☀️ Summer Teacher Propaganda: What I'm Actually Subscribing To
It’s officially Hot Teacher Summer, and I don’t know who needs to hear this—but we are NOT subscribing to burnout this season. No ma’am.
Every summer, a new wave of teacher propaganda floods our feeds. It comes dressed as Pinterest-perfect classrooms, "hustle harder" PD mindsets, and fully color-coded planners for every week of the upcoming school year. And while I love me a good strategy session and a fresh set of Flair pens, I’ve learned the hard way that you cannot pour from an empty HydroJug.
So here’s what I will and will not be subscribing to this summer. The list might just surprise you.
✅ I Will Be Subscribing to: Beach Days, Boy Momin’ & Being Present
This summer, you’ll find me with sandy feet and two crazy little boys by my side, making memories before maternity leave becomes newborn life. I'm leaning into lazy mornings, giggles, and saying “yes” to spontaneous snowball runs with my boys. Because here’s the truth: being a teacher is a huge part of who I am—but it’s not all I am.
I’m giving myself permission to rest without guilt. To sit still. To finish a show without annotating it. To stretch out on a beach towel and let the sound of waves reset my nervous system. Because a rested teacher is a better teacher—and my students deserve that version of me.
❌ I Will Not Be Subscribing to: Buying Out the Entire Target Dollar Spot
Listen, I love a good decor refresh—but I will not be spending half my paycheck on boho rainbows and farmhouse bins just to stay on trend. You do not need to change your entire classroom theme every year to be a great teacher. Find your classroom identity and run with it. Build on it slowly. Add to it as you can.
A pretty classroom is cute. A purposeful classroom is powerful. My summer Pinterest scrolls are less about themes and more about strategy: How can I better reach my students? What systems can I put in place to make learning more accessible, engaging, and FUN?
So yes—I’m saving pins and creating vision boards for my space. But I’m doing it with intention, not impulse.
✅ I Will Be Subscribing to: Conferences That Feed My Teacher Soul
Every summer, I commit to one professional development experience that reignites my passion for teaching—and honestly, it’s sacred. Whether it’s a conference, an online series, or connecting with other educators who just get it, this is the time of year when I fall back in love with my content and my calling.
Teaching high school isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s also where the magic happens. And summer is when I give myself space to remember why I started.
❌ I Will Not Be Subscribing to: Hustling Through July Like It’s August
Let me be clear—I’m allowing myself to rest. Especially with baby on the way, I am not about to spend my summer planning bell ringers through May or reinventing the wheel. Yes, I might dabble in curriculum here and there when inspiration hits—but sis, this is not your 9–5 right now. It’s summer. And you deserve to rest.
It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to not be productive every second. That energy can wait until the school supply bins hit the shelves. Right now, I’m choosing joy. I’m letting my brain wander. I’m soaking up time with my family and giving myself permission to just be.
Because the best ideas? The ones that really transform your classroom? They usually show up when you’re rested, not rushed.
✅ I Will Always Be Subscribing to: Amazon Wishlists & Community Support
Let’s talk facts. As a high school teacher, I don’t get a lot of classroom supplies handed to me. If I don’t stock up in August, I’ll be handing out my own pens by October.
That’s why every summer, I create and share my Amazon Wishlist—and I never feel bad about it. My wishlist isn’t filled with fluff. It’s full of essentials: Expo markers, paper towels, pencils, Kleenex. The things that keep my classroom functioning. When a community member clicks “purchase,” they’re not just sending a supply—they’re saying, “I see you.”
So yes, I’m proudly subscribing to that wishlist life. And I hope other teachers do too.
So What’s the Propaganda I Am Buying Into?
✨ That rest is productive.
✨ That growth doesn’t always look like doing more.
✨ That loving your job and loving your life can coexist.
✨ That community matters—and we don’t have to do it all alone.
Whether you’re soaking up sun, scrolling for strategies, or sleeping in past 6:00 AM for the first time in months—do what feeds you this summer.
I’ll be here, cheering you on, sand between my toes, wishlist linked, and heart full.
XOXO- Jaclyn Richie
