Becoming a Tutor
How can I become a tutor?
There are 5 simple steps to become a tutor at Schoolhouse.world: Get certified and apply: Before you tutor a session on Schoolhouse, you’ll need to get certified in one or more topics! Get certified in high-school math topics, SAT Prep, and more. Then, fill out a short application to let us know a little about you! Get trained to tutor: Once your application is approved, complete a set of trainings (on your own time!) thatSome readersWhat is the time commitment for tutoring?
As a tutor, you can set your own schedule and hold sessions at dates and times that you select. You are able to hold these sessions at whatever frequency you would like, whether that be every day or once a month.Few readersWhy should I become a Schoolhouse tutor?
There are plenty of reasons why you should become a Schoolhouse tutor. For starters, it allows you to give back through volunteering and teach students all around the world that need help with high-school math, SAT prep, and more. In addition, it allows you to build professional experience and connect with a supportive community. By being a tutor, you'll develop strong leadership and organizational skills and become one in a network of thousands of passionate tutors and educators who will guideFew readersCan I get paid for tutoring?
No. Tutoring on Schoolhouse is currently on a volunteer-basis. We strive to lower barriers to receiving tutoring and make it completely free to sign up and attend any session.Few readersHow do I become a peer tutor?
On Schoolhouse, you can tutor your peers by first joining our website and becoming certified in one or more topics we offer. After getting your certification approved by our team of volunteers and getting trained on safety and tutoring best practices, you can start hosting your own peer tutoring sessions!Few readersDo I need to have tutoring or teaching experience to be a tutor?
Nope! While some members of our tutoring community do happen to have prior teaching or tutoring experience, we believe anyone can get started teaching what they know to others, at any stage of their journey.Few readersWhat do I do if I need help or advice?
We have your back! All tutors will go through a detailed training process where we’ll guide you through the ins-and-outs of leading safe and effective sessions on Schoolhouse. When you become a tutor, you’ll receive an onboarding buddy and join our Slack community of tutors and experienced mentors who are all here to support and guide you.Few readersIn what other ways can I get involved as a tutor?
In addition to being able to volunteer as a tutor, you’ll have chances to take the lead in the various volunteer teams across Schoolhouse. Our volunteers help review certifications, maintain our blog, welcome new members of the community, and much more! Learn more about volunteering here, and join the shw-volunteer-opportunities channel in the Schoolhouse slack to get involved.Few readersHow do I edit my sessions/series?
To edit your sessions: Navigate to your sessions page Click on the option towards the top that states, "Update Session". From there, you should be able to update max learners, duration (in minutes), date, time, description, and whether or not you want to allow co-hosting. To edit your series: Navigate to your series page On the left hand side (if you're onFew readersCan I become a Tutor?
Yes! At Schoolhouse.world, we believe anyone can be an effective tutor–we specifically encourage students themselves to tutor because it’s a great way to reinforce your own learning, as well! After joining, you will have to get Certified from Khan Academy in the selected subject so that you can tutor students with mastery!Few readersHow do I close a session request?
Once you have sent your first message to the learner, the request will go into an “In Progress” status. Messages about this request will go directly into your messages. Be sure to follow through and make sure that the learner gets the help they need. Once the learner has confirmed that they signed up for a session that meets their need, click “Close Request” so the other tutors know that this request is resolved.Few readersHow do you close enrollment to new users in a series?
To close enrollment to new users in a series: Go to your series page and on the left hand side (if you are on a computer) or towards the top (if you are on a mobile device), you will see several sections you can access. Click on "Edit Series" Under the "Toggle Enrollment" section you will be able to turn on and off the toggle depending on whether you are looking to open or cloFew readersHow do I get more learners to join my sessions?
There are a couple of ways to get more learners to join your sessions: Schedule your sessions at least a week in advance to allow more time for learners to register You can promote your sessions in the slack channels or in the community forum Hosting sessions in experimental/enrichment and higher level math topics tend to attract more learners to register for your sessions Whether you are a new or current tutor, you want to consistently host sessiFew readersDo you need to be certified in a math topic to tutor it even if you know the topic?
Yes. To tutor in a math topic, you do need to complete the certification that is related with the topic so you can host sessions. You can refer to this link for more information on the certifications you are able to complete: https://schoolhouse.world/certification/get-certified.Few readersHow do I join volunteering teams?
As a tutor on Schoolhouse, you will be able to join our slack community where you can communicate and interact with other tutors! We have a channel (shw-volunteer-opportunities) that specifically gives tutors updates of any positions of teams that are open and available. If you're not sure if there are any positions open, ask in the channel and someone will get back to you!Few readersCan I join a meeting on two devices?
Yes, you can join a meeting on two devices! This is helpful for sharing your screen and paying attention to your learners, as well as annotating. Some helpful steps are included below: Sign into your Schoolhouse account, and join your meeting on both devices. You will see the option to either stay cohost or reclaim host. You will need to select "remain co-host." The other thing to note is that you can only be connected to audio on one device, otherwise you'll have an echo. To do thFew readers
What is Peer Tutoring?
What are pros and cons of peer tutoring?
The pros: Getting a chance to learn from someone who can relate to you, who can offer different perspectives, gives you a chance to reinforce what you learned in school, can prepare for future education, and can help motivate you to learn and grow. The cons: Everyone learns (and teaches!) differently, so it may take extra time exploring to find a style that really clicks for you.Few readersIs peer tutoring effective?
Peer tutoring approaches are shown to have a positive impact on learning, with studies identifying benefits for both learners and tutors. Peer tutoring is also shown to be more effective when tutoring sessions are used to enhance or supplement normal classroom learning. At Schoolhouse, many of our sessions are designed to be a space for reinforcing and practicing what you learn in school.Few readersHow can I get free peer tutoring?
Sign up for an account on Schoolhouse. You will be approved as a user and then you can register for any available session to join a group of peer learners over Zoom!Few readersWhat does "peer tutoring" mean?
Peer tutoring means getting help from other students, like you. Peer tutoring takes many forms: an older student tutoring a younger student in a subject they took years ago, a student of a higher ability tutoring another student who may be struggling, or students in the same class coming together to review material, with one student leading. Peer tutoring can be one-to-one or take place in small groups! Both formats complement a traditional school classroom and can offer a safe, supportive enFew readersWhat are three forms of peer tutoring?
Three formal examples include: Cross-age tutoring: in which an older learner tutors younger tutee(s). Reciprocal tutoring: where two or more students alternate between acting as the tutor and tutee in each session. Same-age tutoring: where peers within one or two years of age are paired to review key concepts, and may also alternate tutor and tutee roles ( Source (https://council-for-learning-disabilities.org/peer-tutoring-flexible-peer-mediated-strategy-that-involves-studeFew readersWho would benefit from peer tutoring?
Our tutor community comes from all walks of life, so a peer can be found in anyone! We specifically specialize in supporting English-speaking students at the middle and high school levels, however, we welcome learners of any and all backgrounds.Few readersWhat is peer tutoring on Schoolhouse.world?
At Schoolhouse.world, getting peer to peer tutoring means going beyond the walls of your classroom and joining a global network of learners and tutors who have your back. On our platform, we offer peer tutoring in small groups. As a learner, you can join sessions hosted by other peers to get virtual tutoring with other students learning the same things as you, such as math, SAT Prep, AP Test Review, and much more. As a student, you can also give back by getting certified to host tutoring sessionFew readersWhy become a peer tutor on Schoolhouse.world?
Becoming a peer tutor allows you to learn by teaching, as studies have shown that teaching others is one of the best ways you can reinforce and apply what you have learned. It also grants you the opportunity to give back by hosting free sessions for other students who need help the most — all while tracking the work you do as volunteering and service hours for college applications and more. Furthermore, by becoming a peer tutor on Schoolhouse.world you can join an international community of otheFew readers
Why did I receive a "Not Helpful" rating?
Good question! Most everyone at Schoolhouse receives the occasional "Not Helpful" rating—this is because, unfortunately, there's no way to perfectly meet everyone's needs every time we run a session. Here's a note from one of our mentors, Simran, about what she does when she receives a "Not Helpful" rating: My first step is to remind myself that these ratings are information provided by the learner about how they experienced the session. They're not a judgement of me! Realizing this, I thenFew readersWhy am I unable to give feedback to a learner?
As a tutor, you have the option to give your learners feedback, but you will be unable to leave feedback for all registered learners who do not join your session. Another situation where you cannot provide feedback is if the learner unregisters from your session. Finally, if you are hosting a series, once a learner withdraws from it, you will not be able to leave them any feedback. This includes the rare instance where the learner joins the session but withdraws from your series afterward.Few readersWhat am I not permitted to do while hosting sessions?
While you are hosting sessions, you are not permitted to do the following in accordance with our content policy: 1. Endanger or compromise the well-being of learners, whether intended or not — this includes both physical and mental health, as well as financial outcomes. 2. Exclude learners, or divide learners based on their beliefs. 3. Share information whose accuracy is questioned by experts. — while there is no universally acceptFew readersWhat are the benefits of peer tutoring?
Peer tutoring can help you build your confidence, as unlike a traditional classroom environment, it can offer a more relaxed, approachable space for you to find your voice, ask questions and grow. Peer tutoring can also allow you to build faster connections, as peer tutors are not only tutors but also friends, collaborators, mentors, and role models. So, getting tutored by one who knows what you're going through may make it easier to be motivated and accountable while pursuing goals. At lastFew readersCan I plan a session with only one learner?
No. A tutor cannot host a private session meant exclusively for one learner. While tutors can still host a session if only one learner shows up, tutors cannot intentionally exclude other learners.Few readersWhat am I required to do while hosting sessions?
It's great to see you here, looking on how to host your session! You should ensure the following: Sessions need to be appropriate for kids as young as age 13: This means no profanity, nudity, violence, etc. Tutors must host sessions that are respectful and professional: Tutors should be aware of the potential for a power imbalance between themselves and learners, and ensure that their teaching methods do not harass, intimidate, tease or give undue attention to a learner. SessFew readersAs a tutor, what terms and conditions do I agree to?
We’re excited to have you tutor! In joining Schoolhouse.world as a tutor, we ask that you acknowledge the following terms & conditions. You confirm that you are 13 years of age or older. You agree to be recorded during sessions for quality and safety purposes. You agree to follow our Session Content Policy. You agree that you will immediately report any inappropriate behavior that occurs on Schoolhouse.world’s pages and sessions by emailFew readersWhat language can I take sessions in?
Schoolhouse is global and proudly used by learners from 100+ countries. However, at the moment and at our current size, we only support the English language. So, a tutor should not write a session description in a language other than English and should not take sessions in any other language other than English. A session or series focused on learning a non-english language such as French or Spanish is allowed, as it is still intended for an English-speaking audience.Few readersWhat experience do I need to hold a session in an experimental category?
You are enabled to host a session in any of the following experimental topics after getting at least one math certification: Biology Chemistry Computer Science Physics AoPS Math Study Spaces Enrichment College Advice Even More Math However, per Schoolhouse's Content Policy, you are not permitted to share teachings, opinions, or advice that are not grounded in experience. For example, a tutor who is in 9th grade cannot host a sFew readersWhat are the terms and conditions of certification applications?
These items may not be in the room while recording: Headphones/Earbuds Any electronics besides your computer/recording device Sunglasses, or anything that covers the face You may only use a calculator when explicitly permitted in the test question. If the question requires a graphing calculator and you do not have one, Desmos can be used instead. Section 2: Procedure While RecordingFew readersHow do I respond to a session request?
Find a request in a course you might be comfortable teaching in. Tip: filter for just open requests using the filter in the top right. Read the learner’s request details to understand what they need help with and when. Check the “Availability” tab to see if there are sessions that already exist in this topic that you can recommend to the learner, that might fit into their schedule. If the learner has set their availability, you will see it there in grey. Otherwise, you can check thFew readersWhy am I having issues with Schoolhouse verifying that I have joined Slack?
This might occur because of the email you used to join. Try to make sure that the email you joined Slack with and the email that your Schoolhouse account is linked with are the same. If they are not or if you are still having problems, please email [email protected]Few readersCan I advertise other services as a tutor?
No, you cannot advertise other services such as a personal website or business as a tutor. Exceptions may be made in select cases where learners will be benefited and the Schoolhouse.world team has given prior permission.Few readersWhat age should sessions be suitable for?
Sessions need to be appropriate for kids as young as age 13. This means no profanity, nudity, violence, etc.Few readersWhat are session requests?
Session requests provide learners the ability to request that a session on a topic/concept of their choice be hosted. Accordingly, they allow tutors to connect with learners and help them find a session that meets their needs. How they work: A learner makes a request, describing what they need help with. The learner’s request gets added to the session requests page, which tutors can filter by course and status. A tutor claims the request by responding to the learner in the chat. If tFew readersWhat is the purpose of peer tutoring?
Learning doesn’t only happen between an instructor and a student! Peer tutoring benefits both tutees and tutors (Source). Peer-to-peer on Schoolhouse can be a strong complement to traditional classroom learning, offering opportunities to practice skills and reinforce concepts that were confusing as many times as a learner needs — all in a welcoming, small-group environment.Few readersDo I have to create a zoom link to host a session/series?
Few readersHow do you end a series early?
To end a series early, Navigate to your series page On the left hand side (if you are on a computer) or at the top (if you are on a mobile device), you will see several sections you can access. Click on "Edit Series", then "End Series Early".Few readersWhat should I do if my onboarding buddy doesn't join my first session?
You can message them on Slack to make sure everything is alright, but if they don't join, simply host your session like any other. The chances are that when you host a second session, you will be paired up with another onboarding buddy.Few readersIs it possible to change the topic of my scheduled session?
The only way to do this would be to delete the session and create a new one. On Schoolhouse, you are given the option to reschedule or update your session, in which case you can edit things such as the max learners and timing of the session, but you cannot change the topic.Few readersHow do I delete/edit a series?
How do I delete/edit a series? To edit a Series, go to your dashboard and view your upcoming sessions on the right side. Click the series you want to edit, and once on the Series page, you'll see an 'Edit Series' button on left-hand side of the page. Click that to edit your Series.Few readersAm I allowed to share curriculum slides with students?
Yes! You are permitted to share curriculum slides with students so they can reference it while studying or they can use them if they have missed a session.Few readers