With the 2022–2023 school year in the rearview mirror, students have been soaking up the sun and enjoying the long days of summer. Teachers and librarians’ summers are a different story, as a lot of them have been spending their precious vacation days preparing for the upcoming school year in a variety of ways. Whether they’ve been mindfully recharging their batteries, eagerly revamping or creating lessons, activities, and programs, or setting up their classrooms and libraries, the educators we spoke with know that the new school year is a whole lot closer than it appears, and that there’s no time to waste. Still, they spared a few moments to share about their summer vacations.
Deborah Zeman’s summer started with getaways to Las Vegas and to the beach. But that’s not where it ended. As the library media and instructional design specialist at Hedrick Middle School in Lewisville, Tex., Zeman spent the majority of her summer updating her lessons, programs, and collections. Then, it was time to hit the books—and she read a great deal of them as a member of the ALA Core Committee Recognizing Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction and the TxLA Spirit of Texas Reading Committee. Zeman also attended the ALA Conference in Chicago.
Zeman said she thrives on all of this activity. “To be honest, other than getting away and staying off of social media for a little while, the way I truly recharge is by learning new things!” she said. She used what she learned at ALA and from her own reading to develop new lessons and programs, spruce up past lesson plans, and reflect on her teaching to raise it to a higher level. “I asked myself questions including, ‘What worked? Which lessons need to be adjusted? Are there some new things I can do?’ ” Zeman said.
She asks additional questions of her personal learning network. “I do this to learn about innovative things that other librarians and educational technology leaders are doing, and I incorporate them into my instruction if they’re a good fit.”
Zeman also managed to get her Minecraft certification, a program that focuses on using Minecraft Education as a teaching and learning tool; updated her Level 2 Google Educator certification; and mastered some other ed-tech tools. In addition, she is partnering with the school’s robotics teacher on a future student book group, which will focus on a STEM book that was nominated for the Spirit of Texas Reading list. She also helped design an area of her library that will highlight Texas authors and their titles.
At the same time, Zeman is bracing herself for possible changes due to the passing of House Bill 900. All the while, she will be curating book lists and ordering books to meet the ever-changing needs and interests of her school’s community of readers.
“My job has always been to promote the love of reading and books, and to let my students know that they have a voice—and the right to read whatever they want to read,” Zeman said. “And that’s what I did this summer and will do throughout the upcoming school year to help my students become lifelong readers.”
Victoria Gómez is a K–1 teacher at Herrera Elementary School, a year-round school, in El Paso, Tex. Heading into her fourth year of teaching, she’ll have a laser focus on her kindergarteners and first graders from the first bell to the last. But before she headed back into the class after a four-week break, she concentrated on herself and her self-care. “The main thing that I did was work out a whole lot more and dedicate my summer vacation to a mental reset,” Gómez said.
She explained that this reset is necessary after a full year of tending to the academic and social-emotional needs of her young students. This was her time. “For me, it was probably one of the best feelings. And, just after a full week of workouts, it felt amazing.”
Working on her physical and emotional health energized Gómez, allowing her to do more with her family; she believes that energy will benefit her future students, too. She also made time for family activities and read outside of her usual picture book and professional development picks. Her summer reading choices may come as a surprise. “I love reading Stephen King novels. I especially enjoy the suspense,” Gómez said, “but I haven’t had time to read any during the school year.”
Gómez firmly believes it’s important—and necessary—for all teachers and librarians to find what they need to do for themselves. “This time to recharge reminds us why we do what we do, helps us to not burn out, and to never forget that we’re teaching children who deserve our absolute best!” she said.
Gómez admits that the school year can be overwhelming. That’s why she takes the time for herself over summer break and during school vacations. She also tries to take at least an hour for herself each day and encourages other teachers and librarians to join her.
“You really need to take care of yourself so you can take care of the children,” Gómez said. “Walk, journal, or do whatever self-care works for you!”
As a 17-year veteran youth librarian, Ednita Kelly is no stranger to seeing lines of patrons out the door at the San Pedro Regional Library in Los Angeles, for their children’s programs. This summer, however, she has overhauled, and even simplified, her programs with a different focus in mind.
“Before, I was ordering all kinds of supplies, and doing a big setup the day before, but we don’t have the time or the staff to do this now,” Kelly said. “Today, we use the supplies we have and no longer promote the programs to the point where they [attract] large groups. We don’t want 100 kids.”
Instead, Kelly uses her enthusiasm and her clerk Albert Green’s creative ideas to bring in kids in manageable numbers and to fulfill her programming goals. “The point of our programming is to get the kids into the library,” Kelly said, “but not with a big performance. They’re about having opportunities to talk to the kids and ask them what they are reading, and getting a real sense of who they are and what they are interested in.”
With more time for conversation, Kelly fostered those all-important relationships with kids and gained valuable information that will help inform reader advisory and future book buying. “I want to know what they are obsessed with—and when their interests change,” Kelly said. “This way we can make sure to have the things that they want on the shelves.”
Kelly observed encouraging signs from her scaled-back programs, which helped get kids and their parents to put down their devices and pick up books. She was equally excited that parents were also joining the summer reading program in record numbers. She said that it may have been the wildly popular reading program’s canvas bag they gave away for joining or the buzz that summer always brings to the library.
“Summer is theoretically a time to slow down and enjoy a slower pace, where you have more time to come to the library. It’s also a time of reconnection, discovery, and the chance to experience the vibrancy of the library,” Kelly said. “For us, it’s the opportunity to get to know our younger readers when there aren’t assignments to complete, and they’re here to see friendly faces and to explore new things.”
