WEBVTT 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:03.500 Hello and welcome back to Blooming Curious, the podcast for educators 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:07.939 and parents who believe in sparking curiosity, embracing wonder, and preparing 00:00:07.939 --> 00:00:13.459 children for a future that values human connection as much as knowledge. 00:00:14.030 --> 00:00:16.730 Today, I want to speak directly to those of you in the northern 00:00:16.730 --> 00:00:20.870 hemisphere, the teachers, the homeschoolers, and the educators of 00:00:20.870 --> 00:00:26.930 all kinds who are stepping into that beautiful season we call summer break. 00:00:28.115 --> 00:00:30.334 Take a moment, take a breath. 00:00:30.875 --> 00:00:31.685 You've made it. 00:00:31.685 --> 00:00:36.185 Let's talk about how this unhurried time, this unhurried 00:00:36.185 --> 00:00:38.495 season is more than just a break. 00:00:38.764 --> 00:00:44.014 It's an opportunity, a moment to rest, to reflect, and to reignite 00:00:44.344 --> 00:00:46.115 your passion for teaching. 00:00:47.524 --> 00:00:49.264 Why does summer matter? 00:00:49.384 --> 00:00:51.574 And it matters actually more than you think. 00:00:52.024 --> 00:00:56.794 It's often framed as a time to recover from burnout, but I'd like 00:00:56.794 --> 00:00:59.254 to offer you a new perspective. 00:00:59.674 --> 00:01:03.064 What if we treated this time not just as recovery? 00:01:03.440 --> 00:01:09.469 But as a reset, a gentle mindset shift away from survival mode 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.060 towards intentional growth. 00:01:11.990 --> 00:01:17.089 Because here's the thing, children need energized, curious, inspired 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:19.880 teachers, and that begins with you. 00:01:20.779 --> 00:01:24.050 And it starts with rest 'cause you've earned it. 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:26.149 Let's not skip this part. 00:01:26.630 --> 00:01:31.759 True Inspiration begins with rest and not just the physical kind. 00:01:32.224 --> 00:01:37.114 But mental space, here are a few ways to truly recharge. 00:01:38.374 --> 00:01:42.184 Unplug from technology at least for a few hours a day. 00:01:42.844 --> 00:01:44.554 Spend some time in nature. 00:01:44.554 --> 00:01:45.514 Go for a walk. 00:01:45.514 --> 00:01:46.384 Go to the beach. 00:01:46.384 --> 00:01:48.634 Go to the mountains, get into your garden. 00:01:49.594 --> 00:01:54.604 Start journaling or sketching without any outcomes in mind, and 00:01:54.604 --> 00:01:56.824 sleep in if your body needs it. 00:01:57.919 --> 00:02:02.870 Secondly, you don't need to always be productive to be valuable. 00:02:03.259 --> 00:02:06.919 You are already valuable because you care and you show up. 00:02:07.609 --> 00:02:11.690 So once you've taken that deep breath, it's the perfect 00:02:11.690 --> 00:02:13.849 time for a little reflection. 00:02:14.615 --> 00:02:19.954 Here are a few ways that you can get that reflection going. 00:02:20.524 --> 00:02:25.325 Start journaling and here are some prompts that can help you get started. 00:02:26.075 --> 00:02:28.474 What moments lit me up this year? 00:02:29.794 --> 00:02:33.755 When did I feel most like myself in the classroom? 00:02:35.104 --> 00:02:37.745 What do I want to feel more of next year? 00:02:39.214 --> 00:02:42.575 What am I curious to try that I've never done before? 00:02:43.339 --> 00:02:48.289 This isn't about fixing anything, it's just about being curious. 00:02:49.429 --> 00:02:54.079 Number three, read to Reignite, not to prepare. 00:02:54.739 --> 00:02:59.659 Now let's shift into learning, because in the most inspiring, non pressured 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:05.329 way possible, because here's the thing, education is academic, and 00:03:05.329 --> 00:03:10.820 we know that teaching comes from the heart, but it's also about the mind. 00:03:11.914 --> 00:03:16.954 The world our children are growing into will require skills like 00:03:16.954 --> 00:03:24.214 creativity, empathy, resilience, and collaboration, not just screen fluency. 00:03:25.294 --> 00:03:31.624 And ironically, that means they need more hands-on learning more, play, more 00:03:31.624 --> 00:03:35.044 inquiry, more projects, not more apps. 00:03:35.704 --> 00:03:41.074 So if you're ready to be inspired, here are some book recommendations to 00:03:41.074 --> 00:03:47.524 curl up with this summer for hands-on human-centered educators like you. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:53.599 One is the Art of Inquiry questioning strategies for the K to six classroom, 00:03:53.689 --> 00:03:55.879 and it's by Nancy Lee Cecil. 00:03:56.209 --> 00:04:00.919 And it's a brilliant guide to create classrooms where curiosity leads the way. 00:04:02.195 --> 00:04:05.854 The next one is Project-based Teaching, How to Create Rigorous 00:04:05.854 --> 00:04:11.015 and Engaging Learning Experiences by Suzy Boss and John Larmer. 00:04:11.435 --> 00:04:15.994 It's a practical and inspiring book, perfect for integrated project-based 00:04:15.994 --> 00:04:18.094 learning into any setting. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:24.680 The next one is Let the Children Play by Passey Salberg and William Doyle. 00:04:25.219 --> 00:04:29.180 It's a global look at how play-based inquiry rich learning 00:04:29.479 --> 00:04:31.729 prepares kids for the future. 00:04:32.900 --> 00:04:33.920 Not to be missed. 00:04:34.790 --> 00:04:39.050 The next one, one of my favorites is The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Hyde. 00:04:39.080 --> 00:04:43.550 It's a powerful reminder of why children need real world connection 00:04:43.820 --> 00:04:48.469 and not more tech, and how we can build that into our daily lives. 00:04:49.340 --> 00:04:55.640 Inspiring inquiry based Learning by Kathy Short is rooted in real classroom examples 00:04:55.999 --> 00:05:00.530 and it shows how to use literature and student voice to fuel deep learning. 00:05:00.650 --> 00:05:03.830 And of course, we can't leave our Trevor McKenzie's books, the 00:05:03.830 --> 00:05:08.599 Inquiry Mindset Elementary Edition, and the Inquiry Mindset Questions. 00:05:08.599 --> 00:05:11.689 Now, once you've read, the next thing to do is to prepare for a 00:05:11.689 --> 00:05:13.759 human future without the guilt. 00:05:14.269 --> 00:05:17.929 We don't need to race to the next trend or the next tech tool. 00:05:18.559 --> 00:05:20.509 Instead, let's ask, 00:05:20.749 --> 00:05:24.769 how can I invite more wonder into my classroom next year? 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:30.409 What structures can I remove to give students more agency 00:05:31.009 --> 00:05:32.869 -all skills for the future? 00:05:33.709 --> 00:05:38.989 How can I trust that meaningful learning happens beyond a worksheet? 00:05:40.219 --> 00:05:45.799 Children will thrive in a digital future, when they've practiced these things, 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:54.139 making things with their hands, solving real world problems, asking questions, 00:05:54.349 --> 00:05:56.989 and not just settling for quick answers, 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:01.819 'cause our brains actually love solving problems, working with 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:03.859 others and listening deeply. 00:06:04.789 --> 00:06:10.189 'cause these are human skills and you, yes, you are the guide 00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:11.899 they need to develop them. 00:06:12.964 --> 00:06:18.904 So this summer, give yourself permission to rest. 00:06:19.654 --> 00:06:25.684 Give yourself permission and the space you need to reflect and take 00:06:25.684 --> 00:06:28.894 the time for inspiration to grow. 00:06:29.734 --> 00:06:32.809 Let your professional development feel more like a personal 00:06:32.859 --> 00:06:34.349 development experience. 00:06:34.674 --> 00:06:39.999 And if you do pick up a book, or try a new idea, i'd love to hear from you. 00:06:39.999 --> 00:06:45.309 So just tag me on social media at Blooming Curious and share what you're exploring. 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:46.149 I'd love to know. 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:52.004 I know also that being a human centered educator, means that you welcome 00:06:52.004 --> 00:06:53.864 a little structure and support. 00:06:53.894 --> 00:06:58.034 So I've created the Curiosity Toolkit just for you. 00:06:58.544 --> 00:07:03.404 It's a toolkit that contains templates and prompts and planning tools for five 00:07:03.404 --> 00:07:08.714 weeks of wonder and beyond, and it gives you the perfect outline for things to 00:07:08.714 --> 00:07:11.444 include and consider when you're planning 00:07:11.739 --> 00:07:14.109 your next lessons or your next units. 00:07:14.169 --> 00:07:18.789 And best of all, it plugs into any curriculum or any lesson. 00:07:19.029 --> 00:07:23.349 And as an added bonus, when you purchase the toolkit for the low price 00:07:23.349 --> 00:07:28.599 of only $10, it automatically gives you entry into the blooming community, 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:33.279 which is my free private membership, where educators like you can get 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:35.679 the support you need from fellow, 00:07:35.744 --> 00:07:43.594 like-minded educators just go to, go.bloomingcurious.com/curiositytoolkit. 00:07:43.964 --> 00:07:45.434 I'll leave a link in the show notes. 00:07:46.154 --> 00:07:47.414 Thank you for listening today. 00:07:47.444 --> 00:07:51.284 Remember, being a great educator doesn't mean doing more. 00:07:51.764 --> 00:07:56.834 It means being more present, more curious, and more human. 00:07:57.674 --> 00:07:58.574 You've got this. 00:07:58.844 --> 00:08:02.024 Remember to check out the show notes for the links to the books that I 00:08:02.024 --> 00:08:05.264 mentioned and the toolkit and until 00:08:05.669 --> 00:08:09.989 next week, stay blooming, curious, and take care of yourself.