5 Simple Ways to Grow Professionally Over the Summer

As summer break begins, many teachers look forward to some well-deserved rest. But if you’re like most educators, you may also find yourself reflecting on the past school year and thinking about what you’d like to improve or explore next. Professional growth doesn’t have to mean attending a week-long conference or reading a dozen pedagogy books. In fact, some of the most meaningful growth can come from simple, low-effort activities that spark new ideas or clarify your professional goals.

The key is finding growth moments that feel energizing, not overwhelming. These five ideas are a great place to start.

You don’t have to navigate the summer, or your professional growth, alone. Connecting with other educators online can be both energizing and insightful. Join a grade-level Facebook group, explore #EduTwitter chats (like #nt2t or #edchat), or follow educator conversations on LinkedIn. Even just reading along can spark ideas and remind you that you’re part of a larger, supportive community.

2. Pick One Focus Area for Next Year

Summer is the perfect time to pause and reflect. Take 30 minutes to jot down what went well this year, what felt challenging, and what you’d like to do differently. Then, choose one area of focus for next year. It could be building stronger student relationships, improving your feedback system, or trying out project-based learning. Setting a single, realistic professional goal can help you return in the fall with renewed purpose and direction.

Some starting points to inspire your goal:

• Strengthening your instructional coaching model
• Building a more intentional new teacher support system
• Improving how you use data to inform PD decisions
• Creating more time for walkthroughs and feedback
• Deepening your leadership team’s alignment around instructional priorities

3. Revisit One Tool You Haven’t Had Time to Explore

We all have that PD resource we bookmarked to dig into later, and summer offers the chance to revisit it. Whether it’s a coaching tool to expand your PD efforts, a mentoring framework you’ve been meaning to reference, or a resource to better support new teachers, a small investment now can ignite new ideas and make the coming year feel more manageable.

4. Show Gratitude to Your Teachers 

Each week, reach out to a teacher or support staff member and thank them for something specific they did that made a difference last year. A quick note, email, or message can go a long way, and investing in relationships is just as important as planning or PD. It builds trust, boosts morale, and reminds your team they’re seen and valued, which makes them want to stay and grow.

5. Engage with One Education Resource Each Week

As a former ELA teacher, I often told my students, “I don’t care what you read, just read.” And sometimes, as educators, we need to take our own advice and keep learning in simple, consistent ways. There’s no need to dive into a 300-page book. If you’re reading this, you’re already on Teaching Channel’s K12 Hub, which is a great place to start. Focus on topics that interest you, like classroom management, tech tools, or student engagement. You can read a blog, watch a webinar, or listen to a podcast on the patio with your morning coffee and still be fueling your professional growth.

You don’t need to do a lot to make meaningful progress. Even small actions, such as reading an article, clarifying one goal, or reconnecting with a colleague, can shape how you lead in the year ahead. As you recharge this summer, know that growth doesn’t have to be heavy, and you don’t have to do it alone. At Teaching Channel, we’re here with tools, ideas, and inspiration to support you every step of the way.

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