Elementary School Garden

You did it, teacher friend. You survived the field days, the glitter explosions, the mystery puddles, and the 47 questions about whether they really have to keep reading over the summer. And now? The school bags are zipped. The laminator is cooling down. The classroom plants are… well, let’s hope they’re not crispy. It's officially summer break —that magical season where we reclaim our time and rediscover ourselves . So if you’re like me—equal parts exhilarated and exhausted—you’re probably wondering what to do now that you can finally finish a cup of coffee while it’s still warm. 🌞 Well, pour that iced tea, throw on your favorite floppy sunhat, and dig into this list of the Top 10 Things Teachers Should Absolutely Do During the First Week of Summer Break . 1. Sleep Like a Sunflower Face the light, and sleep for 12 hours straight . Teachers are chronically under-rested. No one sets 17 alarms to make it to the beach.  I enjoy extra sleep the first week of summer. Your ...

If you’ve ever looked around your classroom mid-lesson and realized nobody is actually listening, you’re not alone. Students are fidgeting. Chairs are squeaking. At least one child is upside down in their seat. And your beautiful lesson? Floating somewhere in the ether. Yep. I’ve been there. And I found the solution—not in another behavior chart or newfangled app—but in one simple, powerful shift: movement . What if I told you your students don’t need to sit still to learn —they might actually learn better when they move? Let’s dig in. (Garden pun fully intended.) 🌼 🌿 The Root of the Problem: Kids Aren’t Built to Sit All Day Research backs it up: children are more likely to retain information, stay focused, and regulate emotions when their bodies are in motion. According to the CDC, incorporating physical activity during the school day not only improves concentration and behavior, but actually boosts academic performance . Harvard researchers echo this, reporting that mo...