Filed Fictitious Business Statement

I filed my Fictitious Business statement with the county yesterday.  The county office is right across the street from the San Diego Maritime Museum.  Today I contacted the San Diego Uptown to post it for four weeks and then 'Point Loma Tutor' will be official.  I need to apply for a business  permit and then figure out the taxes.

I still don't know if I should try to sell toys as well.  I do want to be the tutor that makes learning fun.  It would be great if parents would play with their children and help them learn as well.  I also want to combine technology with learning. I am wondering if I should obtain a business checking account, line of credit, and credit card?

Today I feel I did not get very much done.  I took some pictures to use for my website.  Put away plastic bins in the basement.  I tried to contact Infinite tile to see if they are going to replace my broken tiles.  I wrote an evaluation on yelp and yahoo to see if they are still in business.  I took the dogs to the dog park.  They are panting in the back ground while I am typing.

The church mission dinner is tonight.  I have things for the children to use while we have the dinner.  (books, maps to color, flag to color, pinata to break open) I have to miss most of it as I have choir tonight at 7 pm.

I need to know if I should pay for a web server for my business and how to collect funds using credit cards.  If you read this and have any advice, please send it my way.

Last Day as a Long Term Sub

I made it through the two weeks at Edison Elementary.  The last day was just hard.  They hired Rosa who has worked at Edison before.  She has a BCLAD and a credential in moderate/severe.  She spent the day making posters.  I missed my students and wish them the best.

I checked out my friend's business - Links Through Learning and was really impressed.  It made me pause and think about what I really want in a business.  I am using the word "tutor" and need to think if that is all I want to be.  I need to remember I can't be all things to all people.

I do want to help seniors with their technology questions.  When I was in the Apple store and could hardly hear above the noise of the customers, I felt seniors, especially those who where hearing aids can not hear what someone is telling them.

I would love to work with a group of high functioning autistic students to help them improve their public speaking abilities and social interactions.  I would like to work out of my house because it feels like a comfortable environment versus a school or office space.

After running a booth at Love, Peace, Swap, I found many were interested in purchasing my tools of the trade - ie Discovery Toys.  So I am also thinking of pursuing that on the side.  I called and found someone to work with me.

I think I am good at making learning fun.  I like to engage the learner so he or she enjoys what they are doing and then realize they are really learning things.  This is the market I think fits me.  Now to redesign my website and make flyers.

Home Sick

While teaching the Moderate/Severe class, I became ill and had to find a sub to take one day of my long term sub position.  I emailed the secretary at Edison but never heard back.  So I also emailed the Principal.  I guess there was trouble during morning line up.  I hope it was not my class...

I contacted IT and hope to be able to connect the printer tomorrow.  I downloaded many autism recommended sites to my iPad today.  I hope to bring that in tomorrow and entice my students to give me feedback.

I made copies of Pirate material.  At school I left CD's for relaxation, books on tape for oceans, pirate books etc.  I made a detail list for the sub.  I guess I will learn tomorrow if she/he received them.  I need my aides cellphone numbers and emails.

I met a lawyer on Sunday and got some great ideas from her.  I need to go to submit the fictitious name paperwork.  I can pay for my business license online.  She recommends I get a million dollar rider of insurance for my business.

I might be buying a booth at the swap for this Saturday.  I need to get my act together. I have enjoyed teaching and it has giving me good experience with non verbal autistic children.  I want to go visit the site in Ocean Beach next week that reaches out to autistic children and see what they do.

I am excited about starting my company.

Company on Hold

On Friday, before Labor Day, I was contacted by Human Resources of San Diego Unified School District to teach in a Mild/Severe K-12 class at Edison Elementary.  Of course at 6:30 at night the school was closed.  I was to start on Tuesday not evening know what the classroom looked like.  Edison is located in City Heights area of San Diego near 805 and University Avenue.  It is not the best area of town.

As I walked in to get keys, the Principal told me, "just ask for what ever you need."  This had been an empty classroom for years. 

Good things:  There is an in-class bathroom, two sinks and a drinking fountain.  There were also materials, toys, document projector, and a teacher office with a computer.  My class came with two terrific aides, Kim and Marcia.  It started with a K-5 class but I lost my K student after the first day as he was moved to a regular K class.  So I only have 9 students and 2 aides.

Bad things:  The computer is not hooked up to any printer.  No air conditioning and it gets quite hot in the afternoon. I can not figure out how to connect my computer to the wireless network so no internet to share with my students.  Two students are non verbal.  Many have autism.  I need more time to work on how to teach each child at their level.  One child has severe behavior issues--kicking, biting, throwing anything that he sees in the classroom, and yes that does include the one student computer I have.  I have filed a behavior report the second week of classes.

Overall, I am loving it but I am so tired.  I feel the 1- 5 classroom experience will only help me with tutoring that age group.  I had no idea how to schedule the day but I have something worked out.  It was hard scheduling everything with speech two times a week, OT once time a week, Music once a week, APE once a week.  Wednesday is our early day.  I am trying not to be an overachiever as the principal told me I can only sub for 20 days as I do not have the proper credential.