Considering TpT? Here's What I've Learned About Making It a Side Hustle

The other day, I watched a news clip from CBS about the financial struggles many teachers face while trying to live on their salaries. The statistics weren't surprising, but definitely discouraging: 71% of teachers in the survey reported having a second job (CBS, 2026). While it is not surprising that educators are underpaid for the amount of work they do, the numbers still highlight a major issue in the profession.

Watch the news clip here:

As a former teacher who spent a few years in the classroom, I understand why many educators return to school to pursue additional degrees or look for ways to transition out of traditional teaching roles. I am currently doing the same. One of the main reasons I chose the ISLT program is because of the changing landscape of education. I have always enjoyed creating useful instructional materials that can support teachers, and this program has been helping me learn how to do that more ethically and intentionally.

This week’s content really got me thinking about how teachers, especially during the summer months, often look for ways to build side income by creating and selling educational resources.

As someone who has used Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) frequently in the past, I have also considered how I might get involved in that space. However, many of the resources I create are adapted from templates or built using Canva elements, which raised questions for me about licensing and ownership. Learning more about Creative Commons, intellectual property, copyright, and trademarks led me to do a deeper dive into how this all works in practice.

Here are some important things I’ve learned that may be helpful if you are also considering this as a part-time opportunity:

1. Canva Account

If you are planning to use Canva to create educational materials for sale, it is important to understand the differences between account types. For example, Canva for Education is intended for classroom use, not for commercial purposes like selling products on Teachers Pay Teachers. In most cases, creators use either a free Canva account or a paid Canva Pro account for commercial work .

2. Canva Edits

Under Canva's licensing terms, you can use Canva elements in your designs, but they should be incorporated into a new, original piece. Simply placing a single piece of clipart or another creator's element onto a page and presenting it as your own work is not enough.

3. Canva Templates 

Unless you have created a Canva template entirely from scratch, it's best to avoid using premade Canva templates in resources you sell on TpT.

This video was super helpful in understanding the terms of use outlined under Canva AND TpT:

Sources:

Canva. (n.d.). Use Canva to design digital and physical products for sale. Canva Help Center. https://www.canva.com/help/using-canva-to-create-products-for-sale/

Lindsay Bowden. (2025, April 30). Canva + TPT: The rules you need to know [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkCXjkYcN1Y

Oliver, M. (2026, June 10). In a tough economy, many U.S. teachers are forced to work second jobs. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teachers-forced-to-work-second-jobs-tough-economy 

Teachers Pay Teachers. (2024, March 5). Copyright & trademark policies. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Copyright-Policy