Goals + Focus Areas

Academic Coaching sessions are rooted in the strengthening of Executive Function (EF) skills as they relate to academics and student skills. Students work to strengthen skills crucial for success in school and beyond, including:

  • committing to effective organizational systems

  • developing time management strategies and routines

  • organizing physical supplies and online resources

  • understanding class expectations, concepts and assignments

  • breaking down long term assignments into manageable pieces

  • building study skills and test prep strategies

  • planning, expanding and editing essays

  • communicating effectively with teachers and self advocating

  • planning for and completing out-of-school tasks (applications, etc.)

Sample Session Outline

  • Students report on successes and struggles over the last week. We discuss expectations for the session, and make a list of “must-do” tasks. This is also a time for students to organize and clean out their backpacks or physical workspace.

  • Students use grade books and agendas to update their planner with tasks and important dates. Strategies for prioritization and time allotments are practiced as well. Social events and non-school related appointments are added to the planner to aid in time management. This process is modeled, then prompted, and becomes student-led.

  • Strategies are taught and skills are strengthened in real-time, as students and I work through assignments (reviewing instructions and rubrics, breaking down assignments into smaller tasks and creating completion plans), test prep (identifying concepts being tested, gathering materials, and creating resources and detailed study plans), and organizing unstructured time.

  • Sessions end by reviewing the expectations/plans for the week. After each session, I follow up with parents, teachers and the student themselves as-needed to support next steps.