Fellow English teachers, I know that feeling…the feeling of being drained of energy and enthusiasm…the feeling of wanting out but not knowing what to do beyond the classroom. The exciting news is there is hope for your future…you have a valuable skill set that opens up numerous career opportunities, and it is possible to work from home. Here are 8 legit work-at-home jobs for English teachers that allow you financial freedom while utilizing the skills you possess to build your future.
1. Remote tutoring
What is it?
If you desire to have the freedom of setting your own schedule while still working with students, then remote tutoring is an excellent option for you. As a tutor, you would be responsible for the following tasks:
- Work with students and parents to set individualized, student-driven goals
- Provide specific instruction to students to achieve desired goals
- Assess student progress on a regular basis
- Communicate with parents about student performance
- Recommend supplemental materials to aid in student success
What does it pay?
The most sought after type of tutoring for Engish Language Arts teachers is writing composition. As an ELA tutor for an online company, you can earn anywhere from $18-$50 per session. If you become an independent tutor, you can charge up to $100 per session,depending on the sessions you offer and the resume you have built.
What is the schedule?
One of the best aspects of tutoring is the ability to set your own schedule. Having the ability to choose when and where you work gives you the freedom and independence that you desire while still interacting with students in the educational realm. Check out this list of tutoring options that would be great work at home jobs for English teachers.
2. Remote teaching
What is it?
If you still want to educate students but desire to step away from the regular “brick and mortar” school, then remote teaching may be a great option for you. There are numerous opportunities available to teach in virtual schools where you would be responsible to:
- Facilitate learning experiences in the virtual school environment
- Use course data to track learner progress
- Utilize formative assessments to differentiate for students
- Communicate with students and parents
- Make time to work one on one with students as needed
What does it pay?
The pay for most virtual teaching jobs is equivalent to the state salary. In Florida,the state average is $51,000 for a full-time teacher. Advanced degrees or leadership positions can increase the salary for an online educator.
What is the schedule?
Being a virtual teacher allows for some freedom of schedule and location as you can work from anywhere with internet access and do not have to be in a physical classroom daily. This allows you personal time and space to do the everyday items sometimes neglected in a “brick and mortar” setting. You will need to be very intentional in your schedule to allot time for grading assignments, facilitating learning and doing formative assessments for individual students ,and communicating with parents weekly to achieve student learning. Remote teaching is one of the great work at home jobs for English teachers looking for a change.
3. Book/E-bookWriting
What is it?
Writing a book is, for some people, a dream goal, but you can make that dream a reality, whether it is a novel or an E-book. Writing a novel can be a little daunting, but you can accomplish this with the right plan in place. If writing comes naturally to you and is something you enjoy, writing an ebook can be a great option for you. Being able to put a book in an electronic format creates accessibility to reach a wider audience. One of the best aspects of writing an ebook is the option to choose a topic about which you are passionate. There is no size limit for ebook writing, which allows for growth as a writer to go beyond this format into other types of writing. E-book writers often have the following skills:
- Writing with a clear purpose to communicate
- Being a creative storyteller
- Editing and grammar skills
- Applying web skills to create your online format
What does it pay?
The advantage to writing e-books is that it creates passive income. Once it is finished, it requires little to no effort to earn and maintain as it brings in income. The yearly average for established e-book writers is $60,000 and can increase far beyond that as you create more books.
What is the schedule?
The schedule depends on how much time you’d like to invest in this endeavor. The more time you invest in finishing quality products, the more your investment will pay off.
4. Proofreading
What is it?
If you are quick to pick up grammatical errors and misspellings in things you read, then proofreading would be an excellent choice for you. Proofreading is essentially the final “polishing” step in the writing process before something is published. English teachers do this on a daily basis, so this work at home job is a natural fit. Proofreaders should be able to do the following:
- Identify and correct errors in grammar,style,and spelling
- Use Microsoft Office applications and Internet research
- Utiliza APA, MLA, or CLM writing styles as needed
What does it pay?
The average yearly salary of a proofreader is $51,000, and this salary increases as your client base grows. Small businesses, bloggers, large organizations, and brand name companies are constantly seeking quality proofreaders for a” second pair of eyes” on their publications.
What is the schedule?
The schedule for a proofreader is equivalent to the income you want to have. Obviously, if you want to bring in a quality income, then you must invest the time to create a clientele and produce quality work for them.
5. Writing Coach
What is it?
Writing coaches are essentially a “personal trainer” to help people improve their writing ability. These people might be high school students, college and graduate students, novice authors, and content writers. Writing coaches should be able to:
- Write in a clear, concise way
- Teach others the nuisances of quality writing
- Give objective and constructive feedback
What does it pay?
The salary of a writing coach varies depending on if you work for a company, or you are an independent contractor. Writing coaches typically earn an income in the range of $63,000-$87,000.
What is the schedule?
The schedule of a writing coach will depend on the path you choose. As an independent contractor, you would set your own schedule. If you work for an organization, they may determine a more structured schedule for you to adhere to.
6. Content writer
What is it?
Content writers are people who can craft engaging content about a specific topic for a specific purpose. Popular avenues of content writing are social media promotions or ads, email marketing, brochures, and other marketing venues. With a little extra learning, this category is full of great work at home jobs for English teachers. Content writers possess the skills to:
- Write about a specific topic in an original way to boost search engine optimization
- Use “Ideation”–knowing your audience and the best path to reach your intended audience in writing
- Master specific writing skills for various audiences
- Learn web based tools such as WordPress, SEO, HTML, etc.
What does it pay?
The average salary of a content writer is $65,000. Content writers can be independent contractors or full-time employees of organizations, and the salary and benefits will differ based on that choice. Yara is a great example of a writer who created her own work at home career using her writing skills.
What is the schedule?
Content writers will often set their own schedules in order to meet specific deadlines given. The more clients you wish to have, the more structured your schedule will need to be.
7. Blogger
What is it?
A blogger is a person who writes and communicates information about specific topics through blog posts. It is essentially a journal entry online or a web log…hence the term “blog.” Most English teachers are well-versed in the skill of writing and find this avenue very appealing as they possess the following skills:
- Ability to engage the readers and build an audience
- Ability to produce entries daily or weekly as determined
- Basic knowledge of web based tools (SEO, Funnels, SocialMedia Marketing, etc.)
What does it pay?
Some bloggers make nothing from their blogs because they are writing simply for the enjoyment of writing, some gain a little extra income, and some established bloggers out there have created a fortune based on their blogs. Your income really depends on your approach.
What is the schedule?
The schedule of a blogger is determined by how much work you want to do to ensure the income you wish to have. The more you invest your time, the better your chance of having a higher income.
8. Freelance Writer
What is it?
A freelance writer is a writer who is self-employed and can choose to work for various companies on specific writing jobs for a specified allotment of time. ELA teachers often make excellent freelance writers since they can write about diverse topics in unique ways. Freelance writers are people who are often:
- Detail-oriented and able to complete items by deadlines
- Able to write about various topics in an appealing way
- Knowledgeable about grammar and spelling rules
- Able to establish marketability to attract the desired clients
What does it pay?
The average annual salary of a freelance writer is $63,000. However, once you develop a portfolio of quality work and establish a reputation of excellence, you can set your own fee for a project, which leads to greater income.
What is the schedule?
Freelance writers have the freedom to set their own schedule, but they should be sure to allow time to meet their established deadlines. This can be very appealing because you determine your optimal time to work during the day instead of the 9-5 hours of a traditional work day. If you desire flexibility, this work at home job is a great option for English teachers.
Written by Andrea Rogers
If you are looking for more work-at-home job opportunities, check out our article on 7 Work at Home Jobs for Math Teachers. And if you are serious about quitting teaching, we can help. Subscribe and visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/lifeafterteaching.