Before you begin looking for a part-time or weekend job, consider the salary you’re making right now. Is it appropriate to your area, to the job you do, and comparable with what others in your position are making? It’s time to take a good, hard look at teacher salaries.

According to Payscale.com, the following were median salaries for teachers in 2011:

• Elementary School Teacher: $38,584
• High School Teacher: $41,286
• Middle School Teacher: $41,452
• Special Education in Preschool or Kindergarten: $40,421
• Secondary School: $41,621
• Special Education in Secondary School: $43,872
• Special Education in Middle School: $42,499

The higher the degree you hold, the more you should expect to make in exchange for that expertise. The amount of time you have worked there also plays into the amount of your paycheck. School administration makes more than teachers as a rule, but that might not be the case in your particular school district.

What if you don’t feel you are making enough?

First, remember that these numbers are the median for all across the United States. Teachers in California and New York are paid the highest, and the median salary includes both veteran teachers and first-year hires. Look into the median salaries for your state and then look at the amount of education you have, as well as the number of years you have worked for the school system. That will help you determine where your income falls on the salary scale.

If you don’t think you are making enough, approach the powers-that-be with a request for a raise. Many public school systems might not have the ability to give it to you, thanks to set budgets, but it never hurts to look into the situation and find out.

When you do approach your school about a raise, come prepared with a list of the reasons why. Simply saying you need more money won’t be enough! Have a list of things you do for the school, the things you have spent your own time and money on, the situations you have improved, and details of your student’s scores. Show them why you are an asset!

If your school system simply does not have the money to pay you what you feel you are worth, consider looking elsewhere for employment. You deserve to be fairly compensated for the work you do!

Are you looking for grants to help with the expense of teaching your students? Many teachers are operating on a shoestring and often have to dip into their own bank accounts to help pay classroom expenses. By obtaining a grant for materials and supplies, you might be able to ease the burden on yourself and offer your charges a better educational experience.

The Grant Wrangler has a good list of featured grants, as well as others you can find using the search function. Here are a few of the better ones listed:

• The Pepsi Refresh Project is a grant program that uses an online democratic voting process to give $5,000-250,000 to projects intended to improve communities. The grant program is open to individuals, for-profit organizations, and non-profit organizations. It consists of six categories: Health, Arts and Culture, Food and Shelter, Neighborhoods, Education, and the Planet. Deadline to enter December 15, 2010.
• Sponsored by Discovery Education, the New Teacher Survival Central Sweepstakes is open to K-12 educators. Winners will receive a range of classroom resources, which may include a document camera, art and school supplies, software, and DVDs. The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the monthly winners to receive a spot in an immersive, educational, “teachers-only” international adventure to a Discovery Student Adventures location. The winning teacher will join 20 other teachers and provide input, test new activities, and explore a new destination that may be offered to winning teachers and students in the future. Deadline to enter December 17, 2010
• Sponsored by LAL, the Center for the Book, and Target, students in grades 4-9 are invited to write a letter that explores their emotions inspired by a book, short story, poem, essay, or speech. Judges for each participating state Center for the Book will select the top letter in each level. State winners will receive a $50 Target giftcard and advance to the national level judging for a chance to win a $500 Target giftcard, plus a $10,000 LAL Reading Promotion grant for their community or school library. Additionally, the national honorable mention winners will each receive a $100 Target giftcard and a $1,000 LAL Reading Promotion grant.

There are numerous other grants just like this one. Over the coming weeks we will talk about where to find some of the more “obscure” grants that can help your classroom out more than you ever dreamed. Obtaining a grant just might be the best thing you do for your classroom – and for your career as a teacher.

As a new teacher, you might be one of the lucky ones who feels entirely at home in this new environment. But most first-time teachers are going to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and flat-out scared. For those who need some reassurance, here is great advice to overcome those “new teacher” fears.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help. This includes asking for help from parents and other teachers. You are new, and they know there is a learning curve! If you are confused about something or don’t know how to handle a certain issue, your peers will help you out. If you are having trouble understanding the needs of a certain child, talk to the parents. They will be happy to give you plenty of insight that will make the classroom journey easier.

Keep students busy. The fastest way to lose control of a classroom is to let your kids get bored. They will then do things to relieve that boredom – and unfortunately, that sometimes means they will act out. Always have a new assignment, a different path, or a bit of extra work tucked away for those moments when your class plan doesn’t seem to stretch all the way.

Have a plan for discipline. Expect order – and enforce it. Tell your children what you expect on the very first day, and don’t bend the rules. If the rules are broken, have very clear consequences set out for each infraction. Send a copy of the rules home to parents, ask them to read it with their kids, and get the signatures of both your students and their parents, saying they clearly agree.

Stay organized! Your homework policy should be clear, and your method for grading papers should be workable. Show your students exactly what you expect of them from the very beginning. For instance, if they are supposed to turn in papers by placing them in the basket on your desk, that’s what they should do every single time. Don’t confuse them – or yourself! – with conflicting information.

Take a deep breath. Teaching is a very rewarding occupation, but it is definitely not an easy one. Despite your best planning, there will be times when you feel overwhelmed. This is true of all teachers, not just new ones! Give yourself a bit of a break. When you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and do what it takes to refocus. During your down-time, make sure relaxation is the name of the game. The more relaxed you are, the clearer your head will be – and the more confidence you will have.

Going back to school when you’re teaching school yourself might seem like too much classroom time to handle! But the more education you have, the better your chances are of moving into a higher paying job within your school system.

Though the basics required for a teaching position are a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate, learning more than what you are expected can impress those who write your paychecks. Taking additional courses in a foreign language, getting an associate’s degree in another field of study, or seeking to further your degree to a master’s level are all ways to keep your resume fresh in the competitive job market.

Want to teach college level? A Ph.D. in your chosen area is usually required. You can work toward your Ph.D. while you teach in the primary and secondary schools. Look into your school system’s benefit package to see how many college classes they pay for per semester, and figure out how long it will take you to go through the required work in order to get that higher degree – and that bigger paycheck!

If you’re interested in the administration of the school, a business degree would be appropriate. Go to school on nights and weekends to attain at least an associate’s degree in business administration, and when the times comes to fill a position in the front office, you can bet your resume will get major consideration.

Go further and get serious about administrative duties with a Masters of Education degree. If you’re aiming for college level, a Doctor of Education is required to sit in the highest-ranking seats on campus.

Look into grants, work-study programs, and your school’s benefits package to find out what qualifies for school-sponsored classes. Keep in mind, however, that if your school pays for your additional degree, it might mean that you have to work for them for a set period of time. If you’re looking to change jobs anytime soon, that might not be a good idea, so be sure you understand what the terms are.

Good luck in getting that better education! Your bank balance will be quite happy you did.

Do you have a good job right now, one that doesn’t involve teaching? Have you always wondered what it would be like to become a high school teacher? If you have a college degree, you just might be in luck!

Many people will obtain their bachelor’s or master’s degree in a certain field, work in that occupation for a number of years, and then begin to crave a change. Many of those people will turn to teaching. If you already have your full degree and you’ve been using it for years, turning to the teaching profession might require only a few refresher courses in order to get your teaching certificate. Depending upon how much education you had to begin with, you could become a teacher in as little as a year.

But what would you teach? That’s where your current occupation comes into play. If you’re an engineer who works with biochemicals, you might make a great chemistry or biology teacher. If you are a secretary in the world of big business, teaching business techniques to advanced high school classes might be your perfect gig. Are you a history buff? A math enthusiast? Many an accountant or museum curator has taken on classes at their local university, and some might even make the leap to teaching high school.

Even more conveniently, many classes are now available online through reputable universities, so you can work toward your teaching certificate while you continue in your current full-time position. When you finish the core classes, you can move into teaching with supervision, and possibly be on your own sooner than you think.

Have you ever thought about teaching on the high school level? Now is the time to get your teaching certificate and make the change!

Both you and your charges work hard in the classroom. You spend every day working with those young minds, and you watch them grow throughout the year. By the time they are finished with school, they are ready for a break – and so are you.

Holding school fundraisers can be a great way to get needed funds. Be sure to check with your administration for the rules of fundraisers and adhere to them all – you want to do it right!

Kiss the Donkey. Or the Snake. Or the Pig. The point of the fundraiser is to give children an incentive to bring in as much money as possible for your goal, and when they reach a certain milestone, they get an award. Kids (especially younger ones) love to see those in positions of authority do something a bit icky or gross. That’s why pie-in-the-face awards are popular…but kissing the donkey is probably the biggest reward of all.

Fun Day Outside. Your imagination is the only limit to this fun day. The fundraiser could be set up in the form of tickets, where each ticket costs a certain amount. There can also be sales of homemade items, class t-shirts, or anything else that might be of interest to the community. Be sure to make it very clear on all your posters and flyers what the event is raising money for, and make it fun!

Class Performance. Your class might choose to put on a performance and request a small donation for the music department from the guests. You might be surprised at how many people will pull out their checkbooks when they see those happy, earnest faces on the stage! The arts are one of the places where alloted money seems to fall to the wayside, and parents might be the key to bringing those funds back up.

Sports Event or Public Performance. There are many performers, sports teams, and celebrities more than willing to step up to the plate and raise money for your school. Most people assume those “in the spotlight” are too busy for that – but the truth is, they are just waiting to be approached. Will your state NFL team come to your school and sign autographs? Will your favorite singer come and host an event to raise money for the new gymnasium? It never hurts to ask!

Whatever fundraiser you choose, make sure it’s one the kids will enjoy, and get the community involved, too. You can even create a fundraiser where half of the money goes to the school and the other half to charity, and make sure the kids are present when they see that big check awarded to the charity. It’s a good way to show them they have done an excellent job!

Often teachers will look for a part-time job in order to afford the supplies their students desperately need. Despite good intentions on the part of the government, states, and school boards, classrooms still fall short when it comes to basics like paper, pencils and crayons.

Teachers often pay for this out of their own pocket, and the expenses can add up very quickly. A dollar for paper might not seem like much to someone who is sending a child to school, but when a teacher is buying paper for a classroom of thirty, that’s a good chunk of change – and that’s before delving into the other things that are required, such as posterboard for art class, binders and folders for keeping it all together, pens and pencils for writing, and sometimes, the cost of books for the year.

Many parents don’t realize how bad the situation is – so let them know! If you need more supplies for the classroom, write a letter explaining the situation. Offer a “wish list” of what your students need. Stress that this is NOT a requirement of the parents, just a reminder that if they do have the money to spare, your classroom could definitely use it.

Send the letter home with the children in the room. Some parents might not be able to provide anything more than they already have, but you can bet there will be a few parents who step forward to pick up the slack.

Nothing matters more to parents than the education their children are getting – and as a teacher, that puts all of you on the same page. So don’t be afraid to ask if they might be able to provide a bit more to get your classroom over the financial slump.

Obtaining a second job or a weekend position in order to help your classroom students afford the supplies they need is an admirable position to take, but you might be able to avoid it by working closely with the parents, recycling what you can, and striking deals with stores to get discounts on bulk purchases.

Remember that old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”? These days, it takes a village to teach that child, too – so open up the doors to let parents work with you and make that experience the best it can be. They will be happy to help, and you will breathe a sigh of relief. Best of all, the kids under your charge will get the supplies they need to maintain a great education. What could be better?

Does it seem impossible to make ends meet, no matter how hard you try – but you don’t want to find a job outside of your school system? Consider taking a second job within the school system to pad your pocketbook a bit.

Drive the School Bus. If you don’t have an early morning class, consider driving the school bus. It’s good part-time work, and as an added bonus, you can drive your kids to their field trip locations. You will need a commercial driver’s license and some training in order to make it happen, but that can be obtained during the summer months – so that by the time you’re ready to start the school year, your new second job will be in place!

Work as a Janitor. You work in the building all day – if you can stand being there a little longer after hours, you could offer your services and clean the place up! You can do your janitorial work as soon as the school day is over, and still be home in time for dinner on most nights. The extra paycheck from the cleaning work might pay a few bills and make finances easier.

Tutoring. Give of your teaching skills after hours, when you can teach kids who are in danger of falling behind. Get their grades up and get a good paycheck by helping them out. If you want to be a private tutor, you could get paid by the parents directly, putting even more money in your pocket.

Work in Administration. Do you have great office skills? You might be able to work in the administrative offices of the school. After-hours work might be welcomed by your school board or other branches of the education system – check with your system to find out what kind of work they need and whether you might be a good fit.

Substitute teacher. Do you teach only a few days a week? Do you teach a class load that ends at noon every day? If you have extra hours in your day, consider working as a substitute. You can pick up the slack for others who have to be away from their posts due to illness or other issues, and in the meantime you can make a bit more money to pad that paycheck!

With all this talk about summer jobs for teachers, we haven’t yet focused on something that teachers can do to further their education. If you’re looking for a way to make extra money, having a second degree might open up horizons for where you can work and what you can do.

Getting a second degree can be done over a period of years if you take evening classes, weekend classes, or devote a summer to building credit hours. Though it is technically not a “job” it is preparing you for one – and if you chose that you enjoyed your second career even more than your teaching one, that degree would give you the chance to move into another field without having to take the time off for education first.

Start by looking into the classes offered by your local university. There are often discounts for non-traditional students and additional discounts for teachers furthering their education. Your school system might pay for some of the cost, and you are probably eligible for financial aid that will help pay your way through. In fact, you might be able to get everything paid for while you chase your dream!

Some teachers go back to school using a kind of “barter” system. That means you agree to teach a class, and in return, you get your class fee waived for whatever class you need to take. The more you teach, the more you learn, and it doesn’t cost you anything more than a few hours of your time each week.

If you don’t have the time to deal with going to a physical classroom during the evenings or weekends, many accredited universities and collegs now offer their classes online. You are still enrolled in a traditional college and you probably have to be physically present for tests and the like, but you can do the majority of your work via computer. It’s a great way to go back to school, especially if you are pressed for time.

Contact your school board or your teacher’s union and ask about scholarships and the like. They usually offer something for those who want to further their education, especially if your plans are to move to another position in the school system, such as applying to be an administrator.

The more education you have, the better your chances of a higher-paying job will be – and the less need you will have to look outside of your first love of teaching to find the part time and weekend jobs to make ends meet.

As a teacher, you know how to communicate with people. You know how to plan, schedule, set up assignments, give lessons and deal with everything that comes your way. You also have the people skils necessary to deal with everything from front-office politics to the kid who is crying over his first broken heart. With skills like that, charities around the world would be happy to have you around for a summer or two!

There are countless charities out there, and they are all in need of funds and help. You can give them what they need by taking a summer to devote to the charity of your choice. Here are a few options for those who want to do something good for others and get away for a while, all at the same time.

Set up Schools. Many countries torn by war and civil unrest are struggling to get back on their feet. One of the first things that falls to the wayside during the rough times are the schools. In fact, some countries are working to rebuild their schools after rockets tore apart the buildings. You can aid in the effort by collecting school supplies throughout the year and then spending the summer months on the site, providing support for the teachers who will be handling the classes once the school begins again.

Feed the Children. There are countless children going hungry every day. You can put your teaching skills to use and join with a charity that helps villages learn new ways to grow their own foods. You can also help to distribute much needed supplies. If you are fluent in a foreign language, that’s another bonus.

Provide Medical Care. For some charities, there are just too many people to help and not enough hands to do it. If you aren’t squeamish about blood and you are open to learning the basics of field nursing, you can help innoculate children against diseases, provide medications for health problems and teach individuals about proper hygiene and wound care.

Be a translator. If you are fluent in a foreign language, your skills are needed to help charity workers cross the language barrier. Be prepared to speak to anyone about anything – you never know what will be needed.

Work to Create Sustainable Systems. Digging a well during your summer break might not seem like the coolest job in the world, but when you see how you will be helping hundreds of people, suddenly that well becomes a beautiful thing, indeed. There is a real need for sustainable systems in less fortunate countries, and your education background gives you the skills to be a fast learner. If you are skilled in the sciences, that’s even better.

It might not be a money-making position, but helping out with charity work can be more rewarding than any paycheck. If you have a free summer and you want to make a difference, charity work is the answer.