If you are an art teacher, you already know the thrill of unlocking creativity in a child. You are familiar with the voyage of discovery that happens when a child picks up a crayon or a paintbrush, or when someone molds a block of lifeless clay into something beautiful and special.
You also know that feeling when someone finds their calling in the world of art, and that little tingle that you get when you see something that shows true talent. Those students with true talent could use your skills outside of the classroom to really help them shine!
Have you considered extending your art classes to private lessons during the summertime? A person’s imagination – whether it be a child of eight or a person of eighty – can be opened by a blank canvas and a brush in hand.
Offer private lessons. Private lessons for the most promising students will allow you to make some extra income while you help their talents blossom. Who knows? You might be the mentor for the next great sculptor or painter. Private lessons also allow you to use different mediums and places, such as setting up your easel in a field and painting something you would never be able to see from the classroom.
Work at a nursing home. Studies have proven that art can open up the mind in many ways, and can help nursing home patients make progress, especially after they have suffered a stroke or other life-threatening condition. Those who cannot speak with words can make their emotions heard through the arts, and you can be their guide. Consider weekly meetings with residents in order to help them realize their full artistic potential.
Offer fun classes for the community. Are you an excellent sculptor? Do you want to teach others how to make their own items for their home? Kids of all ages rave about the time they made their own coffee cups or created their own sculpted artwork for their parents. These pieces are treasured for generations! Offering a community class gives you the chance to make good money in a short amount of time, and it also allows you to have a small part in something that will become a part of family history.
Lead an art tour. Do you have several promising students who want to know more about art? Schedule a tour of museums with them. They will pay you to take care of all the accomodations, travel and the like. You will lead them on a journey through some of the most impressive museums, helping them learn about what they see. It’s a vacation and teaching opportunity rolled into one! It takes a lot of planning and patience, however, so be prepared to start this summer job long before the school year is officially over.
There are many other jobs for art teachers during the summer months. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it contains a lot of creativity and flair! You can fashion a summer that will have art lovers talking about it for months.