Middle School Learners

During these transition years, the elementary reading and writing skills acquired in earlier school experiences are the cornerstones for fluent reading comprehension and flexible writing tools. Middle school kids begin to cultivate the study strategies, communication skills, and critical thinking that characterize emerging adolescent learners. In addition, they experience increased organizational and time management demands. Some students benefit from support in one or more of these crucial foundation skills.  

High School Learners

Teens enter their high school years already accustomed to changing classes and adapting to different teaching styles. They’ve gained experience reading textbooks, writing essays, and studying for tests and quizzes. Now as high school students, they will need to acquire the inferential reading and reasoning skills to analyze text, write longer essays with greater depth, manage research projects, and study increasingly complex concepts across all content areas. They often also have more commitments outside of school to manage, along with a growing awareness of their academic future as they take their first PSATs. Their steadily increasing academic and intellectual demands may require short term or long term tutoring support to become the best learners they can be.

College-Bound Learners

High school juniors and seniors and their families face their own challenges as they prepare for the SAT and ACT tests and begin to focus their attention on the college search process. The reading, writing, and thinking demands of these standardized tests do not always capitalize on the students' hard-won skills in the classrooms, as their objectives have less to do with cultivating a long-term understanding of related subject matter. That’s why students who may have worked hard to attain successful academic skills may find that they need to refine their strategies based on these new task demands. In addition, seniors face the challenge of orchestrating the college application process, including the essay requirements. Families often find that having a coach through that stage is an asset for everyone.

Academic Coaching for Adults

Of course, education often does not end with high school. College students who managed high school demands independently or with tutoring support may find that they encounter new situations where the advice of an experienced educator can help them organize a project, establish time management protocols, or learn to conduct college-level research. As more students of all ages are taking classes and pursuing advanced degrees, they may also benefit from working with an academic coach to ease the transition back into the classroom or seeking advice as they apply to graduate schools.

Summer Enrichment

Many families find that the summer months are an excellent time to work on refining reading and writing skills without the academic pressure of daily homework and grades. Older students may want to spend a few weeks preparing for the SAT or college applications, while younger students may want to spend some time enhancing their reading, writing, and note-taking skills. A few extra hours of guided practice may mean they can start the new year with more confidence and competence.