If you have been following along with me for any amount of time, you know I do not throw the word “PD” around lightly. And quality summer PD? Forget it, truly. Most of what gets called PD still asks for something big in return, whether that is a full day of your summer or a login you will forget about by August. It’s run by consultants that have been out of the classroom since way before 2020 and share the same old ideas over and over. So when I tell you that Teacher Summer Talks is genuinely free summer PD and genuinely worth your time, I mean it.
I am so excited to share that I am speaking at this year’s event, and I wanted to walk you through exactly what it is, because the setup is honestly kind of brilliant.
What’s this magical free, teacher summer PD?
Teacher Summer Talks is a four day virtual event running July 20 through 23, hosted by Emily and Heidi from the Teacher Approved podcast. This year the whole thing is built around a summer camp theme, and thirty experienced educators, myself included, are sharing the systems, routines, and decisions we set up early in the school year because we know those are the things that end up carrying the rest of the year.
The sessions are a mix of audio and live, and here is the part I love most. Most of the content is prerecorded audio, so there is no Zoom link to sit in front of and no schedule to rearrange your whole week around. You press play and listen while you are folding laundry, driving somewhere, or sitting by the pool pretending you are not thinking about your classroom yet. It fits into the summer you already have instead of taking it over.
What You Will Actually Walk Away With
Each day has its own focus, moving from the foundation you set in the first week of school, to the routines and systems that keep your day running without eating up your planning time, to the choices that protect your energy so you are not running on empty by October.
My summer PD audio recording is all about setting up a shame free behavior system from day one. I am joined by a lineup of teachers covering everything from classroom culture and mentor sentences to math small groups, boundary setting, and building a classroom where every student feels like they belong. There is something in there whether you teach reading, writing, math, or you are trying to hold the whole classroom together as a generalist.
Alongside the sessions, there is a guided First Day Plan Challenge running all week. Each day brings one small, doable step, and by the end of the four days you have an actual first day plan in hand instead of a notebook full of ideas you meant to get to someday. There are also live sessions, a private Facebook group they are calling the Camp Lodge where teachers swap ideas all week, and some fun camp style extras like merit badges and giveaways for anyone who wants to engage a little more.
If You Want to Go Even Deeper
Once you grab your free ticket, you will also have the option to upgrade to the Max Pass. This is completely optional, but if you know you love having things in hand rather than just in your head, it is worth a look. The Max Pass gives you extended and ongoing access to the sessions after the event ends, along with implementation guides and bonus content from the speakers so you can put what you learn into practice rather than just nodding along while you listen. This is a great way to take your summer PD learning and have the chance to bring it to your teams during back to school season and beyond. Full details on that come after you register, so there is no pressure to decide anything up front.
Why I Think This Is Worth Your Time
I get asked constantly how to find summer PD that respects both your summer and your actual classroom needs, and this is one of the few things I have come across that does both. You are not sacrificing your break to prepare for the year ahead. You are letting thirty teachers who have already worked through the hard parts hand you what they learned, in a format you can actually fit into your life.
If you have ever finished a school year exhausted and told yourself you would do things differently in the fall, this is your chance to actually make that happen instead of just hoping it does.
Grab your free ticket to Teacher Summer Talks here, and I will see you at camp!
This summer PD event runs July 20 through 23, so save your spot before summer gets away from you!
