What Can I Do This Summer to Help My Students Next School Year
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Welcome to our yearlong series on Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers. Each week we will give you a new piece to the classroom management puzzle to have in place when you need it this school year. Think of it as a Lego kit just waiting to be built.
Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers: What Can I Do This Summer That Actually Helps My Students Next Year?
I’m so glad you’ve joined me on this warm afternoon. If you’re a K–3 teacher on summer break right now, this episode is for you. Today we’re exploring a question many of us have: What can I do this summer that actually helps my students next year? ☀️
First off, take a deep breath – you made it through the school year! This is your time to rest and recharge. In fact, focusing on your own well-being over break is not a luxury, it’s essential (edutopia.org). You give so much during the year, and summer is your chance to refill your cup. So as we talk about a few low-lift, high-impact prep ideas, remember: it’s completely okay to also do nothing at all some days. You’ve earned that iced coffee on the porch and lazy mornings sleeping in. Balance is key (edutopia.org) – a little reflection and planning here, a lot of relaxation there.
Now, if you’re like me, after a bit of downtime you might start feeling that tiny itch to get lightly organized for next year. Not in a hustle-hard way, but in a gentle, one-step-at-a-time way. So let’s chat about a few simple summer projects that can make a big difference come fall. These are low-effort, high-impact tasks – things you can do bit by bit (perhaps with a cool drink in hand) that your future self and students will thank you for.
Prepping a Calm-Down Corner (Cozy Peace for Your Classroom)
One lovely, minimal-effort project is planning or prepping a calm-down corner for your classroom. This is a cozy little space where students can go to take a breath, regulate their feelings, and regroup when emotions run high. Think of it as a mini sanctuary in the midst of classroom bustle. 🌈
Why bother with a calm-down corner? Because it truly helps kids help themselves. When used positively, calming corners let students practice managing their emotions in a healthy way (edutopia.org). Essentially, you’re giving them a safe spot to develop those all-important self-regulation skills (a huge help in K–3). Research even shows that when children can effectively manage their feelings, they’re better able to focus on learning and less likely to become disruptive (edutopia.org). In other words, a calm-down corner not only comforts an upset child, it ultimately benefits the whole class climate.
Low-lift summer steps: You don’t need to be in full classroom setup mode to start on this. Maybe spend a lazy afternoon brainstorming what your corner might include. Jot down a few items you could gather – for example: a soft pillow or beanbag, a stuffed animal, some fidget toys or stress balls, a few crayons and coloring pages, maybe a feelings chart. Many of these you might already have or can get cheaply. Over the summer, you could pick up one or two fun items when you happen to be at a dollar store or browsing online. No rush, no huge expense – just little things to make the space inviting.
Perhaps you also create a simple calming toolkit: a box or basket for that corner with tools like a glitter jar, pinwheel (for deep-breathing exercises), or a mini sand timer. Each tool can teach kids a coping strategy (like using the pinwheel to practice slow breaths). If you’re feeling creative, you might craft a cute sign that says “Calm Corner” or print a few kid-friendly mindfulness prompts. But remember, start small. You can always add more later (edutopia.org). The goal is just to have a basic corner ready to go on day one. Even imagining this cozy nook can be a calming, enjoyable summer activity for you.
And hey, as you plan it out, give yourself permission to use it too! A calm-down corner is for everyone – even teachers need a moment of peace now and then. 😊
Revisiting Key Routines for Better Flow
Next, let’s talk routines. One magical thing about teaching is that every year is a fresh start (createteachshare.com). Summer is the perfect time to reflect on last year’s routines and procedures and think about tiny tweaks for next year (createteachshare.com). Notice I said tiny – we’re not overhauling everything, just fine-tuning the daily flow to make life easier.
Reflect first: What routines went really well for you and your students last year? Maybe your morning routine was smooth like butter, or packing up at day’s end was a calm process. Those are wins to celebrate and repeat. Now, what routines were a bit rocky? Perhaps transitioning from centers to whole group was chaotic, or getting everyone’s attention felt like herding cats. Jot a quick list: Worked Great vs. Needs Work. This little reflection (done poolside or on a park bench, perhaps) can guide you to where a small change might help most (createteachshare.com createteachshare.com).
Plan one improvement at a time: Pick one routine that you’d love to improve. Let’s say transitions were tricky. You might decide to introduce a simple movement break routine to grab kids’ attention and reset energy. For example, I love using quick “freeze and stretch” breaks or silly dance cues as we transition between activities. (If you haven’t tried it, calling out “Freeze!” and then leading a 30-second stretch or shake-out is a game-changer for refocusing everyone.) This idea connects to something called the Movement-to-Mastery framework, which encourages using strategic movement throughout the day to boost classroom management. Even a 1-2 minute movement break can help kids release wiggles and refocus (instagram.com). Over the summer, you could brainstorm a few fun movement cues or songs to incorporate. It’s low effort now, but come fall you’ll have a new smooth transition strategy ready.
Maybe the routine to improve is your morning circle time or how you handle lining up. Whatever it is, spend a little time imagining how you want it to look and feel. You could even scribble a rough routine script for yourself – key phrases you’ll say, or steps you want to practice with the kids in those first weeks. Having a plan in mind will give you confidence when you greet that new class.
One more tip: consider consistency. If there’s a procedure you wavered on last year (like sometimes collecting homework one way, other times another way), decide on one clear method and stick to it. Summer you can make that decision calmly. For instance, you might decide “Okay, next year I’ll have a special basket for homework collection by the door, and train students to drop it there each morning.” Simple, right? Little changes like that can save a ton of confusion and reminders later.
And remember, you don’t need to perfect every routine now. Just picking one or two key routines to revamp is plenty. The rest will fall into place as you teach your new group. Progress, not perfection.
Setting Up Simple Behavior Supports (Tools for Success)
Classroom behavior is on every teacher’s mind, and summer can actually be a great time to set up one or two low-lift behavior supports so you feel more prepared. Now, I’m not saying you can predict every behavior challenge (if only!); kids will always surprise us. But a little planning now can give you helpful tools in your back pocket.
Calm corner, revisited: Good news – if you prep a calm-down corner as we discussed, you’ve already added a proactive behavior support! It’s there to help students manage feelings before they escalate.
Another idea is to prepare a simple behavior plan for yourself. Think of a scenario that was challenging last year – maybe frequent blurting out, or a student who had trouble with frustration. Then outline a gentle response strategy. For example, for blurting, you might plan to use a visual reminder (like a sign or hand signal for “raise your hand”) and positively reinforce those who wait their turn. Or for frustrated kiddos, you could plan to introduce a “break card” system where they can quietly signal they need a break. Writing down a rough plan for one or two behaviors can clarify your approach. It’s like writing a friendly cheat-sheet for future you when things get chaotic.
Interactive practice: One fun low-effort tool I adore for behavior is using Scenario of the Day Cards. These are quick daily prompts that pose a little scenario about behavior or choices, which you and the class can discuss for just a few minutes. For example, a card might describe a hypothetical situation (“Imagine a classmate took your favorite pencil without asking...”) and then ask kids what the respectful choice would be or how to handle it. Discussing one scenario a day (during morning meeting or after lunch) can dramatically improve students’ understanding of expectations and problem-solving, and it only takes about 5 minutes (lessonplantoolbox.com). Teachers who use these Scenario of the Day Cards have found that students love talking about behavior and figuring out the right thing to do (lessonplantoolbox.com). It turns abstract “rules” into real-life practice. If this sounds useful, you might spend a leisurely hour this summer finding or creating a few scenario cards of your own. Or there are ready-made sets available if you search online (many are free or inexpensive). It’s a small summer project that can lead to big payoff in classroom harmony.
Behavior tools: You could also put together a simple “behavior toolkit.” This might be digital (more on that in a moment) or a small binder/folder. Include things like: a list of class rules or expectations you plan to teach, a blank template for behavior charts or notes home, some stickers or reward coupons you can pull out as needed, and maybe a cheat-sheet of calming strategies to teach the kids. Having these basics prepped means you won’t be scrambling in the moment if a behavior issue pops up.
And here’s a secret: just knowing you have a plan and a few tools ready can make you feel more calm and confident – and that vibe will transfer to your students.
Most importantly, remind yourself: you are the same caring teacher who got through last year’s tough moments, and you’ll do great again. These little supports are just there to assist you, not to make you work nonstop. In fact, once you’ve prepped something like scenario cards or a break-time poster, set it aside and go enjoy more summer. You’ve done enough for today. 🌻
Building Your Teacher Digital Toolbox (Over Iced Coffee)
Finally, let’s talk about a teacher digital toolbox – a fancy name for something wonderfully simple: organizing your favorite teaching resources in one easy-to-access spot. This is the kind of low-key summer task you can do from a comfy chair, iced coffee in hand, music playing softly in the background. It hardly feels like work, but future you will be so grateful!
What is a digital toolbox? It’s basically a collection of go-to resources and tools you’ll use during the school year, stored digitally for convenience. For example, you might create a special folder on your computer (or in Google Drive) for next year. In it, gather things like your class welcome letter, your syllabus or curriculum outlines, any lesson plan templates or graphic organizers you know you’ll use, and important documents (like your school’s calendar or procedural forms). By putting them all in one folder now, you won’t waste time searching your email or multiple drives for them later.
You can also bookmark useful websites or apps. Do you have favorite educational sites for K–3 (like a go-to for printable activities, or a behavior management app)? Save those links in a bookmarks folder labeled “Teaching,” or use an app like Pinterest or Evernote to clip ideas. During the year when you need a quick activity or reference, you can open your toolbox and voilà – it’s right there. This “toolbox” might also include login info for any tech tools you plan to use (saving you the headache of password resets in the busy first week of school!).
Over iced coffee… means keep it light and enjoyable. Maybe you schedule one morning at a cafe to just sift through your computer or browse teacher blogs for one or two golden nuggets to save. It shouldn’t feel like a marathon planning session. In fact, limit yourself: perhaps one hour of tinkering with your digital files, then reward yourself with a walk or a nap. The beauty of the digital toolbox is that it’s flexible – add a few things now, add a few more later. Even if you just set up the folder structure or install a new app you’ve been meaning to try, that’s progress!
Some ideas to consider for your toolbox:
“Scenario of the Day” free sample – if you found any sample scenario cards or behavior prompts online, save those PDFs in your folder.
Movement break videos or playlists – maybe bookmark a couple of YouTube videos that guide short classroom exercises or mindfulness breaks (so you have them ready to go, inspired by that Movement-to-Mastery idea of frequent movement).
Templates – a parent communication log, a simple sub plan template, or a student reflection sheet. Having a template on hand can be a lifesaver on a hectic day.
Personal inspirations – a folder of encouraging quotes or funny memes that remind you why you love teaching. (Not exactly for students, but for you on those tough days!)
Remember, the point of this toolbox is to make your life easier. Setting it up can actually be fun and empowering – it’s like giving a small gift to your future self. Wrap up that short session feeling productive, and then go enjoy another aspect of your summer.
Wrapping Up with Warmth and Encouragement
As we come to a close, let’s circle back to the big picture. It’s summer, and the best thing you can do for your students next year is to take care of yourself now. Truly. A well-rested, rejuvenated teacher is going to do amazing things. So if you only do one or two little prep tasks – or even none at all – that’s okay. You are not “behind” or lazy for resting; you are investing in your own well-being, which directly benefits your students in the long run.
The ideas we chatted about today are just gentle options. To recap briefly:
Setting up a calming corner to foster a peaceful, emotionally supportive classroom.
Tweaking one or two routines to smooth out the daily flow (maybe adding some fun movement).
Equipping yourself with simple behavior tools like scenario discussion cards or a plan for common challenges.
Organizing a few digital resources so you feel on top of things, with minimal effort.
Each of these is low-lift. You can do them a little at a time, in a relaxed way. And each is high-impact in that they can markedly improve your classroom environment and your peace of mind next year.
Imagine yourself on the first day of school, greeting your new little ones. You’ve got a cozy calm-down space ready if anyone needs a break. You feel clear on your routines because you gave them some thought over summer. You have a couple of tricks up your sleeve for behavior, and your essential files and links are at your fingertips. That feels pretty good, right? You’ll be able to focus on building relationships with your students rather than scrambling on the small stuff.
Finally, a moment of affirmation for you, my fellow teacher: You are doing enough. You did enough last year, and you are enough just as you are. Next year’s students are lucky to have you. Whether you spend today crafting a new routine or just watching the clouds go by, both are valid choices. As one wise educator put it, “the way your classroom feels matters more than how much curriculum you finish” – and the way you feel matters too (lessonplantoolbox.com). So give yourself permission to finish this summer strong and soft, with plenty of rest and just a sprinkle of prep where it feels right (lessonplantoolbox.com).
Thank you for listening and reflecting with me today. I hope you’re feeling comforted and encouraged, not overwhelmed. If this episode sparked a helpful idea, great – and if it simply reminded you to take it easy, that’s great too. Go enjoy the heck out of your summer break!
Until next time, stay gentle with yourself, savor those slow moments, and know that doing just a little (and then relaxing) truly is enough. You’ve got this, teacher friend. 💛
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DID YOU KNOW…
Did you know I organize a FREE Facebook Group for Mastering Classroom Management? We are gearing up for our school year quarter sessions, so if you’re looking for a simple way to improve your classroom management join the already 200+ teachers that have signed up: Mastering Classroom Management Facebook Group
Your ebook GIFT: Empowering Primary Teachers: Effectively Manage Disruptive and Violent Behaviors in the Classroom
FINALLY…
If you enjoyed the tips in this post, you might also enjoy this series of videos Classroom Management by Design for Primary Teachers:
Unlock the Key to Supporting Neurodivergent Learners - Without Overwhelm
Finished Early? Now What? 10 Brilliant Ways to Keep Students Engaged Without the Chaos
A Guide to Creating an Intrinsically Motivated Classroom
Expanding AI's Role in the Primary Classroom
Unlock the Power of AI in the Primary Classroom
Supporting a Student Being Bullied
What to do With a Bully in the Primary Classroom
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Teach~Relax~Repeat
Lauren
