Let me guess. You’re a teacher in summer mode but the universe doesn’t get it. People are either:
Asking what you’re doing with “all that time off,” or
Posting aesthetically perfect “teacher transformation” goals with sunrise runs, closet makeovers, and classroom organisation by July.
Meanwhile, you’re sitting on the sofa in mismatched pajamas eating toast over the sink and wondering if you should feel bad for not alphabetising your classroom library.
Let me stop you right there.
As a fellow teacher who has finished the year held together by caffeine and classroom duct tape, let me tell you what you actually need this summer: permission to rest, permission to not plan, and a little structure to recharge your way.
Here is the no-glitter, no-guilt guide for reclaiming your summer energy. It’s not fancy, but it will stop you from burning out next year.
1. First, Do Nothing. Like, Actually Nothing.
The first week of break? That’s your decompression zone. ( no, looking for teacher summer work) Think emotional jetlag. Don’t rush to be productive—you’ve just been everyone’s therapist, IT support, and unpaid lunch monitor for 10 months. (Sorry if it’s longer in your neck of the woods.)
Try this: Schedule a full week of “meh.” No goals. No alarms. Pyjamas until noon. You’re not lazy—you’re recalibrating.
Teacher self-care
2. Write the Summer List (But Make It Chill)
Forget the “Hot Girl Summer” energy. We’re aiming for “Content Teacher Energy.” We’re going to make the most of your teacher summer break.
Make a summer activities list with three columns:
Things I want to do
Things I need to do
Things I’ll never do but like pretending I might
Try this: Choose one item from the “need to” summer activities column per week. Yes, week. Your oil change isn’t going anywhere.
3. Move in Ways That Don’t Feel Like P.E.
This isn’t about “beach bodies” or “bouncing back.” It’s about un-kinking your teacher spine and feeling like a human again.
Try this: Dance in your kitchen ( we do a lot of that in our family) Walk to the bakery/fishmonger’s in my case!)Take a yoga class and try and hold off the nap until the end. Just move in a way that makes you happy.
4. Revive the Hobby You Ghosted in September
Remember when you used to read books that weren’t about classroom management? Or paint, bake, or rewatch every season of your favourite show while sipping iced tea? I always revert to gardening, even if I’ve missed planting season, there’s always the garden center to fill in the gap.
Try this: Block off hobby time like a dentist appointment—non-negotiable and good for your health.
5. Plan Small Joyful Adventures (Emphasis on Small)
You don’t need a 10-day trip to Bali to “make the most of summer.” But a solo cinema trip? Visiting a weird museum? Wandering a bookstore with iced coffee in hand? That’s the good stuff.
Try this: Pick three local places you’ve always said you’d check out. Then actually go.
6. Guard Your Boundaries Like They’re Exam Papers
You don’t owe your school, your admin, or your Google Drive a single thing until you decide you’re ready.
Try this: Delete the school email app off your phone. No really. Delete it. Reinstall in August. Maybe.
7. Nap. Like a Boss.
This isn’t laziness. This is elite-level repair mode. You didn’t run on adrenaline all year to then power through summer on productivity guilt.
Try this: Build a nap into your daily rhythm. Think of it as professional development in horizontal form.
If we’re being totally honest…You’re not a failure if your house isn’t immaculate by July.
You’re not “wasting” summer if you didn’t launch a TpT empire.
You’re not falling behind—because rest is not a luxury, it’s a requirement.
This summer isn’t just about recovery. It’s about quietly stitching yourself back together without the pressure to turn it into a Pinterest board.
And if all you do is breathe, heal, and reorganise one junk drawer. That’s enough.
Now go. Grab that iced tea. Cancel any unnecessary admin. And live your best-unbothered teacher life.
Because I’m rooting for you. Always.
— A Fellow Teacher Who’s Also Been In Her Pyjamas at 3 pm
If your bellwork routine is more “barely surviving” than “brain-boosting,” you’re not alone. Between chasing down pencils, attendance, and that one student who always has a breakfast drama, mornings can feel more chaotic than calm. Let’s talk about how to give your bellringers a glow-up this school year.
This post is your go-to guide for transforming morning work from dull to dynamic, with no extra prep and lots of real learning. Whether you call them bellringers, warm-ups, do-nows, or openers, we’re giving them a much-needed makeover like this free pack you can grab to try.
What Are Bellringers, Really?
Bellringers are quick, purposeful activities students complete at the very start of class. Ideally, they should:
Set the tone for learning
Review or spiral key concepts
Engage students’ brains
Give you a few minutes to get settled
But let’s be honest: when we’re swamped, bellringers often turn into uninspired worksheets, ” What did you do at the weekend,” or random busy work in journals And that does not serve you or your students.
The Problem with Traditional Morning Work
It’s not that morning work is bad. It’s that it often becomes a time filler instead of a brain igniter. I like to set up my day so that learning is engaging, real and saves me re-teaching time later on in the year. You’ve probably found that when it’s not working, it’s one of these problems:
Too repetitive: Same worksheet, different day
Too random: Unconnected questions with no learning goal
Too low-level: Copy this sentence. Color that box.
Too stressful: Students need help, but you’re handling a dozen other things
I just didn’t want any of that. So I experimented with a bunch of ideas and was rewarded with calm mornings.
Whether you teach 4th grade, 5th, or even middle school, a glow-up is possible. Let’s dive into the good stuff I found worked. You can grab a sample week for free here .
Easy morning work routine
5 Ways to Give Your Bellringers a Real Glow-Up
1. Make It Meaningful
Choose bellringers that connect to real-world situations or current events. When students can see the “why” behind what they’re doing, they’re more engaged. Try questions like:
“You’re planning a birthday party for 20 people. The cake recipe serves 8. How many cakes do you need?”
Want math to matter? Start here.
2. Switch Up the Format
Not all morning work needs to be pencil-and-paper. I tried using bellringer journals, whiteboard stations, or even mini-discussion prompts with partners. I planned themed warm-ups by day of the week — like Math Monday or Writing Wednesday — to keep things fresh and predictable.
3. Add Student Voice
Incorporate prompts that let students reflect, predict, or share an opinion. A simple question like:
“What strategy did you use yesterday that helped you in math? Would you use it again?”
…can turn a warm-up into a powerful moment for metacognition and growth mindset.
4. Make It Standards-Aligned Without Killing the Vibe
Use bellwork to gently spiral skills you’ve already taught — or preview what’s coming. If you’re working on place value, a quick estimation warm-up fits perfectly.
I especially enjoyed using short word problems with a twist to sneak in both math and literacy. Turning test review into a disguised game format, so students don’t even realise they’re studying, also works beautifully
5. Keep It Low-Prep but High-Impact
You’re tired. Your bellwork shouldn’t require a Google Slides deck with 23 animations. Choose warm-ups that are:
Copy-and-go
Easy to differentiate
Quick to check
I keep it to five minutes max, just enough to settle students and set the tone. The glow-up doesn’t need to be fancy — just intentional.
P.S. These bellringers aren’t just for the first week of school. They’ll work all year long — and you won’t need to prep a thing. Win-win.
That’s my tips for glowing up your bellringer routine for this school year. Good luck, I’m cheering you all the way.
Once you’ve got your bellwork sorted, you might want to check out Melissa’s (That One Cheerful Classroom) Ideas for the perfect back-to-school exit ticket routine. And that’s another thing ticked off your list.
Bye for now Sabah 🙂
Hey Friend! I’m Sabah
I’m a former Scottish teacher and I have a passion for incorporating real world connections with learning. Project based learning for grades 3- 5 is my jam! You’re in the right place if you’re looking to find simple, effective strategies to transition to a more student led classroom, boost student engagement, retention and have fun doing it! Curious to know how my 4th grade class transitioned to PBL focused learning? Click HERE to find out.
