糖心动漫vlog

Teaching Profession

Beach Reads, Not PD: Teachers Set Summer Boundaries

By Olina Banerji 鈥 June 01, 2026 1 min read
Illustration of a book, sunglasses, and symbols of romance books, PD, travel, mystery, and adventure.
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A period romance. A psychological thriller. A whodunit set in a sleepy English village. Teachers have picked out their beach reads. Missing category from the collection: professional development.

Is that surprising or completely expected? You tell us.

on which PD books are on their reading lists, most online commenters said they wanted to disconnect completely and reclaim their time. Many likened professional development to 鈥渦npaid work鈥 and didn鈥檛 want to devote any break time to it. Some were even annoyed that we asked the question.

A small but committed group of respondents said they are planning to read PD books鈥攆or fun. Their goal: to deepen their knowledge of how kids learn or how to improve their school鈥檚 culture.

Here鈥檚 a mix of the funniest and most meaningful responses. Our favorite pick came from a respondent in Delaware:

鈥淭he back of my eyelids. Can鈥檛 wait to read them all summer long!!!鈥

Reasons not to read

For many teachers, summer is a time to rest, travel, and reconnect with life outside the classroom. These responses reflect a mix of humor, exhaustion, and a firm refusal to work for free.

   I will be enjoying the summer break. I do not agree with working for no pay.

—Travis W.

   None 鈥 I鈥檒l be enjoying the summer break, traveling, and reading what I want.

—Daneen S.

   A cocktail recipe book.

—Don T.

   I am reading several books that I may use as choice reading but not PD.

—Amanda E.

   I鈥檓 diving into novels by Kelli Stuart! Surely I can learn something while on an adventure.

—Leslie G.

   PD Summer reading list? I have a life. Summer is my time AWAY from school.

—Erin W.

   I鈥檒l just be staring at the wall for a week trying to decompress.

—Julie H.

   I鈥檒l be diving back into Jimmy Buffet鈥檚 catalog of beach reads.

—Gerard F.

   Surely you jest.

—Alison H.

   I have about 9 shows to binge watch and 200 chores around my house.

—Joseph C.

   Let鈥檚 calm down and have some summer first 馃お

—Misty P.

   No PD books. Just romances, adventures and comics! Perhaps some magazines!

—Dina M.

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Books teachers recommend

Not everyone is skipping PD. Some 糖心动漫vlog see summer as a chance to reflect, recharge intellectually, and return with fresh ideas. Their picks blend curiosity, purpose, and a love of learning.

   鈥淩ebuilding Students鈥 Learning Power: Teaching for Instructional Equity and Cognitive Justice鈥 by Zaretta Hammond

—Marianna R.

   鈥淭he Anxious Generation鈥

—Jennifer D.

   I'm currently reading 鈥淭each Like a Pirate鈥.

—Shawntelle G.

   鈥淩igor Unveiled鈥, 鈥淩igor by Design鈥, 鈥淭ransforming School Culture鈥

—Lish M.

   鈥淏urn the Script鈥 by Jo Lein

—Kevin R.

   鈥淒igital Delusion鈥

—Kelly E.

   鈥淚nstructional Illusions鈥, 鈥淭he Compassionate Classroom鈥

—Deesha D.

   鈥淭he Adolescent Brain: Learning, Reasoning, and Decision Making鈥

—Melanie S.

   鈥淭each from Your Center鈥 by Austin Lucas

—Amy J.

   鈥淩ock Your Literacy Block: Mighty Moves to Organize Your Day and Optimize Student Learning鈥 by Lindsay Kemeny

—Kristy R.

   鈥淪tolen Focus鈥 and 鈥淭he Digital Delusion.鈥 It breaks my heart to see kids and society staring at screens all day. We need to reconnect to the real world and real people. A lot is at stake.

—Matthew B.

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