I just read a post titled “The Myth of Having Summers Off” on Edutopia.  This post lists nine education-related things that teachers do during the summer, which made me automatically start thinking about all of the education-related things I do during the summer. This summer alone I am teaching graduate courses online, blogging, teaching professional development workshops, attending professional development workshops, attending three different week-long teacher institutes, planning for maternity leave lessons, rewriting some curriculum for my classroom for the year, and more.

One of these things is a part-time job for which I do earn extra income. The income I receive from my regular public school teaching gig this summer is income I have already earned. I worked those hours during the actual school year. It is not free money with time off. I completed tasks during the regular school year with the expectation that some income would be withheld from my paychecks and redistributed to me during the summer. (You’re welcome America!)

I am curious to know what you might add to the list of education-related things teachers do during the summers. Also, I know I am opening a can of worms, but what do you think about the myth of teachers having the summer off? Is it truly a myth?

Let me know what you think. Comment below!

Amanda Koonlaba is an elementary art teacher in Tupelo, MS. She is a contributor to MSEdBlog. Her views are her own and do not represent the views of any other entity.