I’m always looking for ways to grow and learn in my profession. After reading Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom (The Norton Series on the Social Neuroscience of Education) by Patricia Jennings, I have been practicing mindfulness with my every thought and action. I love when the universe sends something my way that continues to teach me and to open my eyes to realities that I’ve yet to discover. This was just recently as I came across this incredibly real article, Enough With the ‘End of Year’ Countdowns, written by Darbie Valenti, 2017 Missouri State Teacher. She shares her childhood story about her anxiety and fear as each school year ended and as each summer approached because of her abusive mother and routine beatings. This horrific, yet harsh reality for many students, brought tears to my eyes thinking that she and so many other children are fighting battles that we know nothing about.

I guess I am guilty of living in my “own” world based on my own childhood summer experiences. I grew up in NYC in a suburban neighborhood outside of the city. My mom did not work during my school-age years and was always home with me and my siblings. The summer days were long and filled with fun. I played outside all summer. I was a bit of a “street” kid. I came home only to hear my mother’s voice yelling for my return or the summer days had turned into dark nights and it was time to call it a day. I had a pool in my backyard for day and night swims, daily water gun fights, and play dates with neighborhood and school friends. There were family vacations, barbecues, and many mornings sleeping in. So yes, summer for me as a kid was good, real good. I feel so completely naive to think, or to not think about, that this may not be the case for all children.

For all students, school is a safe and secure place. Familiar faces, teachers, and students fill the hallways and classrooms every single day. Rules, routines, and procedures are clearly established which provides structure and predictability, which is much needed for students. Two meals are offered, both breakfast and lunch. Recess allows exercise, fresh air, and a much-needed brain break. And the classrooms are filled with engaging and innovative activities for students to learn in a variety of ways. Of course, in my opinion, school is the place to be.

But when we send our students off for the summer break they lose this safe, secure environment for about 8 weeks or so. A teacher shared with me what a student once said to her, “I always look forward to the last day of school, but then once the bus pulls away, we all start crying.” My stomach turns and my heart breaks for those kids. It’s time to face the harsh reality that not all students have the privilege, funds, and transportation to go to summer camps, pool clubs, or on a family vacation. It’s not all sunshine, sandcastles, and swimming for all children. It sure is telling when you return back to school in the fall and see barely any hands raised when you ask who has been to the beach, pool, or went somewhere on vacation.

Times have changed too.  Now more than ever parents have to work to make ends meet. Most students are inundated with technology and have little to no outdoor time. And some students are dealing with obstacles that are out of their control. Poverty is the number one barrier for many students. Their basic needs are not being met. Over the summer students may be hungry, neglected, experience heat exhaustion due to lack of air conditioning, become sleep-deprived from lack of routine schedules, and may get into trouble due to the lack of supervision. Working parents leave many youngsters unsupervised or with an older sibling or caregiver ALL day.

So what steps can we take to support our students over the summer? We can first acknowledge that summer isn’t the same for all children. We can provide some resources, like summer reading books, notebooks, and pencils, and local community resource programs which require no transportation, like the library or community center, which allows students to rest, play and work in a cool setting. As teachers, we can do research to find free and safe opportunities for students over the summer. Some may disagree and think that this is meaningless or is the responsibility of the parents. We may have no control if our students take advantage of these resources or not, but I think it’s worth a shot for the sake of our students and their families if we could offer some knowledge, guidance, and support. I will not pretend that I completely understand the challenges that these students face because I have not lived it, but I do know that as a human being, I can be more mindful, compassionate, and empathetic.

Both teachers and students benefit from some relaxation and rejuvenation from the long, tiresome school year, but I am much more mindful that summers look very different for many students. A sincere thank you to Darbie Valenti and Kyle Schwartz, author of I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids, for bringing this to the front and center for educators. This was a game-changer for sure.

What do you do to support students over the summer? Let’s empower each other with ideas that benefit ALL students.

Recommended Reading

I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids

Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom (The Norton Series on the Social Neuroscience of Education)

Recommended summer resources to support your students: FREE Summer Checklists, and Summer Reading Brochures with book recommendations, tips, and strategies for students and parents. Stuff these into student report cards on the last day of school.

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