Academic Coaching Services

Our academic coaching program was developed in direct response to the needs of our school-aged clients experiencing academic difficulties. While traditional tutoring focuses on helping students improve their competency in a specific subject (math, science, etc.), academic coaching focuses on the process of learning including (but not limited to) the skills of self-motivation, organization, note taking, strategic test taking & enhancing memory/recall power. The structure and skills sequence of our academic coaching program has evolved over the past fifteen years of clinical experience and reflects a protocol that is proven to be highly effective in helping students improve their academic success. It is very common for many of our clients to improve a full letter grade as a result of their academic coaching experience.

Our academic coaching program consists of 5-12 sessions focused on learning and study skills. Once clients experience success with the skills, many choose to continue beyond the initial sessions. The ongoing coaching provides clients with a support in further developing their skills and completing assignments. When it is deemed appropriate and potentially beneficial to the client, the academic coach will enlist the support of parents. Parents may be asked to participate in their child’s coaching sessions or to attend sessions of their own. When directly involved in their child’s academic coaching, parents learn many strategies for managing their child’s behavior regarding homework and school responsibilities.

The director of our academic coaching program is Darlene Newberry. Darlene is a Learning Consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. Her responsibilities include the continued development/enhancement of our academic coaching protocol, supervising our academic coaches and providing coaching services to a caseload of clients. What makes Darlene effective as an academic coach is that she is relentless in her efforts to teach, encourage and hold clients accountable for developing the skills necessary for their academic success.

Fees:

Initial Assessment Session, 1.5 hours -- $190
Coaching Session, 1 hour -- $85

Fees are subject to change. Please confirm fee rate when scheduling an appointment.

Important to Know:

Academic Coaching is not therapy nor is it intended to substitute for needed mental health services. If your child has a psychiatric diagnosis or is under the care of a mental health professional, it is essential that you make us aware of it. The information that you provide will assist us in customizing our coaching plan to better meet your child’s needs. If during the coaching process we determine that your child may have psychological or emotional issues that are impairing his academic achievement, we will make you aware of our concerns and the possible need and benefit of obtaining mental health services for your child.

A Note to Students, from Darlene (Program Director):

School is a common experience for each one of us. We are in the classroom 181 days a year for a minimum of 12 years. That gives us 2,172 opportunities to achieve our personal best! But how?

Each one of us learns differently. The concept of Academic Coaching is based on "learning how to learn." Once understood, simple strategies are designed to support your learning style. These strategies can be applied to any new learning experience, whether it’s in school or on the job.

With your commitment to apply self-motivation and self-discipline, the Academic Coaching sessions can begin. The process is fast and effective. Change a few study habits. Apply your learning strategies. You too can achieve success.

Let’s get started. First, we collect some general school information through an interview, and review your report cards and standardized tests. Next, we identify your educational goals. Then by applying the concept of "chunking," we break each goal down into manageable and measurable parts. Sound like fun? Actually, being successful is fun!

Learning how to learn and study is not a passive experience. I am the coach and you are the player. As the player you must perform what you have learned, what is needed to succeed. Through academic coaching you will learn the following skills:

• Self-Motivation: how to be a self-starter in doing your work
• Organization: find what you need when you need it and hand in completed work on time
• Time Management: take care of your work and responsibilities and have time left over for fun
• Memory Power: improve your memory so that studying for a test is easier and you get better grades
• Study Skills: gather study materials, separate what you know from what you don’t know, and actively study for the specific type of test you are taking
• Test-Taking Skills: know strategies that will improve your comfort and confidence in taking tests

Instead of falling asleep when you do your homework, stay awake and be productive with Active Study Habits in reading, writing and math. Academic Coaching targets the areas you need to improve in to reach your potential. Learn how to use your time wisely, how to problem solve learning issues, how to actively learn in the classroom, how to get homework done on time, and how to make studying for tests take less effort.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment for your child, please contact Darlene Newberry at (973) 770-7600 ext. 3.

The 1-2-3 Succeed Planner:

Bernard Ivin, director of Strength for Change, is the creator of the 1-2-3 Succeed Planner, a student planner that provides students with a complete system for managing their assignments, grades, and school materials. In addition, the 1-2-3 Succeed Planner comes with a complete program for helping students maximize and achieve their academic potential. This program comes from twenty years of counseling experience working with hundreds of students, parents, and educators. For more information about the 1-2-3 Succeed Planner, please visit 1-2-3succeed.com.