5 Ways Teachers Can Earn Some Extra Cash

5 Ways Teachers Can Earn Some Extra Cash

If it was your lifelong dream to become a teacher, chances are you didn't go into it for the money. Summers off and other breaks are great perks, but let’s face it: You are never really off - just spending your free time planning lessons and grading papers. Alternatively, you may be picking up a part-time job to supplement your income. But how can you best put your skills and education to good use? Here are five suggestions on how to think like an entrepreneur and earn some extra cash:


1. Become A Private Tutor

Being a teacher, you possess very specific content knowledge and that makes you an ideal tutor. Decide how much time you are willing to devote to tutoring and which grade levels you can work with. There are a number of ways you can advertise your services online, through sites like Craigslist and Homework Paradise; you can also check with your local school district. Some schools offer tutoring services after school or need tutors for home-bound students.

2. Sell Lesson Plans Online

Teachers Pay Teachers is an “online marketplace where teachers buy and sell original download-able educational materials, hard goods and used educational resources.” Founded in 2006 by Paul Edelman, a New York City educator, Teachers Pay Teachers is free to start an account to sell your well-honed lesson plans or materials that you no longer use. One Kindergarten teacher reportedly earned $700,000 peddling her lesson plans!

3. Do Some Freelance Work

Elance allows you to advertise your skills and apply for specific freelance jobs. After creating a profile with your resume and work samples, you can browse through thousands of available jobs in areas like writing and editing, computer programming, and legal research. When you apply for specific jobs, you set your price and wait to see if you receive an offer.

4. Teach An Online Course

If you have a master’s degree and teaching experience, you can teach online college courses in your subject area. Some online schools allow you to apply for teaching positions on their websites, but you can also apply at your local community college, which often offer night courses for aspiring educators.

5. Build A Home Business

With so many web-based businesses today, the opportunities are endless. Take some time to consider the talents and skills that you have to offer, think about unmet needs in your area and take it from there. If you are a music teacher, offer private lessons from your home. If you are a vocational teacher, put your carpentry or mechanic skills to a lucrative use. Your entrepreneurial pursuit can be as simple as selling crafts on Etsy or as complex as developing a curriculum for textbook publishers. The main thing is to get started and stay positive!
This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator, Jeffrey Roe on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor – an education-technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as USC to deliver their Masters in Education degree online.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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