"I’m Crystal, and I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English, a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition. Although I earned advanced degrees, I was never a student with “natural abilities.” My experiences motivated me to become a college professor, where I work to break reading, writing, public speaking, and digital storytelling assignments down into small, manageable steps while emphasizing visual aids to explain significant concepts.

Tutoring sessions encourage the students to explain their assignment, as understanding requirements is essential to success, and outlining, together, how we might break the assignment into smaller, more manageable pieces. Time to work independently and ask questions is always included in our time together. I often draw on my personal teaching files to find visual aids (e.g., graphic organizations, videos, outlines, etc.) to help the process. I recognize that academic success is often in two parts – an understanding of the skill and the process. I work to address both so that students are building transferrable skills as opposed to only focusing on one class assignment at a time.

I have 30 years of tutoring and teaching experience as well as demonstrated research projects that study best teaching practices. These projects have been presented in speaking engagements around the world, notably in France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, and others. Additionally, a YouTube channel contains helpful short videos.

I want to help students become enthusiastic about their work, feel accomplished, and build confidence while succeeding academically. I am easy to reach, respond quickly, welcome parental input, and work hard to meet student needs. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to book your first free appointment!" less...