The Ultimate Guide to Summer Curriculum Planning for Teachers

I got hired for my first teaching job 2 weeks before school started. It was hectic to say the least, and I had no idea what I was doing. I wanted to make the most out of those 14 days, but wasn’t sure what to focus on. Over the years, I learned a lot through trial and error and developed a good routine for curriculum planning for the summer.

I wanted to share a list of things to consider planning for before the school year starts. This is going to be a thorough list, so feel free to pick and choose what works best for you based on your needs and the time you have before school starts.

You’re going to look at this list and think – this woman’s a psycho! (You’re not wrong) Keep in mind, I don’t have children, and I was also the vice-principal at the school.

The moment school started, I would be pulled in a million directions. I had to train new teachers, help set up new technology and curriculum, work on school-wide goals, and do a myriad of other tasks on the principal’s list. I had very little time for my own classroom, so I had to be ready to meet others’ needs once school resumed.

As I said, do what makes the most sense for your situation, but the more you plan and organize during the summer, the easier your life will be during the school year!

Professional Development

I truly believe that self-reflection is imperative at the end of each school year. Every summer, I decide on one area of instruction that I’d like to improve upon. It might be a curriculum area, classroom management skill, or classroom organization plan.

After I decide what area I’d like to improve, I usually give myself a reading assignment. To find useful books that will help me grow, I often ask people on online kindergarten forums for recommendations. (Check out Kinder Tribe for some good collaborative conversations.) I also keep a list of books throughout the school year that people recommend on social media or blog posts.

After I read the book and write down some thoughts on how I can improve, I begin to plan. I research new resources and do a rough draft of what I want my lessons or units to look like. I research how other teachers do things in their classrooms and develop a plan that works for me.

Most years, my school adopted at least one new curriculum, so I always spent time researching it as well.

Curriculum

You don’t need to revamp an entire area of curriculum. Think about small changes that can be made to the following areas:

Guided Reading
Centers
Writing Workshop
Small group math instruction
Science experiments
STEM activities
Early Finisher activities
Morning work
Homework
Flexible seating

One of my favorite things to do during the summer was to align all of my curriculum by theme. If I had a theme of apples, for instance, I liked to line up my language arts, math, science, and social studies so that we did a deep dive on the subject at the same time.

I created and used this curriculum planning calendar to help me keep everything organized. You can check it out with the link below:

Curriculum Planning Calendar

Classroom Organization

Another area that you can work on over the summer is classroom organization. In this category I would include behavior management, classroom set-up, and routines.

Here are some potential organizational topics to consider:

Classroom design – where were the traffic jams last year? Did you have an issue when students needed to get markers? Did you have a mess of paper on the floor at the end of the day? Was the backpack area a nightmare? Small changes can make a big difference.

curriculum planning - Supply Organization

I added these tidy tubs to my classroom that the kids kept in the middle of a shared table. At the end of each activity, they would dump their trash. It stopped them from getting up from their desk 100 times to go to the big classroom trash.

Label all the things!!! Labeling not only keeps your things organized, but it also makes your classroom look 1000% better. The teacher’s supply bin is from The Home Depot (they have a lot of choices). The manipulatives bins are just $1 shoe boxes from Walmart. I’ll link the labels below:

Library Organization – I have a very large book-buying problem, so I needed my classroom library to be neat and tidy! I also needed a system that would allow my kids to organize by themselves! Book bins are an investment, but if you buy quality ones from the start, they will last you a really long time! The ones I bought are from Really Good Stuff.

Don’t forget to make boxes for your kids so that they can keep their favorite stories close to them. In my personal opinion, one of the biggest goals of a kindergarten teacher is to get students to LOVE reading! I’ll link the book bin labels below:

Library Labels (These are the black ones but she also has white ones.)
Book Bin Labels

Class Schedule – I revised mine every year! Don’t be afraid to move things around to find what works best for your class (even if you have to switch it a couple of months in). Sometimes admin will throw a monkey wrench in your planning when they move around specials, but your schedule is a work in progress!
Morning Procedures – How do you want students to enter? Is your backpack area organized? Where does their homework go? What should they begin working on immediately?
End of the Day Procedures – Do all students gather together in one area? How do they make sure the room is clean at the end of the day? How do you keep track of everyone at dismissal?
Transitions – Do you feel like things are chaotic when moving from one activity to another? How can you change that? Reviewing your time management skills and expectations is important. Maybe think about using a timer or a song.
Behavior Management – Did everything run smoothly last year? Were there areas you would like to improve upon? Check out these blog posts about classroom management:

Materials Prep – Is there anything you can organize ahead of time? Centers, early finisher activities, bulletin board headers?
Cleaning materials – I like to have a box full of wipes, glass cleaner, etc., ready for the first day I am allowed back in the classroom. I also spray all stuffed animals, rugs, and pillows with an oil blend that keeps away lice! (I’ll link it below) I’m not a huge essential oil person, but after a couple of years of multiple breakouts, I had to try something! I had zero problems after I spayed this at the start of the year and during Christmas and Easter breaks!

Edens Garden Essential Oil Synergy Blend

Funding Requests – Every teacher’s wish list grows substantially during the summer! Don’t be afraid to ask the admin for funds! Make a wish list of books, curriculum, outside play materials, etc., and ask! If allowed, you can even make a donation door to ask parents to chip in:

Donation Door

School-Wide Planning

Field Trips – Get together with your grade-level team and plan next year’s field trips. Many trips need to be planned out months in advance.
School-wide programs – Are your kids going to have to put on a play or sing a song during a school-wide event? Get everything ready ahead of time so it doesn’t stress you out later in the year!
Fundraising – Is there something you specifically want for your classroom? Why not ask the whole school? Years ago, I wanted some Leapfrog TAG Readers for my classroom. I held a fundraiser at a local restaurant and invited the entire school. I was able to get enough money for the TAG Readers, and some parents even went out and purchased some of the books for them on their own! Parents are way more involved and generous when they know EXACTLY how their money will be used. If you want something for your classroom, don’t be afraid to think big!

Final Thoughts

Please don’t feel overwhelmed by this list. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Choose a couple of things that will have the biggest impact in your class and execute the changes you need to make. Don’t overwhelm yourself.

Summer is also for self-care and spending time with your family. Rest, recharge, and hit up those happy hours with friends! If you only change one thing, that’s okay! You still have made a difference in your classroom, and you’re a better teacher for it. I’ll leave you with a quote from the great Ron Swanson (please pardon the language : )