, and motivating.
Let it be small. Let it be imperfect. Let it take the shape that works for your life right now. Maybe that’s:
- Listening to a podcast on walks
- Reading a professional book and journaling your ideas
- Watching one webinar a week, not six in a day
- Talking with a colleague about redesigning a unit you both care about
The goal isn’t to consume—it’s to connect. Go deep, not wide.
3. Apply the 3:2:1 Rule
To keep your growth focused and joyful, try this simple structure:
- 3 questions you want to explore
- 2 practices you want to try out (in thought, not necessarily in action!)
- 1 way you’ll reflect on or share your learning
This helps you stay grounded while still allowing flexibility and play. It’s a guide, not a contract.
Want to Grow with Purpose This Summer?
If you’re not sure where to start—or you want a joyful, energizing foundation for your next chapter—I’d love to invite you to take my self-paced online course:
🎓 Deep Learning Part 1: Global Competencies 🎓
This course helps you explore the 6 Cs (Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking) and rethink your role from “content deliverer” to activator of learning.
You’ll get:
- Bite-sized videos you can watch at your own pace
- Practical tools and reflection prompts to use in your classroom right away
- A renewed sense of purpose in your work
It’s like a mini-retreat for your teacher brain—with none of the overwhelm.
Or Start with a Book or Podcast
If you’re more of a reader or a listener this summer, here are a few favorites I highly recommend (and yes, some are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you choose to purchase through these links. Thank you for supporting this work!):
📚 Books for Reflective Teacher Growth
These titles center purpose, equity, joy, and transformation—ideal for summer reading that nourishes both your heart and practice:
- Unearthing Joy by Gholdy Muhammad – A beautiful and actionable guide for embedding identity, creativity, and joy into the curriculum, this book invites educators to reflect on how we feel in school, not just what we teach.
- Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success by Christopher Emdin – A powerful, challenging read that pushes educators to confront the disconnect between schools and student brilliance, and to center justice in how we define success.
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown – A gentle, transformative book that reminds us that vulnerability and authenticity are not weaknesses—but tools for connection and growth.
- Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar – A month-by-month guide to building resilience, self-awareness, and sustainable energy throughout the school year.
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown – Perfect for teachers who want to do less, but better—and stop measuring their worth by how much they’re doing.
- The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer – A reflective classic that invites educators to teach from a place of wholeness, not performance.
(Affiliate links may be included. I only recommend books I love and use personally—thank you for supporting this work!)
🎧 Podcasts to Feed Your Thinking on the Go
- The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast with Jennifer Gonzalez
- Teaching to Thrive by Lindsay Lyons
- Educators 2 Educators (e2e) with Carrie Conover
- The Lazy Genius Podcast (for mindset, balance, and letting go of perfectionism)
Recommended Tool: Scribbles That Matter Journal
If you’re mapping your summer growth, reflecting on your teaching, or starting a gratitude or deep learning journal, I highly recommend the Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal with 160gsm paper. The thick, smooth pages are perfect for markers, highlighters, or pens—no bleeding or ghosting. With its lay-flat design, numbered pages, and subtle dotted grid, it’s a joy to write in and ideal for planning, sketching, and reflection. (This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to purchase—thank you for supporting this space!)
Wrapping Up
Summer isn’t a productivity race. It’s a reset. And your learning doesn’t have to be big or flashy to be transformational.
Create a map. Follow it lightly. And when August comes around, you’ll be walking into the new year not just prepared—but deeply aligned with your purpose.
Because the best kind of teacher learning is the kind that lights you up.
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