Hello and welcome back to Blooming Curious, the podcast for educators
and parents who believe in sparking curiosity, embracing wonder, and preparing
children for a future that values human connection as much as knowledge.
Today, I want to speak directly to those of you in the northern
hemisphere, the teachers, the homeschoolers, and the educators of
all kinds who are stepping into that beautiful season we call summer break.
Take a moment, take a breath.
You've made it.
Let's talk about how this unhurried time, this unhurried
season is more than just a break.
It's an opportunity, a moment to rest, to reflect, and to reignite
your passion for teaching.
Why does summer matter?
And it matters actually more than you think.
It's often framed as a time to recover from burnout, but I'd like
to offer you a new perspective.
What if we treated this time not just as recovery?
But as a reset, a gentle mindset shift away from survival mode
towards intentional growth.
Because here's the thing, children need energized, curious, inspired
teachers, and that begins with you.
And it starts with rest 'cause you've earned it.
Let's not skip this part.
True Inspiration begins with rest and not just the physical kind.
But mental space, here are a few ways to truly recharge.
Unplug from technology at least for a few hours a day.
Spend some time in nature.
Go for a walk.
Go to the beach.
Go to the mountains, get into your garden.
Start journaling or sketching without any outcomes in mind, and
sleep in if your body needs it.
Secondly, you don't need to always be productive to be valuable.
You are already valuable because you care and you show up.
So once you've taken that deep breath, it's the perfect
time for a little reflection.
Here are a few ways that you can get that reflection going.
Start journaling and here are some prompts that can help you get started.
What moments lit me up this year?
When did I feel most like myself in the classroom?
What do I want to feel more of next year?
What am I curious to try that I've never done before?
This isn't about fixing anything, it's just about being curious.
Number three, read to Reignite, not to prepare.
Now let's shift into learning, because in the most inspiring, non pressured
way possible, because here's the thing, education is academic, and
we know that teaching comes from the heart, but it's also about the mind.
The world our children are growing into will require skills like
creativity, empathy, resilience, and collaboration, not just screen fluency.
And ironically, that means they need more hands-on learning more, play, more
inquiry, more projects, not more apps.
So if you're ready to be inspired, here are some book recommendations to
curl up with this summer for hands-on human-centered educators like you.
One is the Art of Inquiry questioning strategies for the K to six classroom,
and it's by Nancy Lee Cecil.
And it's a brilliant guide to create classrooms where curiosity leads the way.
The next one is Project-based Teaching, How to Create Rigorous
and Engaging Learning Experiences by Suzy Boss and John Larmer.
It's a practical and inspiring book, perfect for integrated project-based
learning into any setting.
The next one is Let the Children Play by Passey Salberg and William Doyle.
It's a global look at how play-based inquiry rich learning
prepares kids for the future.
Not to be missed.
The next one, one of my favorites is The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Hyde.
It's a powerful reminder of why children need real world connection
and not more tech, and how we can build that into our daily lives.
Inspiring inquiry based Learning by Kathy Short is rooted in real classroom examples
and it shows how to use literature and student voice to fuel deep learning.
And of course, we can't leave our Trevor McKenzie's books, the
Inquiry Mindset Elementary Edition, and the Inquiry Mindset Questions.
Now, once you've read, the next thing to do is to prepare for a
human future without the guilt.
We don't need to race to the next trend or the next tech tool.
Instead, let's ask,
how can I invite more wonder into my classroom next year?
What structures can I remove to give students more agency
-all skills for the future?
How can I trust that meaningful learning happens beyond a worksheet?
Children will thrive in a digital future, when they've practiced these things,
making things with their hands, solving real world problems, asking questions,
and not just settling for quick answers,
'cause our brains actually love solving problems, working with
others and listening deeply.
'cause these are human skills and you, yes, you are the guide
they need to develop them.
So this summer, give yourself permission to rest.
Give yourself permission and the space you need to reflect and take
the time for inspiration to grow.
Let your professional development feel more like a personal
development experience.
And if you do pick up a book, or try a new idea, i'd love to hear from you.
So just tag me on social media at Blooming Curious and share what you're exploring.
I'd love to know.
I know also that being a human centered educator, means that you welcome
a little structure and support.
So I've created the Curiosity Toolkit just for you.
It's a toolkit that contains templates and prompts and planning tools for five
weeks of wonder and beyond, and it gives you the perfect outline for things to
include and consider when you're planning
your next lessons or your next units.
And best of all, it plugs into any curriculum or any lesson.
And as an added bonus, when you purchase the toolkit for the low price
of only $10, it automatically gives you entry into the blooming community,
which is my free private membership, where educators like you can get
the support you need from fellow,
like-minded educators just go to, go.bloomingcurious.com/curiositytoolkit.
I'll leave a link in the show notes.
Thank you for listening today.
Remember, being a great educator doesn't mean doing more.
It means being more present, more curious, and more human.
You've got this.
Remember to check out the show notes for the links to the books that I
mentioned and the toolkit and until
next week, stay blooming, curious, and take care of yourself.