3 Apps I Use to Make Contract Teaching Easier
Sep 13, 2022
To everyone who listens every week, I want to say a huge thank you! Your support means the world, and you are such an amazing, solid community. I can't express how much I appreciate you.
A Quick Update
It's early September, and I have to be honest — the past week got a little chaotic. We thought we had another episode lined up, but it turned out we’d already aired it during the symposium pre-sale. My focus was turned there, but I'm back now!
That said, I’ve got some exciting changes ahead. I’m teaching more this year, which means episodes may shift to every other week for the time being. I’ll aim to get back to weekly episodes soon, but for now, expect bi-weekly ones.
Next week, I’ve got an exciting episode with Emily Coleman, the first female superintendent of TSBVI! It’s an amazing conversation, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Contract Teaching Tips
Now, let's dive into the good stuff! For anyone who's contract teaching, you know it can be tough. My first year felt like I was swimming in the middle of the ocean, alone and struggling. It was a huge learning curve. Many of us feel like we’re out there all by ourselves, and it’s hard to get support when there are no team members or colleagues around.
The upside of contract teaching is the freedom and flexibility, but it comes with challenges. You do a lot more work than you get paid for, and often, travel isn't compensated. The key to success is to get organized. So today, I’m sharing three apps that have made my life much easier.
1. Set Boundaries First
Before I share the apps, let’s talk boundaries. My first year, I had no boundaries. I worked on emails and texts throughout the day, night, and even on weekends. This meant I was working in 5-minute increments here and there, which made it hard to focus.
To combat this, I set clear work hours and designated a workspace at a desk. I don’t work past 6 pm unless it's an IEP or something urgent. Setting these boundaries helps me maintain balance, especially since I’m a single mom and my schedule is a little more fluid. And don’t forget to take at least one full day off each week. It’s vital!
2. Toggl - Timekeeping Made Easy
The first app I want to share is Toggl. It's a time-tracking app that lets you set up projects for each learner. I use it to track indirect time (like phone calls or research) because I don't always remember to log everything. It’s a simple tool, but it keeps me accountable, and I can run reports to see how much time I spent on each learner.
3. Google Suite - Stay Organized
I’m a huge fan of Google, especially for contract work. Google Suite (including Google Voice and Google Forms) has been a lifesaver. Google Voice allows me to keep my phone number private and communicate with parents, while Google Forms helps me organize data for each learner. I use it to track progress and even log my mileage.
I’ve set up forms for each learner to track their goals, the time I saw them, and the work we did. Google Forms makes data entry easy and saves me tons of time when I need to copy and paste information for progress reports or IEPs.
4. Bookkeeping Apps - Invest in Your Business
Lastly, let’s talk about bookkeeping. Many contract teachers, especially O&M specialists, skip this step, but it’s essential to keep track of your income and expenses. I recommend QuickBooks or YNAB (You Need a Budget). Both help you track your income, expenses, and even mileage deductions.
QuickBooks is comprehensive and ideal if you’re managing more than one person, while YNAB is a zero-based budgeting app that helps track both personal and business expenses. If you’re looking for something free, try Wave — it’s a good alternative, though it doesn’t offer as many features as QuickBooks.
These tools have made a huge difference in keeping me organized and on top of my work. Setting boundaries, using timekeeping apps like Toggl, organizing data through Google Suite, and managing finances with bookkeeping apps are essential steps to run a successful contract teaching business.
