Learn To Be

Learn To Be is a website that's free for all, which is part of its appeal. However because it is a platform where people volunteer to teach, there is a certain amount of professionalism that is lacking. The teachers here, me included, won't have the same skill that school teachers have in teaching. It also depends on what tutor you get on if your experience with the website will go well. Because of the lack of professionalism it can also be hard for teachers because the students aren't always going to try or show up to class. This lack of accountability and attentiveness can be attributed to the fact that the program is free, but it can still be difficult for teachers. In general, Learn To Be is a website that is generally great but could do with improvements. I know that they are trying to make the site easier and better for both students and teachers though, so I look forward to seeing how it improves!

Speaking as a volunteer tutor with a sibling who is getting tutoring with Learn to Be! First off, the organization is wonderful-- wonderful kids, tutors, staff (most of the time). Their organization is well-meaning and students DO improve their grades tremendously, especially with an attentive tutor. Keyword: attentive. Now, if the parent, child, or tutor is not attentive, that's when things get disorganized fast. Miscommunication can lead to angry talks from either side, thus time is wasted and grades do not go up at all. There's also another thing: I wish communication was better in a lot of different ways. Sometimes parents aren't clear about what their student needs tutoring in. Sometimes parents (or even tutors) don't respond. Sometimes (or actually, way too many times) the correct time zone isn't picked out correctly... it's hard to fix this too, I talked to the staff and received no response. But either way, as a tutor, there's a lot of benefit with joining Learn to Be. You pick your own schedule, choose the student who best fits your skill set, and move on with them. Currently, I'm in the program Tutor Corps and in return for 200 tutoring hours, you receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, a letter rec, and a $1000 stipend. I've also received wonderful career guidance, and since a good amount of the tutors recruited are students, this is VERY IMPORTANT. One small problem however, I do not think we are communicated with enough. We get an email or text once in a blue moon. In the end, it's important to realize that it is free. You can totally have this same experience with a tutor you *do* pay for (it's happened). Most parents come in frustrated with their student's grades, then come out happier. My students have risen their grade ~20% plus passed tests that seemed cumbersome at first. If both the parents and tutors take the initiative to communicate properly and show up, there's a huge chance their student WILL improve. I hope the staff becomes more organized as well.

Speaking as a fellow tutor, Learn To Be is a great free tutoring program that helps students improve their grades and learn for free! The staff is supportive, and we tutors can set our own schedules, making it really flexible. The sessions can be held easily and just by a click of a button. There are some challenges, like missing student info or trouble reaching parents at times. Communication can be tricky at times, but most issues can be worked out. Since tutors are volunteers, the quality can vary. But overall, it’s a solid program, and I’ve had a good experience with it. If I were a student on the other hand, I would definitely want to use this platform, especially since it is free!

Speaking as a Learn To Be Tutor, I would say that this program is a wonderful free service. The organization is well meaning, and the staff try their best to address any concerns and tackle any issues that are brought up. Students can improve their grades with consistent effort and communications with the tutor, and it is very rewarding to see. As a tutor, you are able to pick your own schedule and generally volunteer as you and your student see fit, granting a large amount of freedom and flexibility. However, there are some issues with missing student information or parents reaching out to ask for more sessions or subjects after connecting as a tutor. It can also be difficult to reach parents at times, and it's frustrating to see missing or unclear information from students. To sum, while the program itself is good, people can be inconsistent and communication is a issue at times. Ultimately, the service is great for a free program, and the errors with communication can usually be overlooked or resolved. Most of the tutors are students, however, which is something to be aware of. I've personally had a good experience with Learn To Be and recommend it, though the quality of tutoring may vary due to all tutors being volunteers and most being students themselves. Overall, it's a good program but there may be hiccups when finding a tutor that best fits your needs.

Coming from a LTB tutor, this is a great opportunity for me to meet many different kinds of students and witness their confidence grow! I love that I can choose my own students and set my own schedule. I recommend it to any students looking for free tutoring or to be a potential tutor!

I have been a tutor with LearnToBe for about a year and a half now, and the support I've gotten is incredible. Like all systems, it isn't perfect and I have had my fair share of struggles related to my students and understanding how to support them, but the admin and fellow tutors of LTB have been amazing and have helped me in every way possible. From free resources to advice to a substitute when necessary, they made my tutoring experience as amazing as possible.