Meet The Etsy Of Education: Online Marketplace Lets Teachers Buy — And Sell — Millions Of Classroom Materials And Lessons

Meet the Etsy of Education: Online Marketplace Lets Teachers Buy — and Sell — Millions of Classroom Materials and Lessons

Teachers Pay Teachers is an emerging online marketplace that has gained popularity as the "Etsy of Education." Over the past year, 6 million teachers have participated in buying or selling classroom resources through the platform. The platform aims to facilitate collaboration among teachers in the creation of innovative teaching approaches, while also providing them with an opportunity to earn money for their work.

Even school districts are recognizing the benefits of Teachers Pay Teachers. According to Kristin Hodgson, the vice president of brand marketing and communications, new teachers often struggle to find the necessary materials for their classes and are expected to create their own resources while learning to be effective educators. Founder Paul Edelman had a vision to connect teachers worldwide and provide them with access to amazing resources already created by their peers.

Edelman, a former New York City public school teacher who now serves as a board member of Teachers Pay Teachers, established the website in 2006. Since its inception, the site has witnessed over 1 billion downloads and currently offers 4 million resources to its users.

Educators can either become authors/sellers on the platform or browse through the extensive collection of materials available. Hodgson explains that teacher-buyers benefit from the convenience and accessibility of the platform, while teacher-authors are compensated for their work. The average cost of a resource on the site is less than $5, and the average transaction totals around $15.

The resources on Teachers Pay Teachers cover a wide range of topics and grade levels, including math curriculum, art lessons, reading materials, and science labs. These resources have undergone testing and implementation by teachers, making them a reliable source of collective wisdom within the community.

It is important to note that Teachers Pay Teachers does not screen or review the teacher-authors. However, users have the ability to rate each seller on the site, providing some level of feedback and credibility.

Internal research conducted by Teachers Pay Teachers indicates that 98 percent of buyers utilize the lessons from the site to customize instruction in their classrooms at least once a month, while 67 percent do it on a weekly basis. This suggests that teachers are finding the platform valuable for addressing the diverse needs of their students.

April Becherer, principal at Parkview Elementary in Illinois, emphasizes that many teachers use additional lessons to support struggling students or challenge those who have already mastered a concept. The resources on the site often include videos that demonstrate how to present a lesson effectively or guide its implementation. Moreover, once a purchase is made, teachers have the right to future updates when the author adds, modifies, or expands the material. This feature is particularly helpful in an ever-evolving education landscape.

With its success, Hodgson explains that Teachers Pay Teachers has expanded its offerings. The platform now includes a crowdsourcing option that allows teachers to seek contributions from others for the resources they require. In the summer of 2019, the pilot program raised $100,000 from 10,000 teachers, demonstrating the willingness of the community to support one another and improve access to essential resources. Supporting teachers in obtaining the necessary tools to reach their students is the platform’s top priority.

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