Teaching summer school is a win-win for Katie Davidson.
“Summer school is really valuable professional development time for me. I get to try out different things in the classroom, often at a different campus and in a new setting.”
From August to May, she’s the Social Studies Instructional Coach at Wood Middle School. During the summer, she goes where she’s needed. This year, that meant spending five weeks at Garner Middle School. Davidson views it as a time to test new ideas and collaborate with teachers from across the District.
“You have to be very mindful and purposeful about what you’re teaching and focus on balancing your lessons during the summer,” said Davidson. “I have to be more mindful of my timing and transitions so this gives me time to get better at my teaching skills.”
Davidson and her peers were prepared to address much more than math, reading, history and science this summer. For some students, this may have been the first time they’ve ever been on a middle school campus.
“We went into it thinking there was a very good chance that these sixth graders have never stepped foot on a middle campus,” said Davidson. “They finished fifth grade in a pandemic and some of them spent all of sixth grade at home, so this was a good opportunity for them to adjust to middle school life.”
It was a time to adjust, refresh and reset ahead of the next school year. As beneficial as summer school can be for students, it’s even more impactful for their teachers.
