WWYD...? (Job)

imrachellea

I was approached this morning about part-time work, in addition to my current full-time teaching position. It is teaching a few sections of my content area through our district's digital academy. It would pay an additional $3,000-$5,000 a semester as part-time, with the potential of leading to full-time down the road (which would mean getting to stay home with the kids). Now that I'm done my master's I have the time. The only catch is I would continue the digital academy portion when the baby comes (taking 6-12 weeks off my full-time position). I was not looking for this position, I was selected by an administrator due to my qualifications. The extra money is hard to ignore...but I'm not sure how it would be to do it with a newborn. I'd have until she comes to get used to the additional work load, which is supposedly pretty simple. Extra money...extra money...um...thoughts? Clearly I'll be discussing with DH tonight...

AwaitingAAmiracle

I think it would be a great opportunity.  If I understand correctly, you would only have a couple of hours per day that you would have to interact with the kids online.  I think you could make it work.  If it would be all day, I don't understand how it would fit with your full time position.  Good luck making your decision!

lisab613

I think the important thing to know is, just how part-time is it? Is there a set amount of time the work will take you, or will it vary? I know someone who was teaching an online college class and she said one of the biggest problems was that students would email her at all hours and expect quick answers. Would it be like that for you, or could you maybe kind of schedule yourself a certain amount of time at night when you have help with the baby to do the work?

Tigger & pooh

So I agree with all the other posters.  It sounds like a great opportunity but will you still be making the lesson plans and how many students since you will still be responsible for grading and assessments.  Will you be skyping with the students at all because during those times you will need help with the little one.  And finally do you need the money?  A new baby is such an exciting time do you really want the added stress and commitment of the online job.  It might be nice to have extra time to just spend with baby and DH. 

MissyC979

It sounds like a good opportunity. Is there an ability to work ahead with building your lesson plans and the other things that go along with that to lesson your load when the baby first comes. I think it's hard to do pretty much anything scheduled in the first 4-6 weeks, so whatever you can do early would be helpful. It seems like a tough thing to pass up, so I'd probably still take it if there was any way to work it out.

mamaj1220

Sounds like an awesome opportunity! Congrats on being selected! The extra money is hard to ignore is there anyway that if you had the lesson plans done a sub could take over for your maternity leave? I think it's a great opportunity as you said looking into next year and being able to be home with LOs more. Good luck I hope you and DH figure it out!

mavgirl_73

My husband teaches online high school and stays home with our 2 under 2 girls. He has a set number of students, he set up specified times during "the school day" when he is available anytime, otherwise they can email him and he gets back to them the next day. I would say do it. He plans on continuing when our newest comes along and I go back after my 6 weeks leave is up. It's so flexible and like you said it could turn full time and that would be awesome. Also the kids are used to kids bursting in a room while on the live chat, it's pretty common so don't fret. Most online teachers have kids at home. Honestly teaching from home with a newborn will be far easier than with a toddler or preschooler! Congrats!

Edited: Also depending on your due date you'll also have 2 weeks off for christmas break without the online kids...

imrachellea

Ladies, thanks so much for all the input! I still haven't made a firm decision, but after talking to my administrator it looks like it would be very doable. DH wanted me to get some more information about the time commitment. This is not entirely a teaching position, it is more of a monitoring portion. The lessons are all set and ready to go, my requirements would be to offer 5 hours of availability a week per class (3 classes and 99% of the time, I'm told, students do not call but may sometimes send emails), do most grading (as some is done automatically through the computer), and record one half hour session per class per week. DH initially said no because he didn't want me to have added stress (which is surprising, because he's been the one constantly mentioning the financial portion and how we have to be really watching our spending so we don't stress ourselves out financially) but we both had an understanding that there was more planning involved with it. Definitely thinking it would be a good move, financially, and a good move if I were to want to move to a full-time position to stay home with the little miss. We'll see! Definitely appreciate all the thoughts!