Reddit Teachers Share Their Start-of-Summer Traditions

The beginning of a teacher’s summer is glorious.

Those first few hours? Thrilling. Celebratory. Whether they’re driving with the windows down on a coastal California highway or just pretending they are by blasting “Tame Impala” from their school parking lot in Iowa, teachers are all confetti and sunshine.

Once the initial thrill wears off, teachers generally enter a period of blissful hibernation with very little movement for several days. They might spend a lot of quiet time at home or somewhere else where they can relax, like a beach or a park. You can often find them reading or spending time with a variety of screens at this stage. (If you find one in the wild, do not disturb them.)

In the weeks after and well into their summer, teachers generally enter one of several states depending on what brings them joy and what kind of work/projects they have to take on. Often, these tasks correlate with the life of a teacher—reviving garden beds that were sacrificed to standardized testing season, scheduling all the health appointments that were put off, etc.

But the very beginning of a teacher’s summer? Pure bliss, baby.

Recently these two Reddit posts asked teachers how they mark the beginning of their summer journeys. We loved the traditions, rituals, and some full-on procedural approaches to maximizing summertime teachers reported. Here’s what they had to say.

Scheduling luxury

When it’s basically impossible to get any kind of appointment during school hours, you have to go all out in the summer.

Little weekday delights

Taking advantage of those less-crowded time slots.

Arranging perfect days

An hour of leisure isn’t enough: The whole day needs to be scheduled out. These are my people.

Blasting a special anthem

These are so cute!

Grown-up field trips

Note: MANY responses involved grown-up field trips to bars.

A school year bonfire

This is genius.

It’s the simple things

You’ve earned it (and so much more).

Cleaning

You know the teachers at your school who start out their summer with a deep clean.

Snoozing

Draw the blinds. Cuddle up with a duvet. Turn on rain noise. Repeat.

The inevitable beginning-of-summer illnesses

Why, though?! 😩

Huh. OK.

You do you, my friend. Whatever sparks joy.

Teachers Are Sharing Their Start-of-Summer Traditions, and We’re Inspired

Scheduling luxury

Little weekday delights

Arranging perfect days

Blasting a special anthem

Grown-up field trips

A school year bonfire

It’s the simple things

Cleaning

Snoozing

The inevitable beginning-of-summer illnesses

Huh. OK.

What’s your favorite start-of-summer tradition? Let us know in the comments!

Plus, for more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

Scheduling luxury

Little weekday delights

Arranging perfect days

Blasting a special anthem

Grown-up field trips

A school year bonfire

It’s the simple things

Cleaning

Snoozing

The inevitable beginning-of-summer illnesses

Huh. OK.

What’s your favorite start-of-summer tradition? Let us know in the comments!

Plus, for more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

You Might Also Like

Teachers Are Sharing Their Cherished End-of-Year Traditions, and We Can’t Pick a Favorite