7 Tips on How to Plan for Summer School

For some teachers, the summer break doesn’t necessarily mean a vacation from work. Many stay in the classrooms and focus on helping the students who need to enroll in summer school. If you are one of the teachers who is going to plan summer school curriculum this year, it’s important to be prepared and understand what the experience is supposed to be about. Students in summer school are often making up for significant absences or for inferior grades throughout the school year, and the curriculum should be planned accordingly. Here are a few tips that can help you plan an amazing summer school program that is effective, informative and even fun.

1. Plan a theme for the summer curriculum. Whether you are teaching high school English during your summer school program, or you are working with an elementary classroom, you can create a theme for the entire program. A theme, such as sustainability or summer holidays, can help make learning fun when students might otherwise be disappointed to be there.
2. Organize and account for all materials prior to beginning the session. Don’t wait until the day before the summer school session begins to start creating your lesson plans. Instead, make it a goal to have all of your curriculum done before the end of the traditional school year. You can use an online planning software, like Planbook Plus, to create daily lesson plans that accommodate the shortened summer school schedule.
3. Pick the most important units to cover. Most summer school programs last for 4-6 weeks during the summer break, and that’s all the time you have to help students catch up from the previous year. Instead of skimming over each topic, choose the most pivotal units and thoroughly go over them. In addition, remember to be flexible in order to meet the needs of individual students. You may have to spend more time on one topic, and less on another, in order to accomplish your goals. This approach gives students the best understanding of the most important concepts of the subject, and will prepare them for the coming school year.
4. Create an introduction activity that allows you to connect with your students. You should understand why your students are in the summer school program, and encourage them in positive ways to do their best. By introducing yourself to them, they will feel like you are trustworthy person who is genuinely focused on helping them improve. In addition, by giving them an opportunity to open up to you, they will feel connected to you. Ask your students to write you a letter — one that you will keep in confidence — that explains why they are in summer school, what mistakes they felt they made in the past, and how they want to improve throughout the course of the program.
5. Try out alternative teaching methods. Many of the students in summer school struggled for one reason or another throughout the school year, so it’s likely that traditional teaching methods are not very effective for them. If you have been wanting to try out a new app or piece of technology, or you recently studied a new approach to learning, summer school is a wonderful place to test the waters. This keeps the program fresh, fun and exciting for both you and your students.
6. Develop a communication plan with the parents. Communication and cooperation amongst parents and teachers can go a long way in ensuring that students are successful. This is particularly true in summer school classrooms. Introduce yourself to the parents prior to the session beginning, and provide them with information about the curriculum that you have planned. Explain your goals for the session, and give them updates on their students throughout the duration of the program. Make sure to focus on positive communications in addition to addressing negative issues.
7. Consider venturing out of the classroom. Summer school doesn’t have to take place inside a classroom. In many cases, you can take learning outside and into the community, and students find this to be a very effective way to apply their lessons. For instance, if you are going to be discussing a novel, consider heading outside for an informal chat about the plot and character development. Head to the local city hall for a tour to explain civic government. Visit a local historical monument or landmark to learn more about history in your region. These experiences often stick with students longer and make them more receptive to their summer school program.

The fact of the matter is, on the first day of summer school most of your students are going to be giving you looks of boredom, annoyance and disappointment. But you can quickly turn their attitudes about summer school around when you explain the unique curriculum that you have planned that will allow them to learn what they need to know for the next school year but also have some fun at the same time. When you utilize Planbook Plus, you’ll feel organized and confident throughout the entire day. In fact, it might even leave you with some free time to enjoy your own summer.