Editor’s
Comments
Kathryn
Pole,
Ph.D.
As
I
write
this
column,
the
students
and
teachers
from
the
elementary
down
the
street
from
my
house
are
at
the
park
across
the
street,
celebrating
the
end
to
a
school
year,
and
probably
most
importantly,
the
beginning
of
summer
vacation.
The
joyful
noise
floats
through
the
neighborhood.
We
know
how
kids
look
forward
to
summer.
The
relative
lack
of
structure
in
the
summer
is
both
welcome
and
necessary.
It
is
important
for
teachers,
too!
To
people
outside
of
schooling,
the
old
joke
is
that
teachers
choose
their
career
because
of
the
months
of
June,
July,
and
August.
We
know
better
–
the
nature
of
our
work
changes
in
the
summer,
but
summer
means
time
to
think,
organize,
and
plan
for
the
coming
year.
To
that
end,
here
are
some
suggestions
for
your
Summer
2011!
Take
some
time
for
yourself.
Teaching
is
demanding
work
–
focus
on
finding
things
that
relax
you.
Read
a
few
good
novels.
Summer
is
the
perfect
time
to
catch
up
on
the
magic
of
reading
for
recreation
–
an
attitude
we
want
to
be
able
to
instill
in
our
students.
Savor
a
well-‐turned
story,
collect
interesting
words,
and
get
lost
for
a
bit
in
a
life
far
away.
Read
to
learn,
to
perfect
your
craft
of
teaching.
The
International
Reading
Association
(www.reading.org)
and
the
National
Council
of
Teachers
of
English
(www.ncte.org)
publish
excellent
and
relevant
books
and
journals
that
could
recharge
your
work.
Take
a
class
in
something
that
interests
you.
Learn
to
garden.
Study
the
craft
of
writing.
Take
a
painting
class.
These
things
will
all
find
a
way
into
your
classroom,
and
might
be
just
what
you
need
to
connect
with
a
student.
Hunt
for
lesson
plans.
There
are
a
few
good
sites
for
these
on
the
Internet.
One
of
the
very
best
is
at
ReadWriteThink.org,
where
you
can
find
plans
written
and
reviewed
by
teachers,
using
current
research
and
best
instructional
practices.
Become
politically
aware
and
active.
There
are
many
things
happening
at
local,
state,
and
national
levels
that
impact
education.
Spend
time
every
day
reading
news,
lookin