The Best Side Gigs for Teachers During the Summer or the School Year

Guest post written by Joyce Wilson at Teacher Spark

It’s a common teaching myth that if you’re an educator, your summers are open and carefree. Actually, most teachers experience long hours during the school year and then work throughout the summers, too. This might be to stay busy or to earn some extra money. Whatever their side gig, teachers are always trying something new or staying on the go.

Looking for another income or hobby outside of teaching? Here are some summer side gigs that could help you pay the bills all year round.

Tutoring

One of the most obvious choices for summer jobs would be—you guessed it—teaching. Or tutoring, to be more specific. This can be a satisfying way to make a difference (and make some extra money on the side) by helping kids. Best of all, you can be a tutor anytime of the year, not just in the summer.

Common places to look for a tutoring gig are local libraries, community centers, and after-school programs.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor

The ESL field isn’t going anywhere anytime soon—and that’s a very good thing for teachers. In addition to helping children and adults learn English as a second language, teachers can find freedom and flexibility in their hours while working this role. As an added bonus, many organizations like CIEE TEFL can train you to teach English overseas. If you’re a teacher who loves to travel and is proficient in English, this may be an incredible experience for you.

Yoga Teacher

Everyone needs a little Zen from time to time. Teaching yoga is nothing like teaching in the classroom, but it’s every bit as enjoyable. You can get certified to teach yoga on weekends throughout the school year, and then spend your summers teaching at a local studio or traveling to teach around the country—or around the world, if you like. Studies have shown that yoga and meditation are good for children, too, so this side gig could benefit you (and your students) all year round in the classroom.

Start Your Own Side Hustle

Modern technology has led to the rise of a new form of entrepreneurship. The gig economy and the sharing economy have both allowed everyday people to start their own businesses, working from home part-time or full-time, from anywhere in the world. Whether you rent a room on AirBNB, drive people for Uber, sell your arts and crafts on Etsy, or learn to code so you can build websites on the side, the sky's the limit when it comes to making money these days.

Of course, making money is only the first part. Whether you run a business or not, you’ll want to figure out how to wisely spend money in order to build your business. Most businesses do require some sort of overhead costs, such as the prices of the materials, utilities, office space, and any supplies that you’ll need to get started.

Luckily, it’s still possible to start your own business, even on a teacher’s salary. There are many business banking options available these days, including business credit cards that will help you finance your dream. Before getting a new credit card, however, it’s crucial that you do your research to choose the best business credit card for you. For some expert advice, click here to read a comprehensive review of business credit cards, broken out by category.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other ways that teachers could make money during the summers or all year round. If you’re feeling stuck, start by thinking about your interests, passions, and curiosities. Pick an area you’d love to learn more about and start researching how you might use those skills to make money. You never know, you might create a side gig that you love as much as you enjoy teaching, if not more.