May 26, 2025 • 20 mins
Summer break is calling, but are you ready to truly disconnect? In this episode, we share our 3-step May/June crossover plan. Think of it as the ultimate end of year teacher checklist for your mind and classroom. We guide you through simple steps to give your brain breathing room, create emotional closure, and set the stage for a stress-free summer break.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/end-of-year-teacher-checklist/
Resources:
- Freebie: End of Year Roadmap
- Dandruff Comb
- Shower Affirmation Cards
- Join the Teacher Approved Club!
- Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
- Shop our teacher-approved resources.
- Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
- Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!
Related Episodes to Enjoy:
- Episode 131, To-Do List Magic - How to Prioritize Your Teacher Tasks This Summer
- Episode 193, Why Smart Teachers Start Planning for Next Year in May
- Episode 194, Want a Smoother Back to School? Do These 5 Things Now
- Episode 195, Ditch the Countdown: A Better Way to Create End of Year Closure
Mentioned in this episode:
The July Secret: How Smart Teachers Use Summer to Start Strong, Not Stressed. Join us for a free training where we'll show you how to use July strategically so you can feel prepared for back-to-school without the guilt or overwhelm. Sign up at https://secondstorywindow.net/july
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Heidi (00:01):
This is episode 196 of Teacher Approved.
You're listening to TeacherApproved, the podcast helping
educators elevate what mattersand simplify the rest. I'm
Heidi.
Emily (00:14):
And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story
Window, where we give researchbased and teacher approved
strategies that make teachingless stressful and more
effective. You can check out theshow notes and resources from
each episode atsecondstorywindow.net.
Heidi (00:29):
We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to
the show.
Emily (00:37):
Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today's
episode, we are sharing oursimple three step approach to
help you mentally wrap up theschool year without carrying a
bag of stress into your summer.
Heidi (00:49):
Let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we share a quick
win that you can try right away.Emily, what is our suggestion
this week?
Emily (00:55):
Our try it tomorrow is to designate a school task cutoff
date and stick to it. So beforethe final bell rings, decide on
a specific day and time when allschool related work must cease.
Communicate this to colleagues,if necessary, and most
importantly, commit to ityourself.
Heidi (01:13):
Absolutely. You deserve to firmly shut the door on
school life as you head into thewonderful world that is summer
life. If you need someaccountability, make sure to
communicate your cutoff date topeople who will hold you
accountable for sticking to it,and then shut the door on school
and enjoy your time off.
Emily (01:32):
If you like this idea or anything else we share on the
podcast, would you do us a favorand give us a five star rating
and review in Apple podcasts?
Heidi (01:41):
It is that time of year where one foot is still in the
classroom and the other isalready halfway into summer
break. Mentally, you're probablyclocked out, and emotionally,
you might be riding that rollercoaster between, I can't wait to
be done and I still have amillion things to do.
Emily (01:57):
If that sounds familiar, you are absolutely not alone. We
all know that feeling, and whatmakes it even harder is that our
teacher brains never really shutoff.
Heidi (02:06):
Oh, my goodness, yes, you're supposed to be relaxing,
but there's always that voicesaying, if you don't get it done
now, you're going to regret itin August. Meanwhile, you are so
exhausted you can barelyremember to bring your lunch to
school, let alone plan for nextfall.
Emily (02:20):
The good news is that you don't have to stay stuck in
those feelings. We want you tofinish the year feeling grounded
and confident, not like you'relimping to the finish line,
dragging your to do list like astrip of toilet paper stuck to
your shoe. With a few simplemindset shifts and practical
tools, you can leave schoolfeeling more done than undone.
Heidi (02:42):
We are calling this our May/June crossover plan. It's
not about adding more to yourplate. It's about giving you
permission to wrap things upwith intention so you can
actually enjoy your summer.
Emily (02:53):
You deserve a real break, not one where you're constantly
checking email or waking up in acold sweat because you dreamed
you forgot to turn in yourtextbook inventory.
Heidi (03:02):
The May/June crossover plan has three parts
and contain, prep for the pause,and close the loop. Our goal is
to give you a simple frameworkthat will allow you to mentally
clock out without dropping anyballs or carrying your teacher
guilt into summer.
Emily (03:18):
Man, we do love a list. So let's dive into part one of
our list, which is capture andcontain. So this is all about
giving your brain some breathingroom. If you're like most
teachers right now, your brainis trying to tie up a lot of
loose ends at once. It's likehaving a very full, very chaotic
parking lot inside your head.There are cars everywhere, some
(03:39):
are parked in actual spaces, andsome are double parked, and then
some are just abandoned in themiddle of the lane, which is
kind of how it feels like wheneverybody's at the school for a
band concert and the parentshave just given up trying to
find a place to park, and it'sjust mass chaos. So if you've
been there, you can visualizewhat I'm visualizing.
Heidi (03:58):
Those cars are all your thoughts, worries, and to do's.
Did I remember to submit mysupply list? What if I tried a
different seating arrangementnext year? I should really
laminate those anchor chartsbefore I leave.
Emily (04:09):
So what if we could park some of those thought cars? The
thoughts aren't the problem. Theproblem is that the thoughts
have nowhere to go. They'restuck in gridlock and taking up
valuable mental real estate whenyour brain desperately needs a
vacation,
Heidi (04:25):
The solution is simple, but it is powerful. Create an
actual physical parking lot forall of those thoughts. You
sometimes call this a braindump, but, you know, I kind of
like thinking of it as a summerparking lot. You're not getting
rid of the cars, you're justgiving them an organized place
to hang out while you're away.
Emily (04:43):
Your parking lot can be as simple as a stack of sticky
notes or a dedicated notebook,or you can just have a Google
doc titled For August. Whateversystem helps you breathe easier
is the right one for you.
Heidi (04:54):
The key is to have one specific place where you capture
every random thought, every ideaor worry that pops into your
head over the next few weeks,and we do mean everything. I
need to move the bookshelf tothe other wall. Or consider a
new morning routine. Ask aboutthat grant for the garden
project.
Emily (05:12):
So because we want to capture those thoughts
immediately, your parking lotneeds to be where you are. So
using a notebook for yourthoughts is great unless you
find yourself wide awake in themiddle of the night with an
urgent thought and nowhere towrite it down because you left
your notebook at school.
Heidi (05:27):
Oh, that is a guaranteed way to ensure that you're not
gonna be getting back to sleepanytime soon. So make sure that
whatever you use for yourthought parking lot is something
that you can easily accessanytime you need it.
Emily (05:39):
It may seem too good to be true, but we promise that
writing down your thoughts iskind of a magical way to
decrease your anxiety level. Ourbrains are great idea machines,
but they are not built to beremembering machines, but once
you write something down, yourbrain can let go.
Heidi (05:56):
This strategy helps you gently shift into summer mode
with peace of mind. I starteddoing something like this years
ago, and it completely changedhow I transitioned into summer.
Instead of carrying thisinvisible backpack of things
that I should be thinking about,I just dumped it all in a
document and then closed mylaptop.
Emily (06:14):
Yeah, and using a document is a better idea than
what I do, which is just sendmyself emails where the thought
is the subject line, becausethen sometimes the next day, I'm
like, what and what even wasthis? And my inbox is a mess.
Don't, don't do that. Use a doc.
Heidi (06:31):
And then you have to do something with that email and
put that information somewherewhere you can use it.
Emily (06:36):
And then it gets buried in my email by other emails, and
then I see it, like, a monthlater, I'm like, Oh my gosh, I
forgot about that. So that's nota good approach. Use a doc. And
what's great about this approachis that you're not ignoring
these thoughts or or likepretending that they don't
matter. You're just containingthem so they don't take over
your well deserved break.
Heidi (06:55):
Right now is not the time for action. We're just
committing to remembering.That's the limit of what we can
handle right now. This givesyour brain the comfort of
knowing it's not going to losethoughts without forcing you to
act on them immediately beforethey're forgotten.
Emily (07:11):
And then when you come back in August, you will have
this gift waiting for you—allyour end of your insights and
ideas captured when they werefresh in your mind.
Heidi (07:20):
Now, if you want to take this to the next level, we have
several different to do pages inour end of year roadmap. There's
a general brain dump page calledmy summer to do list, plus there
are pages for May throughAugust, so you can schedule when
you might want to try to do someof those tasks on your to do
list.
Emily (07:38):
All roads lead back to the end of year roadmap at this
time of year.
Heidi (07:41):
No joke.
Emily (07:43):
If you want to organize that brain dump list, there's a
sheet called tasks by location,and this helps you maximize your
energy and time. And thenthere's a task status list,
where you can identify eachtask's first steps. Writing down
the first step for each task canlift a huge weight off your
shoulders. When it's time to dosome school work, you'll already
know exactly where to start,which is often the hardest part.
Heidi (08:05):
There is zero expectation that you should use every one of
those lists, but there's enoughthere that there should be
something that helps you buildthe system that you need. The
link to our free end of yearroadmap is in the show notes.
But even if you just grab anotebook and start scribbling,
you are still giving yourself ahuge gift.
Emily (08:23):
Okay. So with all of those swirling thoughts
captured, it's time for part twoof the May/June crossover plan,
prep for the pause. This iswhere we set the stage for a
real break.
Heidi (08:35):
The question to ask yourself here is, what can I put
in place now so I can fullypause later? The goal isn't to
pretend that teaching doesn'texist for two months. As nice as
that would be, it's just notrealistic for most of us.
Instead, it's about creatingclear boundaries so that when
you do think about school, it isintentional rather than
(08:56):
intrusive.
Emily (08:57):
One simple way to make space for your summer pause is
to move your teacher bag and putit out of sight. You can put it
in your closet, and keep it inthe trunk of your car, out of
sight, out of mind, but stilleasy to get if you do need it.
Heidi (09:12):
Another game changer is setting your out of office
message, something simple like,thanks for your email. I'm
currently on summer break, and Iwill respond when school resumes
in August. If this is urgent,please contact the school. This
sets a clear boundary thatprotects your time and it also
manages expectations.
Emily (09:29):
While you're at it, delete or hide those school
related apps on your phone. Youcan temporarily remove any
school email, grading, orcommunication apps and reinstall
them when school nears, if youreally have to have those on
your phone.
Heidi (09:44):
And now's the time to batch any lingering to do tasks.
If you know you need to submitfinal receipts or purge that
drawer of mystery supplies, tryand tackle it now. Don't let
these tasks bleed into yourfirst weeks of summer.
Emily (10:00):
It may be helpful to block off specific time, like
maybe a day or even just anafternoon after the students
leave, to knock out all thosetasks at once. It's so much
better to stay late one day inJune than to have these tasks
hanging over your head in July.
Heidi (10:16):
You could even try scheduling a classroom cleanup
day with your work besties teamup for mutual accountability and
make classroom cleanup social,rather than isolating. Having
others help makes tasks moreenjoyable and efficient and
bonus points if you bring somesnacks.
Emily (10:32):
In episode 194 we talked about the three bin system for
breaking down your classroom. Soyou set up one bin for any
summer work you know that youwill actually do, one for your
classroom setup materials, andone for the first week of school
essentials. Label them, stackthem where you can get to them
and walk away.
Heidi (10:50):
Being intentional about preparing for summer isn't about
doing more. It's about doingjust enough to allow your brain
to actually shut off and yourbody to rest, because you
deserve a real break.
Emily (11:04):
And that brings us to the third part of our May/June
crossover plan, which is closethe loop. This is where we give
ourselves emotional closure onthe school year. We often talk
about student closure, but likewe mentioned last week, teacher
closure matters just as much.
Heidi (11:20):
I think this might be one of the most overlooked parts of
transitioning to summer, butit's so important. Teaching
isn't just a job, it ispersonal. Each year is a journey
with its own highs and lows,victories and challenges.
Without some kind of closure,it's easy to carry those
emotions, especially the heavyones, like frustration or
(11:41):
disappointment, right into yoursummer.
Emily (11:44):
Small rituals can make a big difference. So on the last
day of school, I liked to take aphoto of my empty classroom, all
tucked up for summerhibernation. There's something
so satisfying about seeing thatclean slate and knowing it's
ready for a fresh start in thefall.
Heidi (11:58):
And don't underestimate the power of simply saying
goodbye to your room. Walkaround, touch the walls, sit at
your desk, lean into the MarieKondo woowoo-ness of it all,
thank your room for all of thewonder that it held this year.
Even though the carpet is oldand it doesn't have enough
outlets and you never know whatthe temperature will be, you and
(12:18):
your classroom are a pretty goodteam.
Emily (12:20):
Another idea is to write a quick note of encouragement to
your future self, highlightingwhat went well this year and
what you hope for next year, andthen you could tuck it into your
desk drawer to read on yourfirst morning back at work.
Heidi (12:32):
In episode 195 we talked about closing the school year
with heart. The idea is to honorwhat you've accomplished and
acknowledge any difficultiesbefore moving on. You deserve to
start somewhere with a sense ofpeace and not panic or regret.
These small rituals help youdraw a line between the school
year and your break.
Emily (12:50):
And that is our May/June crossover plan. Capture the
thoughts swirling in your brain,prep for your exit so you can
truly pause, and close the loopwith simple emotional closure.
It's not complicated, but itmakes a world of difference.
Heidi (13:04):
You don't have to be perfectly planned. You just need
a clear exit ramp and a littlecompassion for yourself.
Emily (13:10):
Do you want a little help making that exit smoother? Well,
then download our end of yourroadmap. It's totally free and
full of simple prompts andchecklists to help you finish
strong without the stress.You'll find a link in our show
notes.
Heidi (13:24):
But if you're feeling the pull to rest and the tug to
regroup, you are absolutely notalone. That's why the teacher
summer talks are coming in June,to help you gently shift into
summer reflection and feel readyfor what's next without the
pressure. So stay tuned. You aregoing to love this.
Emily (13:42):
Oh, you really are. So go give future you the gift of a
peaceful start to summer,because you have earned it.
Heidi (13:49):
We would love to hear your end of year rituals, or how
you mentally transition tosummer. Come join the
conversation in our TeacherApproved Facebook group.
Emily (13:57):
Now for our teacher approved Tip of the Week, where
we share an actionable tip tohelp you elevate what matters
and simplify the rest. Thisweek's teacher approved tip is
create a classroom closingchecklist. Tell us more about
this. Heidi.
Heidi (14:11):
Well, make a comprehensive list of everything
that must be done before youleave your classroom at the end
of the year. For example, all ofthe fun stuff, like inventorying
your cleaning supplies,organizing textbooks, checking
in all the technology, maybehiding that coffee maker you're
not supposed to have in yourroom. Check off the items
systematically so you canmentally release those
(14:32):
responsibilities.
Emily (14:34):
And don't forget to turn your grades in, because Heidi
knows from experience, they'llchase you down in during summer
if you forget to do that.
Heidi (14:41):
Did have that problem one year.
Emily (14:44):
To help you out with this, we've added some pages to
our end of your roadmap freebie.Yes, we're talking about it some
more. You can't trust us withdigital products because they're
just too easy to extend. So giveus a couple years, and this will
be a 75 page freebie, and you'llbe glad you have it. But for
what we just added, there's achecklist for packing up your
room, there's a page to write aletter to your future self for
(15:05):
back to school encouragement,there's an inventory sheet for
any classroom items you need toinventory at the end of the
year. And then there's a sheetso you can keep track of what
you put in your three bins.Remember your classroom
resources bin, your need firstbin, and your first week of
school bin.
Heidi (15:21):
Now if you've already downloaded the end of your
roadmap, you might be thinking,great ladies, I already have
this. But don't worry, it is soeasy to add these new pages. I
promise it's so easy. If youhave downloaded the roadmap, but
you haven't filled anything outyet, just delete the old version
and download the new version.
Emily (15:37):
That's for sure the easiest way. But if you have
written a few things in yourroadmap, but not a lot, download
the new version and copy andpaste anything you've written
into the new document, and thendelete your old one.
Heidi (15:48):
If you have written a lot in your roadmap and you don't
feel like copying and pasting,go ahead and download the new
roadmap and then look at thepages we've just added. For any
pages that you want to add toyour current roadmap, just click
the little tab at the bottom ofthe page on the new download.
This will bring up a bunch ofoptions like delete and
duplicate, but the option youwant is copy to. So when you
(16:12):
click that, it'll bring upoption and you want copy to
existing spreadsheet. And thenyou can select your roadmap
file, and it will copy it rightin there. Once you have copied
over any of the new sheets thatyou want, you can just delete
the file that you downloaded.
Emily (16:26):
I promise it's way easier than it sounds, and there's so
much good stuff in there. Wejust don't want you to miss any
of it as we keep adding reallyawesome new additions to it. So
make sure to head to the shownotes so you can grab your own
copy or update your copy if youneed the latest one.
Heidi (16:42):
To wrap up the show we're sharing what we're giving extra
credit to this week. Emily, whatgets your extra credit?
Emily (16:47):
Well, I'm giving extra credit to something super sexy.
It's my new dandruff comb. I waslike, why does it have to be
called that?? I told you it wassuper sexy. The thing about this
comb is that it has hollowteeth, so it exfoliates your
scalp when you comb it acrossyour scalp. And then what's cool
(17:08):
about it is it has a littlebutton that cleans it out after.
Heidi (17:11):
Gross.
Emily (17:12):
No, it's not gross. It's not gross. I promise it's not
gross. It's not, it's less grossthan having your scalp flakes
end up your clothes.
Heidi (17:21):
That's very true. Yeah.
Emily (17:22):
So it gets it out of your hair very easily. It feels
really good. And I feel like myscalp has been like, extra clean
since I started using this.
Heidi (17:30):
Well, that does sound like a win.
Emily (17:31):
I'm gonna turn you into a fan instead of a hater.
Heidi (17:38):
We'll see.
Emily (17:38):
I know that dandruff scales run in our family, so
don't try to pretend you'rebetter than my dandruff comb.
Heidi (17:45):
Don't out our dirty laundry on a national podcast!
Emily (17:51):
Sorry mom for bringing shame on our family. What are
you giving extra credit to you,Heidi? Better bring something
really good after that mocking.
Heidi (18:00):
Oh, it is excellent. It is so lovely and centering and
healing. So I'm giving extracredit to JaxKelly's shower
affirmation cards. These arereally just such a simple way to
add a little brightness to yourday. These cards are made from
like, some special material,probably plasticky, so it makes
(18:22):
them waterproof. So you justchoose one, I like to choose one
at random, and then you get yourshower wall a little wet, and
the card just sticks to it. Andthen while you're showering, you
can remind yourself that I amcreating a life of passion and
purpose, or I am open and readyto receive amazing
possibilities.
They have several different setsfor things like abundance,
So you can use the dandruff comband then take a shower, and
anxiety and positivity and lotsmore than that. And they have
sets for kids and teens as well.I think these are really unique
(18:42):
then, if you're lucky, you'llpull out one that's like, I'm
gifts, especially if you havesomeone who might be going
still worthy, even though I havedandruff sometimes.
through a hard time. And I alsothink these are really helpful
They have some pretty specificones, so they probably have
if you happen to be in a placeright now where that thinking
time in the shower might lead tospiraling thoughts. So I give
(19:03):
these 10 stars out of 10 stars,I don't know, how many stars do
you think can get? This gets allof them. They're just really
lovely, a little bit ofbrightness in a world that can
that.
sometimes feel overwhelming.
Emily (19:19):
If not, you can just make your own card to add to the set.
Heidi (19:36):
That is it for today's episode. Use our May/June
crossover plan to mentally clockout without dropping the ball,
and don't forget our teacherapproved tip to create a
checklist for packing up yourclassroom.
We hope you enjoyed this episodeof Teacher Approved. I'm Heidi.
Emily (19:53):
And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow
or subscribe in your podcast appso that you never miss an
episode.
Heidi (20:00):
You can connect with us and other teachers in the
Teacher Approved Facebook group.We'll see you here next week.
Bye for now.
Emily (20:06):
Bye.
This is episode 196 of Teacher Approved.
You're listening to TeacherApproved, the podcast helping
educators elevate what mattersand simplify the rest. I'm
Heidi.
Emily (00:14):
And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story
Window, where we give researchbased and teacher approved
strategies that make teachingless stressful and more
effective. You can check out theshow notes and resources from
each episode atsecondstorywindow.net.
Heidi (00:29):
We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to
the show.
Emily (00:37):
Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today's
episode, we are sharing oursimple three step approach to
help you mentally wrap up theschool year without carrying a
bag of stress into your summer.
Heidi (00:49):
Let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we share a quick
win that you can try right away.Emily, what is our suggestion
this week?
Emily (00:55):
Our try it tomorrow is to designate a school task cutoff
date and stick to it. So beforethe final bell rings, decide on
a specific day and time when allschool related work must cease.
Communicate this to colleagues,if necessary, and most
importantly, commit to ityourself.
Heidi (01:13):
Absolutely. You deserve to firmly shut the door on
school life as you head into thewonderful world that is summer
life. If you need someaccountability, make sure to
communicate your cutoff date topeople who will hold you
accountable for sticking to it,and then shut the door on school
and enjoy your time off.
Emily (01:32):
If you like this idea or anything else we share on the
podcast, would you do us a favorand give us a five star rating
and review in Apple podcasts?
Heidi (01:41):
It is that time of year where one foot is still in the
classroom and the other isalready halfway into summer
break. Mentally, you're probablyclocked out, and emotionally,
you might be riding that rollercoaster between, I can't wait to
be done and I still have amillion things to do.
Emily (01:57):
If that sounds familiar, you are absolutely not alone. We
all know that feeling, and whatmakes it even harder is that our
teacher brains never really shutoff.
Heidi (02:06):
Oh, my goodness, yes, you're supposed to be relaxing,
but there's always that voicesaying, if you don't get it done
now, you're going to regret itin August. Meanwhile, you are so
exhausted you can barelyremember to bring your lunch to
school, let alone plan for nextfall.
Emily (02:20):
The good news is that you don't have to stay stuck in
those feelings. We want you tofinish the year feeling grounded
and confident, not like you'relimping to the finish line,
dragging your to do list like astrip of toilet paper stuck to
your shoe. With a few simplemindset shifts and practical
tools, you can leave schoolfeeling more done than undone.
Heidi (02:42):
We are calling this our May/June crossover plan. It's
not about adding more to yourplate. It's about giving you
permission to wrap things upwith intention so you can
actually enjoy your summer.
Emily (02:53):
You deserve a real break, not one where you're constantly
checking email or waking up in acold sweat because you dreamed
you forgot to turn in yourtextbook inventory.
Heidi (03:02):
The May/June crossover plan has three parts
and contain, prep for the pause,and close the loop. Our goal is
to give you a simple frameworkthat will allow you to mentally
clock out without dropping anyballs or carrying your teacher
guilt into summer.
Emily (03:18):
Man, we do love a list. So let's dive into part one of
our list, which is capture andcontain. So this is all about
giving your brain some breathingroom. If you're like most
teachers right now, your brainis trying to tie up a lot of
loose ends at once. It's likehaving a very full, very chaotic
parking lot inside your head.There are cars everywhere, some
(03:39):
are parked in actual spaces, andsome are double parked, and then
some are just abandoned in themiddle of the lane, which is
kind of how it feels like wheneverybody's at the school for a
band concert and the parentshave just given up trying to
find a place to park, and it'sjust mass chaos. So if you've
been there, you can visualizewhat I'm visualizing.
Heidi (03:58):
Those cars are all your thoughts, worries, and to do's.
Did I remember to submit mysupply list? What if I tried a
different seating arrangementnext year? I should really
laminate those anchor chartsbefore I leave.
Emily (04:09):
So what if we could park some of those thought cars? The
thoughts aren't the problem. Theproblem is that the thoughts
have nowhere to go. They'restuck in gridlock and taking up
valuable mental real estate whenyour brain desperately needs a
vacation,
Heidi (04:25):
The solution is simple, but it is powerful. Create an
actual physical parking lot forall of those thoughts. You
sometimes call this a braindump, but, you know, I kind of
like thinking of it as a summerparking lot. You're not getting
rid of the cars, you're justgiving them an organized place
to hang out while you're away.
Emily (04:43):
Your parking lot can be as simple as a stack of sticky
notes or a dedicated notebook,or you can just have a Google
doc titled For August. Whateversystem helps you breathe easier
is the right one for you.
Heidi (04:54):
The key is to have one specific place where you capture
every random thought, every ideaor worry that pops into your
head over the next few weeks,and we do mean everything. I
need to move the bookshelf tothe other wall. Or consider a
new morning routine. Ask aboutthat grant for the garden
project.
Emily (05:12):
So because we want to capture those thoughts
immediately, your parking lotneeds to be where you are. So
using a notebook for yourthoughts is great unless you
find yourself wide awake in themiddle of the night with an
urgent thought and nowhere towrite it down because you left
your notebook at school.
Heidi (05:27):
Oh, that is a guaranteed way to ensure that you're not
gonna be getting back to sleepanytime soon. So make sure that
whatever you use for yourthought parking lot is something
that you can easily accessanytime you need it.
Emily (05:39):
It may seem too good to be true, but we promise that
writing down your thoughts iskind of a magical way to
decrease your anxiety level. Ourbrains are great idea machines,
but they are not built to beremembering machines, but once
you write something down, yourbrain can let go.
Heidi (05:56):
This strategy helps you gently shift into summer mode
with peace of mind. I starteddoing something like this years
ago, and it completely changedhow I transitioned into summer.
Instead of carrying thisinvisible backpack of things
that I should be thinking about,I just dumped it all in a
document and then closed mylaptop.
Emily (06:14):
Yeah, and using a document is a better idea than
what I do, which is just sendmyself emails where the thought
is the subject line, becausethen sometimes the next day, I'm
like, what and what even wasthis? And my inbox is a mess.
Don't, don't do that. Use a doc.
Heidi (06:31):
And then you have to do something with that email and
put that information somewherewhere you can use it.
Emily (06:36):
And then it gets buried in my email by other emails, and
then I see it, like, a monthlater, I'm like, Oh my gosh, I
forgot about that. So that's nota good approach. Use a doc. And
what's great about this approachis that you're not ignoring
these thoughts or or likepretending that they don't
matter. You're just containingthem so they don't take over
your well deserved break.
Heidi (06:55):
Right now is not the time for action. We're just
committing to remembering.That's the limit of what we can
handle right now. This givesyour brain the comfort of
knowing it's not going to losethoughts without forcing you to
act on them immediately beforethey're forgotten.
Emily (07:11):
And then when you come back in August, you will have
this gift waiting for you—allyour end of your insights and
ideas captured when they werefresh in your mind.
Heidi (07:20):
Now, if you want to take this to the next level, we have
several different to do pages inour end of year roadmap. There's
a general brain dump page calledmy summer to do list, plus there
are pages for May throughAugust, so you can schedule when
you might want to try to do someof those tasks on your to do
list.
Emily (07:38):
All roads lead back to the end of year roadmap at this
time of year.
Heidi (07:41):
No joke.
Emily (07:43):
If you want to organize that brain dump list, there's a
sheet called tasks by location,and this helps you maximize your
energy and time. And thenthere's a task status list,
where you can identify eachtask's first steps. Writing down
the first step for each task canlift a huge weight off your
shoulders. When it's time to dosome school work, you'll already
know exactly where to start,which is often the hardest part.
Heidi (08:05):
There is zero expectation that you should use every one of
those lists, but there's enoughthere that there should be
something that helps you buildthe system that you need. The
link to our free end of yearroadmap is in the show notes.
But even if you just grab anotebook and start scribbling,
you are still giving yourself ahuge gift.
Emily (08:23):
Okay. So with all of those swirling thoughts
captured, it's time for part twoof the May/June crossover plan,
prep for the pause. This iswhere we set the stage for a
real break.
Heidi (08:35):
The question to ask yourself here is, what can I put
in place now so I can fullypause later? The goal isn't to
pretend that teaching doesn'texist for two months. As nice as
that would be, it's just notrealistic for most of us.
Instead, it's about creatingclear boundaries so that when
you do think about school, it isintentional rather than
(08:56):
intrusive.
Emily (08:57):
One simple way to make space for your summer pause is
to move your teacher bag and putit out of sight. You can put it
in your closet, and keep it inthe trunk of your car, out of
sight, out of mind, but stilleasy to get if you do need it.
Heidi (09:12):
Another game changer is setting your out of office
message, something simple like,thanks for your email. I'm
currently on summer break, and Iwill respond when school resumes
in August. If this is urgent,please contact the school. This
sets a clear boundary thatprotects your time and it also
manages expectations.
Emily (09:29):
While you're at it, delete or hide those school
related apps on your phone. Youcan temporarily remove any
school email, grading, orcommunication apps and reinstall
them when school nears, if youreally have to have those on
your phone.
Heidi (09:44):
And now's the time to batch any lingering to do tasks.
If you know you need to submitfinal receipts or purge that
drawer of mystery supplies, tryand tackle it now. Don't let
these tasks bleed into yourfirst weeks of summer.
Emily (10:00):
It may be helpful to block off specific time, like
maybe a day or even just anafternoon after the students
leave, to knock out all thosetasks at once. It's so much
better to stay late one day inJune than to have these tasks
hanging over your head in July.
Heidi (10:16):
You could even try scheduling a classroom cleanup
day with your work besties teamup for mutual accountability and
make classroom cleanup social,rather than isolating. Having
others help makes tasks moreenjoyable and efficient and
bonus points if you bring somesnacks.
Emily (10:32):
In episode 194 we talked about the three bin system for
breaking down your classroom. Soyou set up one bin for any
summer work you know that youwill actually do, one for your
classroom setup materials, andone for the first week of school
essentials. Label them, stackthem where you can get to them
and walk away.
Heidi (10:50):
Being intentional about preparing for summer isn't about
doing more. It's about doingjust enough to allow your brain
to actually shut off and yourbody to rest, because you
deserve a real break.
Emily (11:04):
And that brings us to the third part of our May/June
crossover plan, which is closethe loop. This is where we give
ourselves emotional closure onthe school year. We often talk
about student closure, but likewe mentioned last week, teacher
closure matters just as much.
Heidi (11:20):
I think this might be one of the most overlooked parts of
transitioning to summer, butit's so important. Teaching
isn't just a job, it ispersonal. Each year is a journey
with its own highs and lows,victories and challenges.
Without some kind of closure,it's easy to carry those
emotions, especially the heavyones, like frustration or
(11:41):
disappointment, right into yoursummer.
Emily (11:44):
Small rituals can make a big difference. So on the last
day of school, I liked to take aphoto of my empty classroom, all
tucked up for summerhibernation. There's something
so satisfying about seeing thatclean slate and knowing it's
ready for a fresh start in thefall.
Heidi (11:58):
And don't underestimate the power of simply saying
goodbye to your room. Walkaround, touch the walls, sit at
your desk, lean into the MarieKondo woowoo-ness of it all,
thank your room for all of thewonder that it held this year.
Even though the carpet is oldand it doesn't have enough
outlets and you never know whatthe temperature will be, you and
(12:18):
your classroom are a pretty goodteam.
Emily (12:20):
Another idea is to write a quick note of encouragement to
your future self, highlightingwhat went well this year and
what you hope for next year, andthen you could tuck it into your
desk drawer to read on yourfirst morning back at work.
Heidi (12:32):
In episode 195 we talked about closing the school year
with heart. The idea is to honorwhat you've accomplished and
acknowledge any difficultiesbefore moving on. You deserve to
start somewhere with a sense ofpeace and not panic or regret.
These small rituals help youdraw a line between the school
year and your break.
Emily (12:50):
And that is our May/June crossover plan. Capture the
thoughts swirling in your brain,prep for your exit so you can
truly pause, and close the loopwith simple emotional closure.
It's not complicated, but itmakes a world of difference.
Heidi (13:04):
You don't have to be perfectly planned. You just need
a clear exit ramp and a littlecompassion for yourself.
Emily (13:10):
Do you want a little help making that exit smoother? Well,
then download our end of yourroadmap. It's totally free and
full of simple prompts andchecklists to help you finish
strong without the stress.You'll find a link in our show
notes.
Heidi (13:24):
But if you're feeling the pull to rest and the tug to
regroup, you are absolutely notalone. That's why the teacher
summer talks are coming in June,to help you gently shift into
summer reflection and feel readyfor what's next without the
pressure. So stay tuned. You aregoing to love this.
Emily (13:42):
Oh, you really are. So go give future you the gift of a
peaceful start to summer,because you have earned it.
Heidi (13:49):
We would love to hear your end of year rituals, or how
you mentally transition tosummer. Come join the
conversation in our TeacherApproved Facebook group.
Emily (13:57):
Now for our teacher approved Tip of the Week, where
we share an actionable tip tohelp you elevate what matters
and simplify the rest. Thisweek's teacher approved tip is
create a classroom closingchecklist. Tell us more about
this. Heidi.
Heidi (14:11):
Well, make a comprehensive list of everything
that must be done before youleave your classroom at the end
of the year. For example, all ofthe fun stuff, like inventorying
your cleaning supplies,organizing textbooks, checking
in all the technology, maybehiding that coffee maker you're
not supposed to have in yourroom. Check off the items
systematically so you canmentally release those
(14:32):
responsibilities.
Emily (14:34):
And don't forget to turn your grades in, because Heidi
knows from experience, they'llchase you down in during summer
if you forget to do that.
Heidi (14:41):
Did have that problem one year.
Emily (14:44):
To help you out with this, we've added some pages to
our end of your roadmap freebie.Yes, we're talking about it some
more. You can't trust us withdigital products because they're
just too easy to extend. So giveus a couple years, and this will
be a 75 page freebie, and you'llbe glad you have it. But for
what we just added, there's achecklist for packing up your
room, there's a page to write aletter to your future self for
(15:05):
back to school encouragement,there's an inventory sheet for
any classroom items you need toinventory at the end of the
year. And then there's a sheetso you can keep track of what
you put in your three bins.Remember your classroom
resources bin, your need firstbin, and your first week of
school bin.
Heidi (15:21):
Now if you've already downloaded the end of your
roadmap, you might be thinking,great ladies, I already have
this. But don't worry, it is soeasy to add these new pages. I
promise it's so easy. If youhave downloaded the roadmap, but
you haven't filled anything outyet, just delete the old version
and download the new version.
Emily (15:37):
That's for sure the easiest way. But if you have
written a few things in yourroadmap, but not a lot, download
the new version and copy andpaste anything you've written
into the new document, and thendelete your old one.
Heidi (15:48):
If you have written a lot in your roadmap and you don't
feel like copying and pasting,go ahead and download the new
roadmap and then look at thepages we've just added. For any
pages that you want to add toyour current roadmap, just click
the little tab at the bottom ofthe page on the new download.
This will bring up a bunch ofoptions like delete and
duplicate, but the option youwant is copy to. So when you
(16:12):
click that, it'll bring upoption and you want copy to
existing spreadsheet. And thenyou can select your roadmap
file, and it will copy it rightin there. Once you have copied
over any of the new sheets thatyou want, you can just delete
the file that you downloaded.
Emily (16:26):
I promise it's way easier than it sounds, and there's so
much good stuff in there. Wejust don't want you to miss any
of it as we keep adding reallyawesome new additions to it. So
make sure to head to the shownotes so you can grab your own
copy or update your copy if youneed the latest one.
Heidi (16:42):
To wrap up the show we're sharing what we're giving extra
credit to this week. Emily, whatgets your extra credit?
Emily (16:47):
Well, I'm giving extra credit to something super sexy.
It's my new dandruff comb. I waslike, why does it have to be
called that?? I told you it wassuper sexy. The thing about this
comb is that it has hollowteeth, so it exfoliates your
scalp when you comb it acrossyour scalp. And then what's cool
(17:08):
about it is it has a littlebutton that cleans it out after.
Heidi (17:11):
Gross.
Emily (17:12):
No, it's not gross. It's not gross. I promise it's not
gross. It's not, it's less grossthan having your scalp flakes
end up your clothes.
Heidi (17:21):
That's very true. Yeah.
Emily (17:22):
So it gets it out of your hair very easily. It feels
really good. And I feel like myscalp has been like, extra clean
since I started using this.
Heidi (17:30):
Well, that does sound like a win.
Emily (17:31):
I'm gonna turn you into a fan instead of a hater.
Heidi (17:38):
We'll see.
Emily (17:38):
I know that dandruff scales run in our family, so
don't try to pretend you'rebetter than my dandruff comb.
Heidi (17:45):
Don't out our dirty laundry on a national podcast!
Emily (17:51):
Sorry mom for bringing shame on our family. What are
you giving extra credit to you,Heidi? Better bring something
really good after that mocking.
Heidi (18:00):
Oh, it is excellent. It is so lovely and centering and
healing. So I'm giving extracredit to JaxKelly's shower
affirmation cards. These arereally just such a simple way to
add a little brightness to yourday. These cards are made from
like, some special material,probably plasticky, so it makes
(18:22):
them waterproof. So you justchoose one, I like to choose one
at random, and then you get yourshower wall a little wet, and
the card just sticks to it. Andthen while you're showering, you
can remind yourself that I amcreating a life of passion and
purpose, or I am open and readyto receive amazing
possibilities.
They have several different setsfor things like abundance,
So you can use the dandruff comband then take a shower, and
anxiety and positivity and lotsmore than that. And they have
sets for kids and teens as well.I think these are really unique
(18:42):
then, if you're lucky, you'llpull out one that's like, I'm
gifts, especially if you havesomeone who might be going
still worthy, even though I havedandruff sometimes.
through a hard time. And I alsothink these are really helpful
They have some pretty specificones, so they probably have
if you happen to be in a placeright now where that thinking
time in the shower might lead tospiraling thoughts. So I give
(19:03):
these 10 stars out of 10 stars,I don't know, how many stars do
you think can get? This gets allof them. They're just really
lovely, a little bit ofbrightness in a world that can
that.
sometimes feel overwhelming.
Emily (19:19):
If not, you can just make your own card to add to the set.
Heidi (19:36):
That is it for today's episode. Use our May/June
crossover plan to mentally clockout without dropping the ball,
and don't forget our teacherapproved tip to create a
checklist for packing up yourclassroom.
We hope you enjoyed this episodeof Teacher Approved. I'm Heidi.
Emily (19:53):
And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow
or subscribe in your podcast appso that you never miss an
episode.
Heidi (20:00):
You can connect with us and other teachers in the
Teacher Approved Facebook group.We'll see you here next week.
Bye for now.
Emily (20:06):
Bye.
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