Extra Credit! 8 Ways to Turn Your Education Expertise into Passion Projects and Extra Income

Learn to package your professional skill, monetize your interests, and share your teaching gifts with the world

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.

LaNesha Tabb is the content creator behind Education With An Apron, where she creates fresh and innovative teaching resources. Find her online at laneshatabb.com and on Instagram as @apron_education.

Naomi O’Brien is an educator who shares culturally responsive teaching practices through conferences, educational resources, and social media. Find her online at readlikearockstarteaching.com and on Instagram as @readlikearockstarteaching.

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

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.