A Gift From A Student

I was so excited to receive my first X-mas present from a student. It was a real nice COACH bag! I was so shocked. I had made cookies for all my students. On Wednesday night after tutoring, I was presented a bag. I had just thought it was school supplies because I'm always short of pencils, erasers, and markers. As I unwrapped the wrapping I saw the purse and I gasp.. I couldn't believe it! I have always wanted a COACH bag but I simply couldn't justify spending so much of my money in a purse. My girls usually come first and they are always in need of something so I just keep putting myself off. It was a nice gift. I said,"Thank You!" I use the bag everyday.

I also added Skype to my tutoring. I just think it would be easier if the student just called me Skype and we did a video conferencing. It's really hard when the parent has to drive out to the library or wait for me to tutor. I'm going to try it. We purchased a new computer and the video conferencing looks real. It's like I'm right in the room. We are now 6 days from Christmas and my shopping isn't complete. I need to finish stuffing my kids stockings. Merry Christmas

Home Economics 101

I'm currently substitute teaching for the following school districts Tustin, Santa Ana, and Long Beach USD. I pay for daycare 2x a week on Monday and Wednesday. Today, I was asked to teach Home Economics until Wednesday. I knew I would enjoy Home Economics and Sewing. When Catherine was younger I would always sew to keep my mind occupied. Today, I watch the students work on making a blouse. As I walk around the room I can see that many of the students want to be here because it's a hands on project. Fun! Fun! Fun!

I walked in this morning and the Tenure Instructor had inform me that her husband's leg was being amputated and she would have to be in the hospital till Wednesday. She ask if I could stay over and I said "Yes". She was surprise about my listening skills because she said I was the first one she was able to tell her situation without being interrupted. I do try to make it a point to listen to people because we all have our own struggle in this world to overcome. I will be here till Wednesday.

I thought about looking for my own place to tutor at but then after much consideration I'm going to stick with the coffee shops, Borders, and Barnes and Noble to continue tutoring. I just don't make enough to pay any overhead. I do believe I'm fair of my rate however many people are currently struggling with their employment situation and this recession has affected everyone. I know that I have been working excessively due to Christmas and having to pay our health co-pays. This week alone we payed over 100.00 on co pays and medicine.

To Homeschool Or Not?

I tutored a well behaved homeschooler today. This brings me back to when Catherine was a child and I thought about homeschooling her because I thought this would be a great idea that would allow us to spend more time together as a family. I did eventually send her to public school and I find myself tutoring her about 3 to 5 hours a week on the material she learns in school because there are many students in her class. The ratio is now 30 students to 1 teacher. When I substitute teach the elementary levels I can feel the extra kids in the classroom. YES! 10 more extra kids. I quickly pass out the work and then quickly explain it and then quickly collect this again. I do this about 8 times in a day. As you can read, I feel like I spend more time passing and collecting papers then I do explaining the material. I know why Catherine could fall behind in class if I didn't spend the extra time tutoring her.

However, I chose not to homeschool because of my own selfish reasons. I felt that I could trust the school that she attends. At the end, I know that it is my responsibility for Catherine to learn the material given to her in class. I congratulate the parent of the student who I tutored today. This mother really cares about her kids. Math is a difficult subject to teach and if she ever reads this then I would be happy to teach her how to teach math to her son.  As for now, I have added them to my schedule of clients to tutor.

I would like to add something about how I tutor to my blog. I tutor from a variety of sources and books. I want my student to be exposed to a variety of sources and opinions. I believe a child learns best when the information comes from many sources and not just one textbook.

My Perfect Schedule

I actually recieved an offer to tutor at Dana Point today.  It will be a couple of hours and he is willing to pay for travel time. I'm not sure if I want to be that far away from home. I enjoy tutoring five minutes away from my house at the local library or at Barnes and Noble. The librarians and the employees at Barnes and Noble know who I am and that I tutor. They are so nice and pleasant to me. I was checking in to one of the study rooms tonight and the librarian was commenting how much time I spend here. I was thinking I know if I can only just do pleasure reading instead I'm looking through math books just reviewing until my next client enters in the room.

I'm on a set weekday schedule now. I have my regular clients who I tutor. Today I was tutoring my high school student. I thought it was really cool how her mom bought me a Diet Coke. I felt like family. I enjoy teaching their daughter math.

I had someone call me today and ask if I do the tutoring myself or if I have someone else do it. I thought it was kind of odd because I would do the tutoring to make sure the student is learning. I'm not all about the money! I started researching because that made me think about tutoring in general. I started looking online and I can see many tutors say they are certified to teach and then send one of their staff out to tutor. I get it! They pay this low wage non-credential person to tutor and then they keep the money and they are the ones credentialed. They never tutored someone else did it and they were a student. They are not teachers or even have Bachelor Degrees. Now I know why so many parents ask me if I do the tutoring myself because I am a legitimate teacher. I just want to reassure everyone that I do the tutoring just me who holds a Secondary Education Credential and can be looked up on the teacher's state website.  I can't think of it but you can google.... California teacher look up and then type my name in Patricia Flores

Algebra 1

I tutored Algebra 1 today. It was so nice to have it simple math. It's been a while since I've done Algebra but it all came back to me. Tutoring is great because it gets me out of the house since I'm home all day. I sometimes think that I'm just home temporary but as I see Olivia slowly progress I'm thinking that I'm home for a long time. Okay, I got to go.... baby Sophia is calling.

Tutoring on Stats and GRE

I just came back from Barnes and Noble. The hour of Business Statistics went by fast. The topic was on finding data to compute the standard deviation with the mean. It was a good thing that in Excel your able to just plug in data and the answer comes up. I remember back in the old days we actually had to write everything on paper. It was really weird but the girl did homework and this problem paperless. I still use paper on everything I do. I guess it's because in Math we get tested by paper and pencil even in the state teacher exams. I just thought it was funny.

I blew it today by pricing my tutoring service wrong. I thought this lady needed help with her GED but it was for the GRE. Well that's graduate school with trig problems. I charge more for the trig plus it's a higher math the just basic math. I had to call her up and change the price for the next visit. I felt bad but she's a graduate from college and I know tutoring for GRE would be way more than what I charge an hour.

I never thought MBA students and Graduate students would ever call to need my help in math but as I see the problems and exams I can actually do the problems.

I just thought my posting and website would just attract k-12th grade students. Who would have ever thought? I should probably take the GRE just so I can go to graduate school. NOT! I still need to take classes to keep my teaching license.

I ended the night at Walmart shopping for Olivia's Birthday. I bought Catherine her costume and Olivia a small chair for tomorrow's soccer game.

My First Student with an A

I was so excited today because I met up with Marian for tutoring and she told me she got an A in the test. I felt like taking her paper away and framing it. She then ask," Why don't I tutor Catherine?" I told her that I leave extra work out for her and Jaime tutors her. I just find myself not having enough time for everything and Jaime doesn't mind. I leave him math and reading out for Catherine in a folder.

It was nice to hear one of your students getting an A in her exam when she is used to getting D's.

Olivia's Birthday

My Olivia turned 2 today. We are going to have her party at La Veta Park this Sunday. She is so cute. I love being home to watch every moment of her. She is still not saying any words. Not even a MA! It's heart breaking that she doesn't say my name.

I'm going to have to call the Dr. and get her two year old shots next week.

I'm excited because tutoring is going really well. I enjoy my students and learning. Today, I read a story of Storm Chasers and I found it really interesting.

MOMS-N-More starts tomorrow at my church. This will be the first time I leave Sophia at the church nursery.

Math class was fun today. I got to speak to the professor one on one and she's great. She's a mom about my age and her children are 5 and 7. We were talking about the circumference of a circle.

My Website is Live!

Yuppee!! Today, I finished my Tutor website and I added my Google tutoring calendar for my parents to view my availability.

My availability is limited because on Mondays and Wednesday I take math class at a Rancho Santiago College for personal development.

Also, my three girls make it difficult to always be available. Catherine does soccer, skating, and girl scouts. Olivia has speech therapy and doctor appointments. My mornings and days are pretty much filled up with errands.

I remember when I used to volunteer at an elementary school to tutor and the teacher would give me guidance after each session now I get to make my own curriculum for one of my students. I actually enjoy it!
I do have to mention that today was my second day of cloth diapers and it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The cloth diapers I use absorb everything. I don't get the messiness with the cheap disposable diapers I use to have. However, I have to change them every three hours because the diapers start to look heavy.

Sunday Night @ Barnes and Noble

I had one hectic day. My car battery dies earlier this morning right before we were going to church.

Then, we had a family outing at Sprouts and bought all our fruits and vegetables. I'm not sure why but our family loves shopping at Sprouts.

This week we are planning Olivia's Birthday Party. She's turning 2. I'm happy because I'm still not sure what were eating but if it's around 20 people then we are probably going to pay for catering. I have to total up the people count tomorrow.

I ended my night at Barnes and Noble tutoring Math. I love tutoring. I can just keep going on and on but then my husband called and reminded me that we had to pick up the van and recharge the battery.

Orange Street Fair!

I love the Orange Street Fair! Of course I only love it during opening day and opening hour. Jaime is home today (Flex Day) and we are planning to go to the street fair. It's really cool because they have a kids street and the girls can get face painting done plus they have small vendors that sell little trinkets and homemade items. We will be attending after I tutor and of course I'll use the extra cash on the girls.

Olivia has speech therapy today... she will be turning two at the end of this month and she's not really saying much. She has some hearing loss on her left side ear. We hope to have a hearing aid by the end of the month. This is another reason to tutor. We don't qualify for any assistance, we have co-pays and our insurance only covers one thousand dollars on hearing aids. 

Back to the street fair, I hope not to eat to much there. It's filled with all kinds of yummy food and I'm still trying to loose my baby weight. I have 10 pounds to go before pre-baby but I want to loose an additional 10 more.

I love Fridays even though I no longer work. I get to be home with my family and not run errands or have appointments at night.

After Tutoring!

My student came to my house tonight! Yeah! I was so excited to teach math. It was difficult because I had to skip dinner. I fed the girls. Jaime and Catherine went to soccer practice. I had to clean and watch Olivia and Sophia.

About 6:00pm they arrive and her mom comes in and pretty much interviews me. I'm happy to do the interview. I pull out my portfolio and show her my credentials, references, and transcripts. She seems satisfied and ask me if I also do daycare. I quickly said no. I love Math and I will tutor Math. She said she was just checking.

She asks me about my previous jobs and education. I show her my resume and she pretty much seems satisfied. I pull out an Algebra 2 book and start assessing her daughter. We found a spot of difficulty....Word Problems... and we start to do Math. At the end her mom was satisfied with my tutoring and ask if I would be available tomorrow to tutor again. I said, "Sure". For an hour, I don't mind Orange library or Barnes and Noble. I was very lucky the girls went to bed early tonight.

I'm tutoring math for the 2010/2011 school year!: First Time Private Tutoring

I'm tutoring math for the 2010/2011 school year!: First Time Private Tutoring: "Olivia is sick. Yuk! She must have the stomach bug because she keeps vomiting. I guess I'm home today. No running or park activities today. ..."

First Time Private Tutoring

Olivia is sick. Yuk! She must have the stomach bug because she keeps vomiting. I guess I'm home today. No running or park activities today. 

Here I am at the computer thinking how could I get the word out that I'm interested in tutoring math from Basic to Trig. I'm no longer returning back to work with my third child Sophia. I just got tired of trying to juggle full-time motherhood and full-time girls counselor at Orangewood Children's Home. 

I received my Teaching Credential two years ago and had a difficult time trying to find a job due to the California job market. It SUCKS!!! So here I am with dues to pay in teaching and no job. I was thinking at least to try to find a part-time job just to  pay for the extras for the girls.

Catherine loves to play soccer, skate, and then we have Girl Scouts. Olivia needs a hearing aid and speech therapy. We are currently attending Speech Therapy and the hearing aid we are hoping to get at the end of September.

The only thing I can think of that I love to do is teach and the subject would be Math. I love how math is a puzzle and there is always a solution for every problem. It's kind of like LIFE but we just have to find the solution and sometimes it takes a while.

I have a student who is suppose to come today at 5:30. My husband has soccer practice and Olivia is just laying down in the couch pretty much not doing anything because she's not feeling well. 

I normally would reschedule tutoring but she's new and I don't want her mom to think I'm flaky. I'm hoping she arrives it would be nice to teach a subject I enjoy and get paid while the kiddos are at home and I don't have to leave them. Motherhood! I find it a challenge to balance everything.