Publication date: August 8, 2024
Reading time: 6 minutes
As the back-to-school season is upon us, educators everywhere are on the lookout for high-quality resources to make their classrooms run smoothly and engage their students effectively. For sellers on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), this time of year presents a golden opportunity to meet this demand and boost sales.
The TPT Marketplace
If you are unfamiliar with the site, TPT is an online marketplace specifically for educators to find, share, and purchase original educational resources. The site’s mission is to help teachers teach at their best by providing access to high-quality resources. Originally designed for products that were created and tested by other educators, TPT is now an open marketplace that welcomes anyone to sell or buy on the platform. However, some items such as lesson plans are usually best created by a current, previous, or retired educator.
Selling on TPT can be a great way to start a small business geared to the education market, earn extra income, or turn a hobby into a career. Whether you are a seasoned TPT seller or just starting out, here are some essential items to consider offering during back-to-school months.
Classroom Decor and Organization Kits
Setting up a welcoming and organized classroom is a top priority for teachers in the back-to-school season. Offer comprehensive classroom decor bundles that include:
- Bulletin Board Sets: Colorful and thematic bulletin board sets that match various classroom themes.
- Classroom Labels: Editable labels for desks, cubbies, and supplies to help keep the classroom organized.
- Posters and Banners: Inspirational posters and decorative banners to create a positive learning environment.
Lesson Plans and Curriculum Guides
Teachers are often on the hunt for ready-to-use lesson plans and curriculum guides that align with educational standards. Consider offering:
- Year-Long Curriculum Plans: Comprehensive guides that outline lesson plans for an entire academic year, covering various subjects.
- Thematic Units: Lesson plans centered around specific themes, holidays, or events, complete with activities and assessments.
- Standards-Aligned Resources: Materials that align with state standards, ensuring that teachers meet curriculum requirements.
Interactive Notebooks and Digital Resources
With the increasing integration of technology in the classroom, digital resources and interactive notebooks are in high demand. Create these items to meet this need:
- Google Slides Activities: Interactive lessons and activities designed for use with Google Slides, suitable for in-person or remote learning.
- Digital Interactive Notebooks: Editable notebooks that students can use on tablets or computers, complete with templates and engaging content.
- Educational Videos and Tutorials: Short, informative videos that teachers can use to introduce or reinforce concepts.
- Personal Planners: Daily, weekly, or monthly personal planners geared towards teachers in either a printable or digital format to keep their hectic schedules in order.
Assessment and Data Tracking Tools
Effective assessment and data tracking are crucial for monitoring student progress. Tools that help teachers evaluate and record student performance are needed such as:
- Formative Assessments: Quick assessments like quizzes, exit tickets, and mini-tests that teachers can use to gauge understanding.
- Data Tracking Sheets: Editable spreadsheets or digital tools for tracking student progress, attendance, and behavior.
- Rubrics and Grading Templates: Easy-to-use rubrics and grading templates that simplify the assessment process.
Classroom Management Resources
Classroom management is essential for creating a conducive learning environment. Provide resources that help teachers establish routines and manage behavior, including:
- Behavior Charts and Rewards Systems: Visual charts and systems to encourage positive behavior and track student progress.
- Classroom Rules and Procedures: Posters and handouts outlining classroom rules, procedures, and expectations.
- Mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Activities: Resources that promote mindfulness and SEL, helping students develop emotional intelligence and coping skills.
Printable Activities and Worksheets
Worksheets and printables are a staple in any classroom, providing students with hands-on practice. Consider creating:
- Math and Literacy Worksheets: Engaging and differentiated worksheets that cater to various skill levels and topics.
- STEM Activities: Science, technology, engineering, and math activities that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Art and Craft Printables: Creative projects that allow students to express themselves artistically while reinforcing academic concepts.
Parent Communication Tools
Effective communication with parents is key to student success. Offer tools that help teachers keep parents informed and engaged such as:
- Newsletter Templates: Editable templates for monthly or weekly classroom newsletters.
- Parent-Teacher Conference Forms: Forms and checklists to help teachers prepare for and conduct productive conferences.
- Home-School Connection Activities: Activities and projects that encourage parent involvement in their child’s learning.
Keyword Research
For those selling on TPT, were you aware that eRank provides keyword data for the site? When using eRank’s Keyword Tool, change the dropdown list from Etsy to TPT to research how different keyword search terms are performing for the marketplace currently and for the previous 12 months. In addition, TPT trends are included on the eRank Trend Buzz report so that you easily discover what type of products are currently the most searched. eRank’s trend data is updated every seven days.
The back-to-school season is a pivotal time for TPT sellers to provide valuable resources that meet the diverse needs of educators. By offering classroom decor, lesson plans, digital resources, assessment tools, classroom management aids, printable activities, and parent communication tools, you are able to support teachers in creating an effective and engaging learning environment plus earn some extra cash yourself. Prepare your TPT store with these must-have items and make the back-to-school season part of your regular schedule.
