Summer break isn’t just for rest (though yes, absolutely rest). It’s time to think about teaching strategies, what worked, didn’t work, and what It’s also the perfect time to recharge your mindset and reflect on your teaching practice. If you’re looking for fresh, powerful ways to transform your classroom next year—and inspire other educators—these five teaching strategies are a must.

Let’s dive in.

☀️ Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Uplevel Your Teaching

When you’re not juggling lesson plans, behavior charts, and parent emails, you finally have the space to breathe—and learn.
Here’s why summer is ideal for growing your skills:

  • ✅ Reflect without the rush
  • ✅ Test strategies without pressure
  • ✅ Plan your comeback stronger than ever
  • ✅ Share your growth with other educators online or on campus

1. 🧠 Retrieval Practice

What It Is: A brain-based learning strategy where students are asked to recall information without looking at their notes.

Why It Works:

  • Strengthens memory over time
  • Boosts long-term retention
  • Prepares students for high-stakes tests and real-world application

How You Can Use It:
Try “brain dumps,” low-stakes quizzes, exit tickets, or ask students to sketch or explain concepts from memory.

🎥 Idea: Find a quick YouTube tutorial showing how to run a 5-minute retrieval practice at the start of class, give students a visual of what they need to accomplish.

2. 🌍 Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)

What It Is: A teaching approach that values and integrates students’ diverse cultural backgrounds into the learning experience.

Why It Works:

  • Builds deeper relationships with students
  • Increases equity and student engagement
  • Creates inclusive, welcoming learning environments

How You Can Use It:
Incorporate diverse texts and authors, welcome student stories, and connect your curriculum to real-world social and cultural issues.

🎥 Idea: Share a read-aloud or mini-lesson using a culturally relevant resource.

3. 📘 Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR)

What It Is: The “I Do, We Do, You Do” model of instruction.

Why It Works:

  • Supports all learners, especially those who struggle
  • Offers structure and confidence-building
  • Smoothly transitions students to independence

How You Can Use It:
Start with clear modeling (“I Do”), move to guided practice (“We Do”), and then shift to independent tasks (“You Do”).

🎥 Idea: During the “You Do” phase, show student exemplars and allow them to teach the class!

4. 💛 Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices

What It Is: An approach that prioritizes emotional safety and connection, especially for students with adverse experiences.

Why It Works:

  • Builds trust and emotional regulation
  • Helps students feel safe enough to learn
  • Reduces classroom disruptions

How You Can Use It:
Create predictable routines, use calm tones, offer choices, and practice empathy before punishment.

🎥 Idea: Make a poster as a classroom called “5 Ways to Create a Calm, Safe Classroom.”

5. 🔍 Project-Based Learning (PBL)

What It Is: A teaching method where students explore complex, real-world problems through engaging projects.

Why It Works:

  • Encourages collaboration and creativity
  • Develops problem-solving and research skills
  • Makes learning meaningful and memorable

How You Can Use It:
Start with a big question (“How can we…?”) and plan backwards. Include student voice, community involvement, and a final presentation.

🎥 Idea: Walk your classroom through one simple PBL example, like creating a school garden or solving a problem at school (think cafeteria or recess problems).

📝 Final Thoughts

Which Strategy Will You Try First?

You don’t need to master them all right away. Just pick one and commit to exploring it this summer.
Here’s how to start:

Don’t forget to comment below and let me know which one you tried and what’s going to work for you in the classroom. Remember you only have to try one!!