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Transform Your Life with this Teacher Side Job

Teaching is hard work. We all know this but we do it anyway. We know it’s long hours and we know it’s being involved in many “extras” that other jobs don’t have and we do all of this for little pay. Why? Because we love our kids. We do it because we want to make a difference in other people’s lives.

How is it fair that we make a sacrifice everyday as teachers? We either sacrifice our calling by leaving the teaching world to do something that will help us be more financially stable or we struggle financially while we live out our dream of teaching kids. Why can’t we do both? Why can’t we teach and make a decent living?

We can.

I’ve learned that we can do both. What started as a little teacher side job has become so much more to my life. I make a difference in not only just my student’s lives but the lives of students around the world with my resources.

side-job-for-teachers

Want to make more money as a teacher? Learn how with this side job.

Transform Your Life with This Teacher Side Job

My Story

I started selling on TeachersPayTeachers at the end of 2016 as a way to put my resources out there and earn a little extra cash. I didn’t think much of it, just put together some of the things I was doing in my classroom already and threw them up in my store. My first product I put in was an Elf on the Shelf resource and it took off (or what I consider “took off” as far as being a new seller goes). When I started making money on this one resource, I began to think about where this little “teacher side job” could go.

I thought about all the teachers I could help with my creative ideas. I thought about all the students across the world I could help with activities I was already creating for my own classroom. And of course, I thought about how I could earn that extra bit of money that would supplement my teaching salary.

When I thought about all these things, I decided I would learn as much as I could about this business and how to create a business of my own. I took a leap of faith, invested in myself and my growing business and now what started as a teacher side job, is now a much bigger dream.

teacher-side-job

I transformed my life with this teacher side job. You can too!

Sell Teaching Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

If you’re a teacher (which I think you are if you’re reading this) then you already know the stress and pressure teachers are under. We have so many things to do and not enough time. Teachers Pay Teachers is such a great platform for teachers to find good lessons, created by people who are actually in the classroom and know what students are capable of. You could be that teacher that puts creative and engaging lessons on this platform for busy teachers to use with their students.

Reasons to Start this Online Side Job

  • Put Up Lessons You’re Already Using in Your Classroom

Chances are, you’re already doing amazing things in your classroom! Why not get paid to share them with other teachers?

  • Help Teachers and Students All Over the World

Teachers love to help people. It’s something we all have in common. Through this online side job, I’ve been able to help teachers all over the world. When my resources make their way into other classrooms, I am indirectly teaching students all over.

teacher-side-job

You’re already making amazing things for your students, why not get paid for them?

  • Get Paid

It’s hard to live on a teacher salary. When you start a side job, selling teaching resources online, you get paid for your resources. These are things you are already an expert on and making for your class anyway! So, why not get paid?

  • Do this Side Job From Home

This is a great side job for teachers as you can do it all from home. Most of the time when I’m creating, I’m sitting on my couch, in my yoga pants, in front of a TV show (that I don’t have to pay much attention to).

Share Your Ideas on a Teacher Blog

Selling your teaching resources online could be a great teacher side job for you, but if you want to make a big difference, you need to share your ideas and resources on a teacher blog. A blog opens up a world of new opportunities than just selling on Teachers Pay Teachers.

  • A Teacher Blog is Your Own

Yes, Teachers Pay Teachers is a fabulous website to put your resources on, but you don’t own it. A blog is a place you own and have control over. You decide how it looks, you decide the content that goes up, and there is no algorithm to try to beat. When you start a blog, you have the option to also open a storefront and sell your teaching resources on your own platform.

  • You’re Helping Many Teachers With More Than Just Your Resources

When you have a blog, you’re sharing more than just your resources. You can share ideas, creative ways to teach something or anything in your expertise. When you help teachers be successful in their own classroom, they want to come back to you and will look for your resources.

  • People get to Know, Like and Trust You

A blog is a great way for people to get to know you. I don’t know about you but I feel much better purchasing something when I know someone’s story. It’s a win-win when I’m getting something I need and also feel good about who the money is going to.

  • Get Paid Through Affiliates and Email Marketing

Having a blog as part of your online side job, gives you more opportunities to earn money. You can get paid through being an affiliate and marketing products you already use and love. You can also build up your own email list and share products and deals that you might be having. An email list is the only sure way you know your information is getting into the hands of your customers.

teacher-side-job

Learn how to grow your teaching business online.

Enroll in Transform Your Resources

If you are serious about creating this side job, you need to enroll in Transform Your Resources, a course by Kayse Morris. Kayse takes you through the ins and outs of how to be successful teacherprenuer. She is the reason my dream has developed from just having a little side job to building an empire.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to Create Visually Appealing Products

You’ll take the products you’re already creating for your students and you’ll make them pop, so other teachers want to purchase them. You’ll learn about fonts and clip arts and the importance of pairing certain “looks” together. When you sign up for this course, you’ll also learn how to create editable resources, something so valuable to teachers.

  • SEO and How to Get Your Products in Front of More Eyes

Before this course, I knew absolutely nothing about SEO. I don’t even think I knew what SEO stood for. After this course, my products and my blog posts are showing up on the first page of search engines. Because I got my SEO in order, my products are selling more.

  • How to Make What Teachers Want

The only way you’re going to sell anything is if you’re making what teachers want to buy. The course goes over ways to make your products valuable for other teachers.

  • Email and Social Media Marketing

It’s great if you have amazing ideas and awesome resources but the only way others are going to see it, is if you are marketing. Kayse teaches you how to market your products through email and social media.

online-side-job

Create the life you love to live.

What to Expect

When I started selling my teaching resources at the end of 2016, I knew I wanted to learn all I could about starting a business. I invested in courses that taught me bits and pieces of what I needed to know but were never the full package.

Kayse is an expert because she started on Teachers Pay Teachers, tripled her salary and was able to leave teaching to pursue this side job full time. Now, she helps other teachers like me and like you do the same.

  • It Will Change Your Life

When I started this course, my Teachers Pay Teachers store was just a side job at home. After completing it and getting to know Kayse and all the Go-Getters I took the course with, I’ve decided to build a business. I won’t be going back to the classroom next year. I’ve decided to stay home with my son and pursue my online business full time.

I thought I would be a teacher forever and in some ways I will, but this course changed my life because I have the dream to be more. I will expand my reach of just a handful of students each year, and I’ll help students and teachers all over the world.

If you have any thoughts of wanting to make a difference and start a teacher side job like this, enroll in this course. We’re ready for you!

What Keeps Me Motivated to Blog

This post is going to be a little different from my normal teaching tips post. I want to get personal with you and share why I do what I do and what keeps me motivated to blog. 

About two years ago, I decided to embark on a new journey, selling digital resources on TeachersPayTeachers and with that I decided to create a blog. This space is a home for my ideas, tips, resources and so much more. 

motivated-to-blog

What Started as a Marketing Strategy…

When I started my store on TpT, I felt that a blog would be a great way to get my resources in front of teachers as well as a way to share my teaching ideas with other kindergarten (and maybe even pre-k and first grade) teachers. This blog is a space where I can write to help others, while making some money at the same time. I’m not going to lie, this blog is one important piece that helps my business grow. 

What I didn’t know, is that it’d turn into a special space where I can share my love for teaching and that I’d become apart of this amazing online teaching community. 

…Turned into a Space for Helping Others

I’m naturally an introvert. Yes, I like being in a career where I am around others and get to teach young children. When you’re a teacher, you are on all the time and especially in kindergarten, there’s no downtime to even think about time to yourself. But when it comes down to it, I recharge by having alone time and time with my husband. 

This blog and online teaching community has inspired me to step outside my box and share with others. You keep me motivated to blog. 

I have met so many amazing teachers and feel inspired by them to be the best I can in my classroom. My goal for this blog is to inspire at least one person in each post. If I can help one person in each blog post, it’s worth it to me and I will continue to be motivated to blog.

It’s a Way to Reflect

My blog has also become a space for me to document my classroom and my learning. For two years, I’ve written (mostly) consistently about many things I do in my classroom and about the resources I’ve created to help other teachers. 

This blog is a great tool for me to be able to go back a month, a year, even two years now and be able to reflect. I reflect on my teaching, my classroom, and my organization. I even reflect on how my resources have improved, how I’ve become more comfortable writing posts and how my business has grown. Seeing this growth keeps me motivated to blog.

motivated-to-blog

A Way to Push Myself to do More

When it comes down to it, I want to make a difference. I want to make a difference in my students’ lives yes, but I have a much broader reach when I help other teachers. When I inspire teachers with my words or resources, they make a difference in their students. When I reach teachers, I reach their students as well. Helping this bigger audience keeps me motivated to blog.

My Motivation to Blog

This blog started as a marketing tool and turned into a platform for me to be able to help teachers.

I am motivated to blog when I help teachers, when I see them implementing ideas or using my resources in their classrooms.

I’m motivated to blog when I take the time to reflect on where I started and how I’ve grown, both in my classroom and in my business.

Lastly, this blog motivates me to push myself to do more. Through this blog, I make a difference in more than just my own students’ lives. I make a difference in other students’ lives through inspiring their teachers.

I can’t wait to look back on my blog and this post in another year or two and reflect on how I’ve grown and how I’ve helped others through this platform.

What helps you stay motivated in your teaching, your business or your blog?

You may also be interested in…

Teacher-Blog Post Ideas for When You Have Writers Block

Teacher-Blog Post Ideas for When You Have Writers Block

This post may include affiliate links. By purchasing from these links I earn a slight commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business.

 

As a teacher blogger, I feel like I have so much to say because I want to help other teachers. However, sometimes, when I sit down to write, I can’t decide what to write about. Through taking a couple blogging courses and figuring things out on my own, I’ve come up with some strategies for what I can do when I have writers block. I also want to provide you with a list of ideas you can write about if you ever experience a shortage of ideas.

Tips for When You Have Writers Block

Brain Dump

A brain dump is when you write all your ideas from your head onto paper (or somewhere electronically). I like to think of all the parts of my day during teaching and what I do throughout the year, to get me started on the dump. This is helpful when thinking about what you want to write about as these are things you are an expert on. When you’ve finished your brain dump, think about what other teachers might struggle with or might find interesting and pull from your list.

A brain dump can also show you if things relate to each other and you can write a series. For example, I wrote a series about using guided math in the classroom.

Everything You Need to Know to Launch Guided Math in Your Classroom

How to Write Differentiated Lesson Plans to Use During Guided Math

Guided Math Centers: What are students doing when they’re not meeting with me?

How to Assess Student Learning During Guided Math (Standards Based Grading)

All Your Guided Math Questions Answered: A Collaborative Post with Sam Ripley

Check out this post for some inspiration when you have writers block. Included is what to do when you have writers block & 30 ideas of teacher-blog topics!

Marketing

Marketing is a huge part of having a blog and business. If people can’t find your work or website, how can they read or follow along with your journey? My biggest marketing tool is Pinterest. With Pinterest, I use Tailwind, which schedules my posts to go out at optimal times throughout the day. If you’re having trouble writing, start pinning what you’ve already written!

Another way I market is through Instagram. There is a huge teaching community on Instagram and they are the most supportive, helpful people you will ever meet. When I have a new blog post, I make sure it gets posted to Instagram so it gets out to my followers.

Visual Marketing from Tailwind

Work on Another Aspect of Business

When you have writers block, you can work on other aspects of your business. It’s pointless to force yourself to write. If you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it. Whenever I have writers block I work on some of the following.

TpT Products

If you also sell on TpT, this is a great time to work on a new product. Then, when you have your new product, you can write a blog post about it, explaining it further! Instant inspiration!

Photographs

Having writers block gives you a chance to take pictures. Go to your classroom and start snapping away. Stage your pictures so they look professional and take multiple in different sizes. You never know what you’ll need!

Social Media

This is also a good time to work on your social media. I focus primarily on Instagram but you can choose what you like best. Facebook is beneficial or twitter. Reach out to people on these different platforms and make connections!

Schedule Out Posts

To avoid writers block, try to schedule out your posts a month or two in advance. That way, then you sit down to write, you have an idea of your topic and a few key points you want to write about. This really helps me be consistent as a blogger and keep writers block away!

Check out this post for some inspiration when you have writers block. Included is what to do when you have writers block & 30 ideas of teacher-blog topics!

Teacher-Blog Post Ideas

When you do have writers block, you can refer to this list to help you with ideas you can write about!

General Classroom Ideas

  • Favorite activities you do in your classroom
  • A typical day in your classroom
  • Your classroom set up/decor
  • Why ___ subject is your favorite to teach
  • Your behavior management system and why it works for your class
  • Favorite tools (technology, school supplies etc)
  • Favorite books
  • Why ___ is important in (teaching, your classroom, your grade level)

Specific Parts of the Day

  • How you set up ___ subject in your classroom
  • Why ___ subject is your students’ favorite
  • Ideas for ___ (a holiday, season, special event ex: 100th day of school)
  • Explain a TpT product you have in your store and how you use it
  • Tips for teaching ___
  • Favorite art projects
  • Favorite ___ (subject) activity

 

Organization

  • How you plan your week
  • Why you organize using ___ (bins, files, etc)
  • Setting up your small groups
  • Favorite organization hacks
  • What you do at the end of the day to be ready for the next day
  • How to set up ____ (folders, notebooks, writing folders etc)
  • Why you use ___ instead of ___ (ex: book bags instead of book boxes)
  • Any classroom DIY (explain how you made it)

About Your Students

  • How to challenge your high learners
  • How to support your lower learners
  • How to build relationships with your students
  • How to differentiate
  • Students favorite part of the day
  • What you do to engage all students
  • Ideas for building a classroom community

Check out this post for some inspiration when you have writers block. Included is what to do when you have writers block & 30 ideas of teacher-blog topics!

Hopefully this list will help you when you experience your next writers block! What do you do when you find it hard to write? Let me know below!

You may be interested in…

2 Simple Steps to Creating Your Teacher Blog

The Top 3 Resources I Use to Grow my Blog and TpT Store

2 Simple Steps to Creating Your Teacher Blog

This post may include affiliate links. By purchasing from these links I earn a slight commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business.

 

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Danielle and I am a kindergarten teacher. When I began teaching, I often looked on Pinterest for ideas for my classroom. I figured, why reinvent the wheel when I can learn so much and for FREE from other amazing teachers through the internet. Because I was in the same shoes as so many others only a few years ago and know what struggles teachers may be facing, I wanted to create a space where I could share my knowledge and hopefully inspire some teachers along the way. I created this teacher blog as that space. I also created it as a marketing tool for my TeachersPayTeachers products, another way that I try to help other teachers (while making a little extra money).

I’ve always been a creative person and this blog and my TpT store were a way for me to express this creativity. Now that I’ve been blogging a while, I want to share how you can start your very own teacher blog!

Want to start a teacher blog but don't know where to start? Check out this post for how to start your site in only two simple steps!

Before You Begin

Take a moment to think about why you are starting this blog. Think about how serious you’re going to be about this new journey in your life. This will help a few of your decisions later on.

Some questions to ask yourself:

  • Is this a hobby or a business?
  • Who are you trying to help? Your ideal readers?
  • How often do you plan on writing?
  • Are you going to monetize (make money) from your blog?

When I started my blog I had a vision of what I wanted it to become. I wanted it to be a place for kindergarten teachers (or elementary teachers) to come to be inspired or to get answers for things they may be struggling with. As my blog has grown, I’ve also started writing for teachers who want to earn a little extra money through running a TeachersPayTeachers store. This post will help teachers who want to start their own teacher blog from the ground up.

Steps to Create Your Own Teacher Blog

Step 1: Sign up for a Hosting Site

I use and LOVE the hosting site Bluehost. It’s super easy to set up and they have 24/7 support for when you have questions.

When you click the link, it’ll prompt you to choose a plan (I just use the most basic/cheapest plan) and then you’ll choose your domain. Go through the next steps by putting in your information and when you click sign up your website has been created!

Step 2: Install WordPress

I recommend using WordPress for your website. It takes some getting used to, but once you play around a bit you’ll feel more comfortable adding posts and designing your site. Plus, there are tons of youtube videos on how to do certain things to your WordPress site.

Install WordPress straight from your Bluehost dashboard. The site will walk you through how to install WordPress and then once you click into WordPress you’ll be ready to start designing your blog and creating posts!

Once you’ve set up Bluehost and WordPress, it’s time to play around with themes, designs and to start posting. You can pay other people to design your website or you can do it yourself. My advice is to just get in and try things. I’ve learned so much by trial and error and through Youtube videos.

I can’t wait to see your new website and blog! Drop a comment below where I can check it out.

My Summer Schedule to Grow my TpT Store

This post may include affiliate links. By purchasing from these links I earn a slight commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business.

 

Last summer was the first summer I put work into my TpT store and business. This summer, I plan to grow my store even more, now that I have a better idea of what I’m doing and have more experience under my belt. I’ve created a summer schedule so I can be productive while still leaving time to relax and spend quality time with friends and family (and my pup of course)! Take a look at my summer schedule to grow my TpT store below.

I’ve divided tasks into how often I need to get them done: daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly.

My Summer Schedule

Daily

Write for the Blog

I’ve set a goal to write at least something for my blog everyday. It can be an idea, an outline for a post or a full blown post, I just want to write something. My goal is to get far enough ahead that I’m not scrambling to write a post the day before it goes live. I want to work so I can have a few months scheduled out ahead of time. (Of course I won’t be doing this while I’m on vacation or certain weekends/events – but for the most part, I will write daily.)

Post on Instagram

I post daily on Instagram already and I will continue to post daily. During the summer, I’ll still post tips and ideas for the classroom but I’ll also post about my summer life and how I’m spending my summer. Let’s connect on this platform – follow me at @one_kreative_kindergarten and send me a message! I’d love to meet you!

Want to grow your TpT store this summer? Check out this post to see my summer schedule and how I plan to spend my time so I can grow my business through my blog and TpT store. Summer Calendar Freebie Included Teacher, teaching ideas, summer schedule, teacher organization, tpt store, edupreneur, teacherspayteachers

Weekly

Post a New Product

For the past few months, I’ve slowed down on creating new products, mostly because it’s been a busy season in my life personally and professionally. Over the summer, I plan to post a new product each week.

I currently have a growing bundle for classroom decor that I’ll be getting products out for. Check it out and get it for a discount here!

Schedule Pins on Tailwind

I currently take a day (usually Sundays) and I schedule out my pins on Tailwind for the week. I’ll continue to do this as I can just set it and forget it. Posting through Tailwind has helped me gain tons of traffic to my blog which gives more exposure to my TpT products and store. My blog is my second highest traffic source besides TeachersPayTeachers itself.

 

Post in Facebook Groups

One of my goals this summer is to be more active in the Facebook groups I belong to. Three of my top favorite Facebook groups for blogging/TpT/Instagram are Teacher Blogger + Seller Network, Instagram Connection for Educators, and TpT Sellers.

Create Pins for TpT Products

I’ve noticed that pins for my TpT products get shared more when they aren’t just the cover of my TpT product. I want to go back through my entire store and create pin sized pins (longer pins) instead of just pinning my square thumbnail images.

Bi-Weekly

Post Blog Posts

Currently, I post once a week on my blog. If you want to see something specific on my blog leave me a comment below! I’d love to help you and give you want you want to see more of!

Monthly

Schedule out/Brainstorm Blog Posts

To help me stay on top of posts and work a month or two in advance, I’ll be scheduling out and brainstorming my posts monthly. Looking ahead helps me see the bigger picture and schedule where I can post about upcoming products or give a deeper explanation to future buyers.

Update an Older Product

I have almost 100 products in my store and some of them need updates real bad! I plan to update some of these at least once a month, possibly a few times a month.

Complete an Online Course that will Benefit my Business

Last year, I purchased the Genius Bloggers Toolkit and now that I’ll have more time in the summer, I want to put time into learning more that will help grow my blog and TpT store. I’ll be working on at least one online course a month!

 

I’m so excited to spend this summer working on my business by growing both my blog and TpT store! What projects are you working on this summer? Share them below!

The Top 3 Resources I Use to Grow my Blog and TpT Store

 

This post may include affiliate links. By purchasing from these links I earn a slight commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business.

 

I started my blog and TeachersPayTeachers store around the same time about a year and a half ago. Once I decided to really put time into my business, I learned so much about what works (and what doesn’t) and how to gain followers and page views on both my blog and TpT products. I use 3 main resources that have helped me gain and grow an audience. These top 3 resources lead to more views on my blog and TpT store and ultimately more sales on my products.

Want to grow your blog or TeachersPayTeachers store but don't know how? Check out the 3 top resources I cannot live without that help me grow my blog and TpT store.

The Top 3 Resources I Use to Grow my Blog and TpT Store

1. Tailwind

Tailwind is a website that schedules out your Pinterest posts which helps you automate Pinterest so you’re posting daily (and multiple times a day). Tailwind has helped me grow my blog and TpT store because it get’s my posts out at times when people are most likely to see it. Through Tailwind, I can schedule out a single post to go out to multiple boards but at scattered times of the day and throughout the week. I’m also able to join Tailwind Tribes and share my content and products with other teacherpreneurs who then share my posts on their boards. Once I started using Tailwind, I noticed a huge growth in my daily page views.

Related Posts

All You Need to Know About Tailwind Tribes

How to Use Tailwind to Market TpT Products

Visual Marketing from Tailwind

2. Instagram

The teacher Instagram community is strong and supportive. I’ve met so many teachers on this platform who have become more like friends than strangers. Once you find your tribe, you’ll notice that people will start to shout you out and spread the word to their followers about what you are doing. I’ve gained blog and TpT followers through this platform as well as gotten my content and products out through this top resource.

Another way I use Instagram is to promote my blog posts or TpT products. I use Link in Profile to give my followers a way to get to the post or TpT product. Using Link in Profile and Instagram has given me another way to reach potential buyers and grow my blog.

Related Posts

Why You Should Have a Teacher Instagram

3. Canva

Another top resource I use is Canva. I use Canva for all my blog pictures, blog post Pins, TpT product Pins and Instagrams. Canva is so user-friendly and even has templates for whatever platform you’re designing for. This resource helps me keep my brand consistent because I can input my website colors and fonts, so I can easily use them when creating new pictures. Canva is a definite go to when designing pictures for your blog or TpT store.

I use these top 3 resources each and every time I work on my blog or TeachersPayTeachers store. Without them, it’d be a lot harder to continue to grow my audience and product sales. Tell me the resource you can’t live without in the comments below!