Community Voices
Schoolhouse Stories
Schoolhouse.world is a non-profit whose mission is to connect the world through learning. Hear from our community about what Schoolhouse means to them!
Inspired by our internet neighbor, Khan Academy"The Great Mute Mystery"
Apr 22, 2025So, during the peak of online learning, I was tutoring a sixth grader named Jordan—super bright, but easily distracted. One day, we were deep into a math session, working on fractions. I asked him a question and waited. And waited. Nothing. His camera was on, and I could see him clearly nodding, talking, moving his hands... but I couldn’t hear a word. “Jordan, I think you're muted,” I said. He paused, looked at his screen, and exaggeratedly pointed to his mouth. “I’m not!”—I could read his lips. I tried everything. Volume, settings, logging in and out. Ten whole minutes of silence. Finally, I typed in the chat: “Try unplugging your headphones and plugging them back in.” He gave a thumbs up, leaned toward the screen... and that’s when I heard the loudest crunch. He was eating chips. Not muted. Just enjoying a snack mid-math. “Jordan!” I laughed. “You weren’t muted, you were just chewing too loud to hear anything!” He burst out laughing, mouth full of chips. We never got through all the fractions that day, but we definitely learned something: always check your snacks before your settings.
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Tiala H
Beyond the Score: How Learning Led to Teaching
Mar 12, 2025When I first started preparing for the SAT, English felt like my biggest obstacle. Reading passages were confusing, grammar rules seemed endless, and no matter how many practice tests I took, my scores weren’t improving the way I wanted them to. I knew I needed help, so I turned to Schoolhouse. At first, I was just another student in SAT prep sessions, trying to absorb as much as I could. My tutors didn’t just give me answers—they explained strategies, broke down difficult passages, and taught me how to approach questions logically. Little by little, things started making sense. My reading comprehension improved, and I finally understood how to tackle tricky grammar questions. My scores began to rise, but more importantly, I gained confidence. Then, something shifted. I realized that I wasn’t just learning anymore—I was helping others. In study groups, I found myself explaining grammar rules or sharing reading strategies that had worked for me. That’s when it hit me: maybe I could tutor too. At first, I was hesitant. Who was I to teach SAT English when I had struggled with it myself? But I remembered how my tutors had once been in my place and still helped me succeed. I decided to take the leap, and once I started tutoring, I realized how rewarding it was. Seeing students have their own “aha” moments and watching their confidence grow reminded me of my own journey. Now, as a tutor, I get to give back to the same community that helped me. The SAT, which once felt like an impossible challenge, became something I could help others master. Schoolhouse didn’t just help me improve my score—it gave me the skills and confidence to help others do the same.
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Toshani R
From Learner to Tutor
Apr 2, 2025When I signed up for the SAT online bootcamp, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The thought of preparing for such an important test from behind a screen felt odd at first. But I knew it was my chance to step closer to my dream of becoming a Criminal Prosecutor, so I logged in and got started. My tutors were very nice and inspiring, they helped me learn the topics that I was struggling on. Now my practice SAT score has skyrocketed, and because of them now I am tutoring myself!
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Aniyah H
Tutor to Learner
Mar 4, 2025When I first started out on Schoolhouse I had the hope of skipping the phase of being a learner (the most important step) and I became a tutor two days after I was approved to join the platform. But what I never could have expected is to become a larener even while I'm a tutor, I have worked with others to help them grow in their sessions(through the Co-host buddy program as a mentor), and I have learned from many amazing coaches here at Schoolhouse. even though I thought I knew everything there was to know about being a tutor there was so much I was yet to find out about.
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Jason W
Learning with great peers at a great platform
Apr 1, 2025I joined this platform in December 2024 , initially I thought that it would be boring to learn here but as I moved to next step I got to know about I have the opportunity to teach and to mentor others while my learning. So this is a great platform to learn and be engaged with getting something new ideas or finding new friends to learn with .
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Aman K
A Place for Opportunity
Feb 19, 2025When I joined Schoolhouse in October 2024, I honestly didn’t know how active and engaged the community would be. After spending a couple of weeks acquiring certifications in Pre-Algebra, I quickly realized just how vibrant Schoolhouse was. Tutors can get help in seconds from user support, the Slack channel, and their cohosts, while learners can receive quality guidance on a variety of subjects in just minutes. As I started tutoring more, I immediately wanted to become more involved in the community of tutors and learners. Today, I help new tutors get started by answering questions in #tutoring-support on Slack, and I am always looking for opportunities to guide learners in the Math subworlds. Moving forward, I hope to take on more responsibilities by joining one of the volunteer teams at Schoolhouse. Whether it's helping with user support, protecting Schoolhouse with content review, or another initiative, I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute on a larger scale. Being part of a team that works to improve the community and support both tutors and learners would be a rewarding way to give back to the platform that has given me so much. Looking back, even though I’ve only been part of Schoolhouse for a few months, joining has already been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has given me a place to grow as a tutor, connect with an inspiring community, and make a real impact on learners around the world. I can’t wait to see what the future holds and to continue this journey, take on new challenges, and help make Schoolhouse an even better place for everyone.
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Liam F
What Learners Have To Say About Sessions
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