By Kathleen Palmieri
This summer I set out to use my time purposefully – reading, researching, and writing with clarity and intention. What I discovered is what I now call healthy productivity in planning.
By time-blocking my summer calendar and intentionally carving out space for professional growth, I was able to stay focused, reduce procrastination, and connect with my “Why” as an educator. This clarity has helped me to plan more engaging and thoughtful lessons for the year ahead.
Here is how I structured my productivity this summer in three practical steps:
Step One: Set a Plan, Get in the Flow
The first step was to make a plan and protect my time. I blocked off time in my summer calendar specifically for reading, researching, and writing. By doing this, I created space to work without distraction and create a state of productive flow. Time-blocking helped me be more aware of how long tasks realistically take, which will benefit my planning moving forward.
Reducing distractions was essential – phone notifications off, work environment organized, one task at a time. This structure helped me to get more done in less time and not be overwhelmed.
Step Two: Be Realistic and Prioritize
I realized early on that productivity doesn’t mean doing more, but rather doing what means most. Instead of overwhelming myself with long “To Do” lists, I focused on prioritizing. For any given block of time, I selected three meaningful tasks instead of six. This shift helped me avoid burnout and feel a sense of accomplishment in the end.
One impactful task I tackled was reviewing my district-grade level curriculum maps for my grade in both math and English language arts. This reflective exercise helped me revisit how I’ve taught the standards in the past and sparked ideas for fresh, engaging updates to my instruction this fall.
Step Three: TBR List – Read with Intention
I created a summer TBR (To Be Read) list, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to read all 12 titles. Instead, I narrowed it down to four – two for pleasure and two for professional growth.
The professional books I chose were:
- Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms by Pamela Weber Harris (Here is my MiddleWeb review).
- Not Your Granny’s Grammar: An Innovative Approach to Meaningful and Engaging Grammar Instruction by Patty McGee and Tim Donohue (watch for my review later this fall).
Both books were excellent. To deepen my understanding and retain what I read, I used a color-coded highlighter system while reading:
• Green = Easy-to-implement ideas
• Yellow = Ideas worth exploring further
• Pink = Engaging activities to try
• Blue = Research quotes and resonating phrases for reflection or follow-up
This approach helped me actively engage with the material and later refer back to specific content with clarity and purpose.
Healthy Productivity = Purpose and Balance
This summer, I learned that productivity doesn’t have to be stressful or rigid. When planning is paired with purpose and reflection, it becomes energizing. Taking the time to understand my “why” – why I teach, why I want to continue growing – reignited my motivation and led to more meaningful engagement in my work.
As the school year begins, I will carry forward this mindset of healthy productivity, grounded in balance, intentionality, and joy. By setting realistic goals, minimizing distractions, and staying curious, I’ve built habits that not only support my professional growth but also model thoughtful planning for my students.
Kathleen Palmieri is a National Board Certified Teacher, NBCT Professional Learning facilitator and education writer. She is a fifth-grade educator in upstate New York who reviews and writes regularly for MiddleWeb. With a passion for literacy and learning in the classroom, she participates in various writing workshops, curriculum writing endeavors, and math presentations.
As a lifelong learner, Kathie is an avid reader and researcher of educational practices and techniques. Her ongoing practices include collaborating with colleagues and globally on X-Twitter and Bluesky and blogging about her education adventures at www.kathleenpalmieri.com.
