The Power of Predictability
September marks the start of a new semester, making it a fitting time to reflect on a benefit of our profession that might be overlooked at first glance: the predictable academic calendar. After 20 years in the classroom, I see the academic calendar as akin to a fringe benefit of the job. Before diving too deeply into this, I want to outline some assumptions for this discussion. For most teachers in the United States: The school year begins in mid-August and ends in early June. There is an unpaid summer break lasting seven to nine weeks. The contract day typically starts around 7 AM and ends around 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Classes are not held on most holidays or weekends. The calendar includes a winter break in late December/early January, a spring break in March/April, and a few other breaks based on context. The academic calendar for the following year can be reliably predicted based on previous years. Of course, there is variation in these statements since schedules are shaped ...