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A cheerful cartoon woman wearing glasses holds an iced drink with a "RELAX" note and a tablet, surrounded by tropical leaves, a smiling sun, and logos for Canva, Wakelet, Book Creator, MagicSchool AI, and a color palette icon, evoking a relaxed summer learning vibe.
Good Teaching

Mix Fun with Forward Thinking This Summer

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

This summer can be both fun and forward-thinking. Whether you’re a classroom teacher looking for fresh tech ideas or an administrator planning for next year, use this summer to not only recharge but to also reignite. Let’s look at how you can blend rest and relaxation while sparking inspiration for next year.

Recharge Your Batteries (You Deserve It!)

First and foremost, give yourself permission to pause. Take that beach trip, finish that book, binge watch that show guilt-free, and have fun. A mental reset is essential to your long-term health. Take a look at this reset checklist for a list of additional ideas.

Small Steps, Big Ideas

This summer, think of growth in micro-doses. There is no need to overhaul your entire curriculum. You could try a couple of these things:

  • Explore one new tool that you can test on your own time.
  • Subscribe to one inspiring education podcast.
  • Attend one virtual session or webinar. Try to find ones that will allow you to watch replays.
  • Write down one big idea you want to try in August.

Sometimes it’s that one thing that makes all the difference come fall.

A smiling woman relaxes in a teal armchair, holding a book in one hand and an iced coffee in the other, with a laptop and sunglasses on the desk beside her.
Image by Author

Summer Friendly Digital Tools to Explore

Summer is the perfect time to explore some user-friendly digital tools. These tools are perfect for light exploration:

  • Book Creator – Try making a short summer reflection journal.
  • Canva – Create a slide deck for back-to-school.
  • Edpuzzle – Test creating short video lessons with questions to flip your classroom in the fall.
  • Loom – Practice recording quick video intros or welcome messages for next school year.
  • Wakelet – Curate summer learning ideas or articles.

Each of these tools has a low entry point and high engagement payoff.

Get Inspired by Playful Planning

This summer, inspiration doesn’t have to look like work. There isn’t any pressure. It’s about planting seeds for next year. Consider:

  • Creating a Bitmoji classroom just for fun or for real use.
  • Hosting a “tech playdate” with teacher friends. Include coffee and/or snacks.
  • Making a vision board using Canva for your classroom goals.
  • Trying AI tools like MagicSchool.ai or Brisk for time-saving lesson planning ideas.
A cheerful illustration split into two panels: the left shows a cartoon teacher in a Bitmoji-style classroom holding a tablet and having fun, and the right displays a colorful vision board with motivational images and phrases like "Stay Positive" and "GOALS."
Image by Author

Relax and Plan

You don’t have to choose between relaxing and planning. With a little intention, you can do both. Have a summer of joy, relaxation, and just enough prep to make you excited about back-to-school season.

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