We're back! And this time, we're in Sara's closet and talking about benefits-- paychecks, health insurance, PTO, and yes... THE PENSION. It's important to know what benefits teaching gives you-- and be really sure that teaching gives you those benefits 100% of the time. If it doesn’t, you can start to think of other places where you can get those benefits in a better way.

Here's the homework:

1. Make a list of the most important benefits you rely on teaching to provide: the things teaching provides you that you “couldn’t live without” or would be most worried about losing if you left the profession.

2. For each of these benefits, ask yourself: does it really do for me what I think it does? How adequately is teaching actually providing this benefit or resource, and how completely does it meet your needs?

3. Ask yourself, “Are there other ways to meet these needs?” Whether in a different career that provides them directly, or in other ways outside your career.

For example: you can get these resources in other ways: a higher paycheck from a different profession; more flexible year-round PTO, health insurance from the state exchange if not a partner, etc. Do some research, it might surprise you! 

4. Are there any benefits you need or desire, but don’t get from teaching, for example that you have to seek from other parts of your life?

For example, compensation: Do you get a job in the summer for extra cash? PTO flexibility: Would you vacation more/differently if you had a different schedule? 

In lieu of a downloadable PDF for this episode’s homework assignment, we humbly present to you pictures of ourselves from the glory days of teaching, dressed in our best teacher outfits. Head to exteacherspodcast.com to see Jen’s long denim skirt and some of Sara’s sweet cardigans.

Can't get enough of Jen and Sara? Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at exteacherspodcast@gmail.com or visit our website at www.exteacherspodcast.com