Summer is an ideal time to work on your goals and explore your interests. We’ve talked about how important it is to encourage your students to work on their goals over the summer, but what about yours?
Teachers deserve time off over the summer, but not all of that time needs to be spent staring off into the sunset and trying to ignore the fact that September is getting closer and closer. Why not set some instructional goals for yourself? Taking time to learn about a topic more deeply keeps your brain sharp, and, when the new year inevitably comes around, you’ll have new tools in your arsenal to make the most of it.
My personal goals for the summer are to learn more about the teenage brain and how advances in neuroscience might help us understand adolescence better (and how this changing understanding can influence how we help teenagers be more motivated and empowered).
What’s your goal? If you’re looking to learn more about executive function this summer, then I have an idea for you! The SMARTS Summer Summit, August 10–11 in Lexington, MA, is the perfect place to hone your executive function toolkit. Over two days, we will provide attendees with a thorough introduction to executive function, metacognition, and stratey instruction across grades and content areas. Dr. Lynn Meltzer will cover the theory and research behind executive function and executive function difficulties. SMARTS team members, including yours truly, will demonstrate methods for assessment and instruction of executive function in diverse learning environments. It’s the perfect opportunity, so don’t miss out! Last year we had attendees from Bermuda, Canada, and Slovakia. This year, you can join us!
Check out the details here, and, as usual, there is a discount for current SMARTS subscribers.
- Michael Greschler, M.Ed., SMARTS Director