In Extra Credit! 8 Ways to Turn Your Education Expertise into Passion Projects and Extra Income, a team of accomplished educators and content creators delivers an illuminating and engaging handbook for educators who seek to bring in extra income with their professional and personal talents. In the book, you’ll explore a wide variety of potential income streams, including leveraging social media platforms, creating educational resources, writing, and online courses, just to name a few!
You’ll also find out how educators are finding purpose and meaning in their various side hustles, making profitable and beneficial use of their many gifts. You’ll discover: - Outlets for your passion for teaching that go beyond the classroom and tap into new and exciting markets - Strategies for monetizing your interests and hobbies to create impressive and diverse income streams - Exciting ways to contribute to education that aren’t limited to teaching in the classroom, like merchandising, professional development workshops, and resource creation
An essential read for professors, teachers, teaching assistants, and other educators, Extra Credit! will earn a place in the libraries of school administrators, former educators, and other school based professionals.
Table of Contents
Introduction: What’s Your Thing? ix
Chapter 1: The Role of Social Media: The New Networking 1
Taking “scary” terms like marketing and branding and making it super-simple. You can do it.
Social Media and Success 6
Growing a Following 7
Learning from Others 8
Making Connections and Networking 9
Expanding a Hobby into a Full-Blown Business 11
Our Journeys in Social Media 12
Naomi’s Journey 12
LaNesha’s Journey 15
The Pros and Cons of Social Media 19
The Pros 19
The Cons 20
Tips for Getting Started 20
Chapter 2: Designing and Selling “Merch” 23
How to use your creative skills to design merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, and so on - without ever touching it!
Our Journeys Designing and Selling Merch 29
Naomi’s Merch Journey 29
LaNesha’s Merch Journey 34
Some Logistics 39
Print-on-Demand 39
Dropshipping 40
The Pros and Cons of Designing and Selling Merch 42
The Pros 42
The Cons 42
Tips for Getting Started 43
Chapter 3: Creating and Selling Resources 45
Using what you are probably already doing to create resources for other educators.
Shifting Your Mindset 46
Our Creative Processes 52
Naomi’s Process 54
LaNesha’s Process 56
Creating Resources 101: Planning Your Process 59
Creating Resources 201: Pricing and Marketing Your Creations 61
The Pros and Cons of Creating and Selling Resources 63
The Pros 63
The Cons 64
Dreaming Up Your Creations 66
Tips for Getting Started 68
Chapter 4: Online Learning: Developing Courses, Memberships, and Teaching Sessions 71
Hosting online (or in-person) summits, hosting your own conferences and live trainings - on your own or with a group.
Online Courses 73
Designing Your Course 75
Crafting Your Slides 78
Branding Your Course 80
Spreading the Word 81
Marketing Your Course 82
Pricing Your Course 86
The Pros and Cons of Online Courses 87
Course Memberships 87
Live and Prerecorded Teaching 90
LaNesha’s Live Camp 90
Naomi’s Prerecorded Camp 93
Tips for Getting Started 95
Chapter 5: Virtual Services 97
Using your talents (or habits - like social media scrolling) to do things like taking photos, social media marketing, organizing, and writing/ ghostwriting for others scaling their own business.
Tutoring or Teaching Virtual Summer School 99
The Pros and Cons of Tutoring or Teaching Virtual Summer School 101
Offering Virtual Services 102
LaNesha’s Virtual Services Journey 104
Naomi’s Virtual Services Journey 106
The Pros and Cons of Virtual Services 109
Tips for Getting Started 109
Chapter 6: Becoming an Author 111
Teachers read hundreds and hundreds of books - professional books and picture books. Share your knowledge or your idea in book format via one of multiple publishing avenues.
Ebook Publishing 116
The Pros of Ebook Publishing 116
The Cons of Ebook Publishing 117
Self-Publishing 118
LaNesha’s Self-Publishing Journey 118
The Pros of Self-Publishing 122
The Cons of Self-Publishing 122
Hybrid Publishing 122
The Pros of Hybrid Publishing 126
The Cons of Hybrid Publishing 126
Educational Publishing 127
Naomi’s Journey in Educational Publishing 129
The Pros of Educational Publishing 132
The Cons of Educational Publishing 132
Traditional Book Publishing 132
The Pros of Traditional Book Publishing 134
The Cons of Traditional Book Publishing 134
Tips for Getting Started 136
Chapter 7: Public Speaking 137
Take your “show” on the road! Using your expertise to speak to educators at conferences, summits, and professional development opportunities.
Our Journeys with Public Speaking 140
Naomi’s Journey 140
LaNesha’s Journey 141
Conferences 147
The Pros of Speaking at Conferences 149
The Cons of Speaking at Conferences 149
School PD Sessions 150
The Pros of Speaking at School PD Sessions 150
The Cons of Speaking at School PD Sessions 151
Making Your Own Platform 151
The Pros of Making Your Own Platform 152
The Cons of Making Your Own Platform 152
Free PD via Online Platforms 153
The Pros of Free PD via Online Platforms 153
The Cons of Free PD via Online Platforms 153
Tips for Getting Started 154
Chapter 8: Passion Projects 155
Turning your extracurricular passions into a business.
Passion Alert: Adorable Accessories 156
Passion Alert: Teacher Tees 158
Passion Alert: Stickers 159
Passion Alert: Self-Care for Educators 160
Passion Alert: Interior Design 162
Passion Alert: Music 163
Passion Alert: Fashion 165
Passion Alert: Teacher Bling 166
Passion Alert: Storytelling and Relationships 168
Passion Alert: Empowering and Inspiring Educators 170
Tips for Getting Started 172
Chapter 9: Exit Ticket 173
Unsure Where to Start? 175
LaNesha’s Advice 175
Naomi’s Advice 177
Too Much Work for Too Little Money? 177
LaNesha’s Advice 178
Naomi’s Advice 179
Want to Jump Into 10 Ideas at Once and Just Can’t Decide? 180
LaNesha’s Advice 180
Naomi’s Advice 180
Don’t Have the Time? 181
LaNesha’s Advice 182
Naomi’s Advice 183
Afraid to Put Yourself Out There? 184
LaNesha’s Advice 184
Naomi’s Advice 185
Ready to Start Right Now? 185
LaNesha’s Advice 185
Naomi’s Advice 186
Index 187
