Tutor profile: Crystal W.

How do I see math differently than most people?

The Montessori method gave me insights into understanding numbers that I have never seen in a traditional classroom. What the general education system is trying to do with Common Core and showing models of the concepts, I did on a daily basis by putting concrete objects into a child's hands and allowing them to manipulate those objects to develop a true understanding of what really is happening with numbers and mathematical equations.

What is it about Early Childhood Education that made it the focus of my teaching career?

I have the ability to take almost every concept that a child needs to learn and turn it into a concrete, hands on activity that clearly illustrates the concepts I want to share with a child. My goal was always to provide the tools for a child to guide their own learning and to help them move to the next step. I did not teach children, I guided them through the process of teaching themselves.

What made my teaching of English unique from other teachers?

As a Montessori teacher for many years, I found ways to represent the rules of the English language in a concrete manner that deepened understanding for young children.