Guest post from Sarah of The Orthodox Mama:
The days are getting longer and warmer, the kids are getting restless, and teachers are beginning to dream of beach getaways. That can only mean one thing — summer vacation is nearly here!
I have been a middle school teacher for the past 10 years and absolutely love it. However, until I started teaching, I had no idea just how much teachers looked forward to summer vacation, too!
After nine and a half months of working overtime, teachers certainly deserve some relaxation!
If you are like me, though, you could also use some extra cash in your bank account. Summers can be a great time for teachers to earn a little (or a lot!) of money to help them reach their financial goals.
Here are 5 ways teachers can earn money over the summer:
1. Work for Your District
One of the best ways to earn extra money is to work extra hours at a job you already have. For teachers, this means seeking additional work within your own district.
Many schools offer summer school programs to provide enrichment or remediation for students over the vacation. These programs generally involve shorter hours (often just half a day), an hourly wage that beats most retail jobs, and an opportunity to interact with students in a different environment.
In addition, sometimes schools seek teachers to help develop curriculum or research best practices during the summer months.
You can also get creative. I have a friend who works for the district each summer painting classrooms. She works about four hours a day for five weeks and earns a great paycheck.
2. Tutor Privately
Teachers can also put their knowledge and skill set to work by offering private tutoring during the summer months. Many parents want their children to continue learning during the summer and will pay well for it!
I have been tutoring children for the past ten years. I have solicited clients on my own, worked for tutoring companies, and tutored through my school. In my experience, I have found the most success with upper-level math tutoring, SAT/ACT prep, and editing essays for college admissions.
If you are going to tutor in your home, I would recommend starting out with clients that you know. However, if you tutor in the evenings when a spouse can watch the children, you can meet a the local library or another neutral location.
Tutoring rates vary dramatically depending on the area (I’ve made anywhere from $14-$50 an hour), so do some research to see what is typical for your community. You can advertise through Facebook, Craigslist, or even through a flyer at the library.
3. Teachers Pay Teachers
If you are a teacher, you may have hundreds of dollars just sitting in your filing cabinet or on your computer. Teachers Pay Teachers is an online store that connects educators with products created by other educators. After all, wouldn’t you rather help out a fellow teacher than line the pockets of textbook companies?
Last year I began searching for ways to earn some passive income — money that could be gained for an indefinite period of time from a small amount of work done once. Teachers Pay Teachers perfectly fits this mold. I already had worksheets, quizzes, literature units, games, etc. that I had created over my years teaching middle school. I simply had to update/ revise them, add some graphics, and add them to my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I spent roughly 1-2 hours updating my material, and then it can earn money for years!
4. Run a Summer Day Care
Running a summer day care is an excellent way for teachers to earn some additional money. Working parents are always on the lookout for quality, affordable childcare, creating an almost endless demand for the service. In particular, parents of school-aged children who don’t have to find childcare during the school year will be looking for options during the summer months.
If you are considering starting your own daycare, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, you’ll need to research licensing laws in your state and become CPR and First Aid certified if you are not already.
Second, create a contract that clearly states your fee, your policies (what happens when you are sick, on vacation, or need to close for other reasons, etc?), and hours of business.
Next, decide on your method of advertisement. Will you use word of mouth, Craigslist, Facebook?
Finally, take a little time to determine the going rate in your area. You want to be competitive; however, you can also charge a bit more because you are a licensed teacher.
If you are a teacher trying to pay off debt, save up to buy a house, or trying to reach some other financial goal, be sure to take advantage of these summer months. With a little work, you can find a job that will help you reach those goals!
Sarah Wright is an Orthodox Christian, wife to The Philosopher, and mom to three little ones (6, 3, and 2). She is a full-time teacher and writes about faith, family, and frugal living over at The Orthodox Mama. In her free time she enjoys Mexican food, old movies, and curling up with a good book.
Stephanie says
My husband was paid last summer to develop an online course for professional development and they asked if he is interested in maybe doing another one this year. Every little bit helps.
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
What a great opportunity, Stephanie! I hadn’t heard of that before, but I think that an online professional development course is an excellent idea. I may have to float that to my district…. 🙂