What is Academic Coaching?

Schools are excellent at teaching students WHAT they need to learn, but there is often not enough time to consistently teach students HOW to learn. As an Academic Coach, I help students fill these gaps with pragmatic, practical, and concrete skills. For example, students learn how to independently track their assignments, plan projects, study faster and more consistently, and set goals. This allows them to create more balance, reduce stress, and gain confidence in their ability to succeed.

Academic coaching can help improve:

• Academic Outcomes
• Resilience
• Time Management & Organization
• Study Skills
• Test-Taking Strategies
• Focus, Concentration, and Follow Through
• Critical Thinking and Analysis
• Independent Problem Solving
• Writing & Research
• Self-Advocacy
• Effective Group Work Strategies

What’s the difference between academic coaching and tutoring?

Traditional tutoring focuses on helping students master specific class content, such as math or science.

Academic coaching helps students successfully navigate the entire school experience. Students learn a wide variety of skills, that can be applied to every class. These new tools help the student build a powerful toolbox for school success. Academic Coaching can help all students but is especially helpful for students with ADD/ADHD, executive function delays, and learning differences.

How do we get started with coaching?

In order to provide the most effective coaching, it is important to discuss parent and student goals, and how we can achieve them together.

1. Complete the coaching intake form.
2. Schedule a complimentary 30-minute parent consultation.
3. Schedule a complimentary 50-minute student strategy session.
4. Decide on the right package for your student.

What happens during a typical coaching session?

Although every session is shaped by the student’s unique academic workload and goals most sessions include:

How many sessions does a student need?

The number of sessions depends on the student’s goals and varies from student to student. Some clients only need a booster set of 4-8 sessions centered around a specific goal. The majority of students, however, have weekly meetings during the school year to keep them on track. The longer students work with me, the better able they are to fully integrate habits and positive behaviors into their life.

How do virtual sessions work, and are they really as effective as in-person sessions?

I know it seems counter-intuitive, but virtual sessions are often as good or better than in-person coaching. Through the use of Zoom, Google Docs, screen sharing, and online drawing tools, students stay busy and engaged throughout the session. Additionally, online sessions allow me to be in the student’s study space, eliminating wasted travel time. Because so many assignments are digital, it’s often easier to look at assignments together online rather than crowd around a laptop. For paper assignments, snapping and sharing a quick photo works well.

Who do I work with?

I love working with students from 6th grade through Grad School. I also work with students who need to finish short-term projects such as a capstone project, thesis, or dissertation. Please contact me for more information. For more details on my university level coaching please check out www.jessicafinnigan.com