Hi. My name is Larry G, and I'm from New York City (originally Manhattan and currently the Bronx). For over 35 years, I worked in private schools and also in Lehman College's summer program, teaching mainly math but also English, psychology, and Jewish studies to junior and senior high school students. During the summers and other available free time, I also did some writing (with several books published) and dabbled as a background player (extra) in films and TV shows.

In 2013, as I approached my 65th birthday, I decided to retire. However, I did not want to devote the rest of my life to just smelling the roses. I therefore looked online for tutoring opportunities, both as a volunteer and for pay. Once COVID hit and my mobility became more limited, I became especially interested in online tutoring, where I could still work with students in pretty much any location without having to make the difficult and lengthy trek sometimes needed for in-person tutoring. Eventually, I was directed to the Learn To Be program, which was relatively new at the time, and began my participation in it.

That was several years ago, and as of Summer 2026, I have tallied over 500 hours of online tutoring through Learn To Be (mostly in math but also in language arts) with dozens of students. Some students have lived nearby, while others have hailed from such far-off states as Idaho, California, Texas, and Michigan. In short, I have, in a way, traveled the length and breadth of the country to meet up with students eager (mostly) to gain knowledge and direction in their academic careers.

There are a number of features that have appealed to me about the Learn To Be program. One is the ease with which a tutor can connect with a suitable student. Instead of being randomly assigned a tutee who might not be a good match, Learn To Be allows tutors to view a list of potential students and see their specific needs, as well as the subjects they need help in and the hours when they are available. Once a student is chosen, the meeting process can begin without much further ado. Various resources are made available to tutors, including the use of a smartboard (though that doesn't always allow for the neatest penmanship) and access to teaching aids and materials that can enhance lessons. In addition, I've found the Learn To Be staff to be very helpful in offering assistance when problems occasionally arise or when advice is requested. There are also regular reminders sent to both tutors and students, as well as their parents, that a tutoring session is imminent.

As a result, I've been highly satisfied with the experience, and so have many of my students and their parents. In one recent case, a student who was initially struggling in 8th-grade math was able to raise his grade average from the low 70s at the beginning of the year to a 91 by the conclusion of the semester. In another case, a tutee with much personal baggage who was resistant to doing work eventually found that he could indeed understand the material. Subsequently, he began tackling the work with newfound energy and moved up an entire level in his academic standing after the required state testing. Not all stories have been successes, and there have been several instances when students stopped showing up or when we mutually agreed to discontinue. But in the majority of cases, the overall effect was a positive one. And even though there was no monetary reimbursement for my efforts, the experience of receiving the thanks and gratitude of both students and their parents, and seeing their delight as they achieved academic success at last, has made the effort most worthwhile.

I therefore heartily recommend Learn To Be's program to all potential tutors, as well as those seeking assistance for their children or grandchildren. I have found that being a participant in this effort has made my retirement years happily productive and rewarding, and I hope to continue with it as long as possible. I doubt that I'll make it to 1,000 hours of tutoring, but who knows? Maybe I'll be back in a few years to report that I did it!