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I thought this article might be of some use:

http://freethingsforteachers.blogspot.com/2009/06/9-ways-for-teachers-to-make-extra-money.html

Very nice. Topical too.

That is a website with a lot of great ideas. Except for the last one. I don't know how giving away your money translates into making more. 

In response to #3:  I understand your confusion as to how giving away your money translates to making more, but the Bible does state that everything we have does not belong to us.  It is given to us to use by God.  When we tithe with grateful hearts, we get back tenfold what we give.  The Lord blesses those who help others and who tithe to the church without resentment or selfishness. 

Great ideas!  Thanks for sharing your list.  We teachers need all the help we can get. 

In reply to #4: Only if you believe in a religion that uses the Bible as your religious scripture.

Well, unless you're a New Ager or some other kind of hippie-type who believes that giving always brings more back to you.  Or Taoist, actually, which teaches the same thing.  Come to think of it, the I Ching says a lot about that, too...   Unfortunately, sometimes this doesn't really seem to work, but if giving makes you feel better I suppose that in itself is something.  Sometimes I simply think that if teachers in this country had a union that was actually worth anything the income would be higher, too.

Giving is not just a part of religion. For example, Bill Gates has pledged a major portion of his wealth for charitable purposes. Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundations, to big public services organizations operating worldwide have been set up by big businessmen. And these are not religious organizations. What benefit or satisfaction, these people get in charity is best known to them. All I can say is that unless there are some benefit, so many wise people would not spend so much money in charities.

Teachers do need extra money, but I fail to see how giving money to charity will help teachers make more money. Teachers need to be paid for what they are worth to society rather than as little as the counties, states and cities can possibly get by with paying them. Without elementary, middle and high school teachers, there would be no doctors, rocket scientists, engineers, or lawyers.

I think if you have your budget in order and live within your means, you should have extra to donate if you choose.  I believe it is a good thing to give to charity, but I do not think that you will get a 10x return on that investment.  I think that when you give out of your heart, you feel blessed because you have helped someone who cannot help himself or herself. You are also able to claim your charitable contributions on your income taxes, which will certainly help you keep more green in your pocket and not give it to Uncle Sam.  Doing mitzvah (good works) is something that helps you in life, but it does not obligate God on your behalf.  However, when you are in a tight spot through poor health or job loss, because you have been kind to others, maybe then your friends will come together and help you out.

Yea the article was doing well until it got into the religious part in the end because, as an agnostic, I only read 8 ways, and not 9 as nine is not something that would apply universally.

Anyway, that aside- I have added up all the money you can make if you enter extra curricular activities and, ya know, that could be an extra 3.000 dollars per year. Of course, that could also raise your tax bracket, so be careful.

All I know is that they should let us itemize all the stuff we buy for our classrooms regardless of it not having a business label for tax purposes. They should allow us to get all that back and not have to reach a certain amount.

I now will play the role of the cynic in this discussion. In reference to why very wealthy people would make such large charitable contributions, two words: TAX DEDUCTIONS!

However, it probably isn't fair to question anyone's motives in making such contributions. I have the greatest respect, though, for those who make really impressive contributions to good causes and choose to remain anonymous, taking no credit for their generosity.

I learned something interesting today about earning summer money. I was told that FEMA needs part-time employees to work in various parts of the country and that they pay well. For someone who is free to be away from home from time to time, this might be worth looking into.