Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW

Literature Review
Jennifer Buck
National University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

TED 690Capstone Course
Professor Carol Sheperd

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Abstract

This literature review explores the myth that everyone who is not a teacher believes
teachers have summers off. Little do they know, teachers are not sunbathing and
vacationing during their entire time off. Teachers are passionate about what they do and
how well they can do their job. Fine-tuning, adjusting, throwing out, and developing new
curriculum and lesson plans are just a few of the things teachers are busy with during
their summers off. This myth is defeated and shows the productiveness of teachers
during their summers away from a classroom full of students.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Article: The Sounds of Summer

Author: Texley, Juliana
Publication title: Science and Children
Volume: 48
Issue: 9
Published Year: 2011
Publisher: National Science Teachers Association
Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.nu.edu/login?
url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/875538080?accountid=25320
Reviewer: Jennifer Buck, National University
Overview:
Many people believe teachers have summers completely off from work. Little do
they know, teachers are always looking for ways to make their lessons better; even if that
means taking courses to stay up to date with current curriculum practices, technology,
pedagogical theories and practices. Summer is a very busy time for teachers, whether it
be teaching summer school, grade level meetings, develop lessons, learn new technology,
continue own professional development, set up classroom environment for the next year,
and recharge their inner batteries.
Furthermore, summer can be spent reading books that foster personal enrichment.
Summer school isnt a walk in the part with curriculum handed to teachers. There is time
taken to develop lessons and the curriculum targeted towards the student needs. A new
learning environment is created to allocate to students. Professional learning classes, and

LITERATURE REVIEW

department or curriculum meetings are set in the summer to make sure teachers are
collaborating and being innovative! Lessons and units get reworked, revised, edited, and
sometimes thrown out. Research is used to develop depth of knowledge related to the
field of study. Technology is thriving in our world and as schools become one to world
with electronics, teachers need to stay up to date with programs purchased by the school.
Some curriculum pieces are solely technology driven with no textbooks available in print.
The first day of school, the desks are set up to incorporate think-pair-share and
collaborative thinking paradigms. This does not magically happen for teachers.
Custodians have other priorities, so teachers need to use their summer to hang
encouraging slogans, set up desks and chairs, putting up bulletin boards, and rearranging
tables, shelves, and cabinets. Therefore, summer is practically gone by the time teachers
rejuvenate and develop for the next year.
The teachers mind never shuts off come June. They still continue to search for
books to replenish their classroom library. Props and realia are always on teachers mind
to use as a visual for all learners. When a new story hits, they are constantly trying to
find documents to use as a primary source for their students. Breaks are needed for
teachers when they are with students for 10 months out of the year. The summer time is
spent doing equally important facets of the job. Teaching takes a toll on the mind, body,
and function. Regardless of the negative effect teaching can have on their bodies, there
are millions of people willing to return to the teaching profession.

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References

Texley, J. (2011). The sounds of summer. Science and Children, 48(9), 70-72. Retrieved
from http://ezproxy.nu.edu/login?
url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/875538080?accountid=25320