Academic Coaching
Academic coaching provides personalized support to help students develop the learning strategies, organizational skills, and study habits needed for academic success beyond just tutoring content.
Why lack of academic skills can be a problem
Many bright students struggle not because they can't understand material, but because they lack the executive functioning skills to manage academic demands effectively.
Common academic struggles:
• Chronic disorganization and lost assignments
• Inability to break down large projects
• Poor time estimation for homework
• Ineffective study methods despite hours of effort
• Test anxiety from poor preparation
• Missing assignments despite understanding content
Without academic coaching, students often develop learned helplessness around school, believing they're "just not good at" certain subjects when really they lack study systems.
You're not alone
If your teen understands concepts in class but struggles with homework completion, test performance, or project management, they need academic skill development. Schools teach content but rarely teach how to learn, organize, and manage academic demands. Many students who could excel academically instead underperform simply because no one taught them how to be a student.
What it looks like day to day
Student
Your teen spends three hours on homework that should take one because they keep getting distracted, losing focus, and starting over.
Parent
You find crumpled assignments in the backpack, see zeros for homework your teen swears they did, and watch them panic before every test.
Tiny steps to try
Build academic skills gradually with these strategies.
- 1
Weekly planning sessions
Sunday evening, map out the week's assignments, tests, and activities. Use a physical planner or digital calendar.
- 2
Assignment tracking system
Create a simple checklist for daily homework. Check off when complete and in backpack.
- 3
Study space setup
Designate a consistent homework spot with all supplies. Remove distractions like phones during work time.
- 4
Break down projects
Divide large assignments into smaller daily tasks. Work backward from due dates.
- 5
Grade monitoring
Check grades weekly together. Identify patterns in missing work or low scores.
Why academic coaching matters
Academic coaching teaches students how to learn, not just what to learn. These skills transfer across all subjects and into college and career success.
Students who receive academic coaching develop independence, confidence, and resilience. They learn to advocate for themselves, manage complex demands, and problem-solve academic challenges. These executive functioning skills become the foundation for lifelong learning and professional success.
Ready to help your teen thrive?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is academic coaching different from tutoring?
Tutoring focuses on specific subject content like math or science concepts. Academic coaching develops universal skills like organization, time management, study strategies, and executive functioning that apply across all subjects. A coach teaches how to be a successful student overall, not just understand one subject.
When should we consider academic coaching?
Consider coaching if your teen has good intelligence but poor grades, chronic disorganization, homework battles, test anxiety, or difficulty managing multiple classes. Also helpful during transitions like starting high school or preparing for college. The earlier students develop these skills, the better.
Related Terms
Executive Function
Executive function is your brain's management system that helps teens plan, focus, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.
Goal Setting
Goal setting is the process of identifying specific, achievable objectives and creating actionable plans to reach them within defined timeframes.
Organization
Organization is the ability to create and maintain systems for managing materials, information, and time in ways that support efficiency and goal achievement.
Study Skills
Study skills are the strategies and techniques that help students learn effectively, retain information, and perform well academically.
Time Management
Time management is the ability to plan, prioritize, and use time effectively to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines without constant crisis.
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