Your super summer guide from A to Z: for this teachers-only alphabet, we found 26 adventures, learning opportunities, and more cool things to do over the summer break

Instructor, April, 2005 by Hannah Trierweiler

A Trek Through the ALPS Does summer fill you with wanderlust? Several European tour companies, such as Abbey Road (www.goabbeyroad.com), hire people just like you to supervise their teen charges in exchange for all travel expenses and--in some cases--additional compensation. It's a job perfectly suited for teachers itching to climb Switzerland's mountains, eat French cuisine, or stare in wonder at Botticelli's Birth of Venus.

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B Build a Class BLOG Impress next year's students by starting a class blog. The online journals are not only a favorite forum for middle- and upper-graders, they're also a great way to structure casual conversations about summer reading and more. It's easy to create a free blog at sites such as www.blogger.com and www.livejournal.com. Write an introductory message greeting your students, and ask them to respond by describing what they've been up to over the summer.

C Turn Trash Into CASH The juice pouches students threw away by the dozens each day became the basis for a business for kindergarten teacher Dawn Tupper. After seeing handbags made from the pouches at a craft fair, Tupper began creating the bags herself, selling them to both girls and moms in her neighborhood in Oxford, Georgia. "Teaching is stressful," Tupper says. "It helps to have a fun project and to make a little extra money on the side."

D Pick Up a DUMBBELL Forget January 1--for teachers, the best time to start a new exercise routine is six months down the road, when school lets out for the summer. If you're looking for support, Curves gyms (www.curvesinternational.com) get rave reviews from teachers for their time-saving, women-only workouts. "It's in and out, no waiting, and in 30 minutes you are done with your exercise for the day," says Instructor advisory board member and fifth- and sixth-grade teacher Jane Lierman.

E Savor a Happy ENDING The latest blockbuster is an easy mini-retreat to budget for this summer, even with kids in tow. So tune into your inner tween with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (June 3) or sweeten up by catching Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (July 15). Sketch lessons based on these adaptations of children's books--or simply savor them for yourself.

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F Follow the FUTURE Want to boost your tech knowledge? More than two million teachers have learned how they can best use technology in their classrooms through Intel's Teach to the Future, which provides 40 free hours of training to select master teachers at public and private schools. These teachers then lead their colleagues through the program. Learn how your school can get involved by going to www.intel.com/education/teachfuture.

G Give Out a GRADE The College Board needs readers for the new essay portion of the SAT and is accepting applications at www.collegeboard.com/newsat/hs/reader.html. Those who have taught high school are especially needed, but anyone with relevant experience is welcome to apply. (Check out the FAQ for more on qualifications.) The best part? Grade from home and earn $17-22 per hour!

H Head for the HIGHWAY With the wind in your hair and sun on your skin, nothing says summer like a convertible. Now you can snag one for a day at a budget-friendly rate by becoming a member of TeachersDisCount at www.teachersdiscount.biz. The free program offers discounts at major retailers including Avis. Prove the old saying right: June, July, and August are three great reasons to be a teacher.

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I Join the Team at INSTRUCTOR From the best in board games to math tools, hundreds of educational products will arrive at our offices this summer--and so can you! Instructor needs teachers who can be in NYC in late June to choose this year's best classroom products. Send your name, number, and the grades you teach to instructor@scholastic.com.

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J Go on a JOURNEY From studying marine life to Chinese folk tales, the Earthwatch Institute (www.earthwatch.org) offers adventures around the globe--and the chance for teachers to join them for free. "My experience shows students they can make a contribution," says Shauneen Giudice, a Delmar, Delaware teacher who studied endangered caterpillars in Costa Rica.

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K Score a KICKBALL From the Bad News Bears to the Mighty Ducks, Hollywood sports teams always seem to find the right benefactor at the right time. Due to tight P.E. budgets, however, real-life squads don't always have it so easy. Help the young athletes in your life pay for new softball gloves and soccer cleats by applying for an activity grant from Balance Bar. The deadline is August 30, 2005. For more information, go to www.balance.com/grants.

L Learn While You LUAU After a long winter, can you practically feel the tropical breeze? The National Marine Educators Association will hold its annual conference in Maui, Hawaii, from July 11-16, 2005. Science teachers looking for real-world inspiration can scuba dive, snorkel, and tour a volcano. For info about travel arrangements and scholarships, go to www.vims.edu/nmea.