Spring Break

Spring break is as much a joy to new teachers as it is to kids. Relaxation is great to restore our soul, but it also opens our minds to new, innovative lesson plan ideas.

I am sitting here at the dining table of my spring break villa. My six, yes half a dozen, teenage girls (well, I only gave birth to one of them, but I am acting "en loco parentis" for the other five) are wearing tiny bikinis at the beach. Oddly, not one of them brought their bookbags.

My twelve-year-old son is playing video games. I almost never see his bookbag; I am not sure what color it is. And I am working. But it doesn't feel like work. I am exploring new websites, places I don't have time for during the week. I am thinking of cool, new lesson plans, thoughts I have to push back for more important things like parent-teacher conference and staff meetings and paperwork.

I feel like maybe I will come home with a new idea to teach my 9th graders literary terms instead of just a sunburn. One thing we know as teachers is that we can never turn off our teacher brain. Sometimes, though, giving it a new environment can open new doors to what might be a pretty predictable rut this time of year. My charge to you, is think of one new plan this break - and don't forget to share it with us!

Here is a great lesson plan to use when you get back from Spring Break on Phoetry! Read it to see what that really is!