As an elementary school teacher, I have a love-hate relationship with the summer break. After spending around 180 days in classrooms filled with rowdy youngsters, I welcome the long break with wide open arms. That feeling of relief only lasts around a week, though. After one week of determined inactivity and much-deserved slacking, I start to get restless. Being part of the academe, I’m simply not used to having my brain switched off, no matter how much I (and all other teachers) deserve that break.
A few years ago, I decided to look for seasonal work. I wasn’t surprised to find lots of places that were hiring teachers. The challenge was finding work that I could do online. Since my wife and I had two bouncing toddlers at home, I wanted to work from home as much as possible.
After some trial and error, I found five websites that worked for me. These are the ones I’ve stuck with during the last couple of years. I’ve since shared this with my fellow teachers. They were impressed with my list, and suggested I share it with the Earn That Buck community.
So here’s my list of five companies teachers can work for during the summer.
1. PrepNow
PrepNow is an online tutoring service for kids who are preparing to take their SAT, ACT or PSAT tests. Tutorials are done via video chat, which is a big convenience for both tutors and students. It took me a while to get used to interacting with students through the monitor of my laptop, but once I did, it became second nature. So much so that I still provided tutorials when the next school year started!
I appreciated the face that PrepNow was easy to deal with as far as scheduling went. I simply provided my class schedules, and PrepNow scheduled my tutoring sessions around that.
Tutors need to have at least two years teaching experience, and be a graduate of one of the top 50 colleges and universities in the United States. A proficiency in math and reading will be a plus.
Link: http://www.prepnow.com
2. Ask Wonder
Sites like Yahoo Answers and Quora are great places to ask questions about a variety of specialized topics, but you can’t always be sure about the quality of answers you get. It’s too easy to pass yourself off as an expert on the internet.
And that’s where Ask Wonder comes in. People post questions on the site, and get answers from in-house experts. Since these experts are screened and vetoed by Ask Wonder, site visitors can be assured of the quality of the answers they receive.
I loved this job because it was research-based. It kept me on my toes and required me to stay updated on a variety of topics. The schedule was really flexible, and doing the job was as simple as logging in and answering questions.
To join you will have to pass a stringent application process, and answer a screening quiz. You will also have to do answer a mock question. Your answers will then be screened by a panel. When you get accepted, average weekly pay is $8 to $40, and is sent via PayPal.
Link: https://askwonder.com
3. TeachersPayTeachers
The academic community is built on the open exchange of ideas. TeachersPayTeachers lets us monetize these exchanges. The site is a marketplace where you can sell lessons plans, syllabi, and worksheets. You can even create multimedia presentations and sell them as digital downloads!
TeachersPayTeachers provided me an amazing opportunity to make extra money from the work I had done during the school year. And I’m sure you will, too!
But before you register, make sure you do not sell or upload any confidential or proprietary materials!
Link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com
4. eNotes
The site is home to an active and thriving community of teachers and students. Students can use eNotes to take practice tests, read study guides, and obtain academic assistance, when needed. Teachers, on the other hand, can use the site as a platform for improving their own practice.
The site also employs a team of experts who are on hand to answer questions (much like in Ask Wonder). If you enjoy doing research and sharing information, you can apply for a contributor job. The pay depends on the bid attached to each question and your rank within the community. But on average, you will be making anywhere from $4 to $37 per question answered.
Link: https://www.enotes.com
5. VIPKID
The world is becoming better-connected. People from different cultures are engaging more and more often. English is one of the default languages spoken when different nationalities. Because of this fact, there’s a high demand for “ESL” (English as second language) teachers. These teachers help students, usually from non-English speaking countries, how to develop their conversational English skills. The key word here is “conversational.” Conversational English refers to the way people use the language during spoken interactions.
The job does come with a few challenges, but I would say it’s worth it overall. Since there’s high demand for ESL instructors, chances are you’ll never be without students. If this sounds like something you’d want to try (and I recommend you do!), check out VIPKID.
VIPKID connects teachers to students via video chat. You can earn from $14 to $22 an hour. And as with all the jobs listed here, you can set your own schedule.
But take note, you will have to have a presentable backdrop (and attire) during your teaching sessions. You may be teaching from home, but you’ll still have to maintain a professional appearance.
Link: https://m.vipkidteachers.com
The Verdict
These are all legit ways for us teachers to earn money during the summer break! They make good use of our existing skills, and allow us to set our own schedule. That flexibility was important to me, because I still wanted to enjoy some downtime during the break.
Your Turn
This review is based on my own experiences finding work during summer. Now it’s your turn to share. Are you a teacher? What sort of seasonal work have you tried, and how much did you earn?
Let’s hear your stories!
