Academic Coaching
Your teen is capable. They just need the right tools and support to show it.
End the overwhelm and frustration and help your teen build the skills, confidence, and independence they need for high school, college and life.
I help high school and college students who are overwhelmed, frustrated or stuck get clear about their goals, what is stopping them, and how to move forward. Action comes from clarity, and as they get clear, motivation increases. During the course of the 12- week Foundations Program, students grow in self-awareness, habits and skill, allowing them to graduate with:
- less tension and stress
- more confidence and independence
- the skills in place needed for the next step in their education
I draw on my decades of experience as a classroom teacher, a writing teacher and a life-coach to meet each student where they are at, so that school and learning become meaningful and they can gets results in a way that works for them.
Your Teen is Capable – But School Doesn’t Show It
If you’re here, chances are your teen is bright and capable but struggling to keep up. You may have a child who:
- Forgets assignments or misses deadlines, even when they know the material.
- Gets overwhelmed by big projects and doesn’t know how to start.
- Struggles with reading or writing that takes much longer than it should.
- Has ADHD, ADD, or dyslexia that makes focus, organization, or schoolwork harder.
- Spends hours on homework, but still falls behind, or is starting to avoid it all.
And meanwhile, you may be:
- Feeling like the “homework police” every night.
- Worrying that they seem unhappy or unlike themself, but not knowing what to do.
- Wondering how they’ll ever be ready for college if things don’t change.
Students Who Learn Differently
I’ve spent over two and a half decades teaching in classrooms, groups and private sessions, and I’ve worked with students who learn differently—including those with ADHD, ADD, and dyslexia. I know the frustration of watching a capable teen get labeled as “lazy” or “unmotivated,” when really, they just need the right support and strategies.
My approach combines executive function coaching, academic skill-building, and confidence-building so your teen can:
- Break down assignments into manageable steps
- Learn systems to stay organized and on top of deadlines
- Develop study habits and strategies that actually work for their learning style
- Express themselves in writing
- Fill in missing gaps in learning and instruction
- Set goals and track progress
- Begin to feel more capable, independent, and confident
What to Expect?
The Foundations Program is a 12-week program that offers structure and support in one-on-one sessions so that each student moves forward more quickly, and with more learning, than they would be able to on their own. My focus with them is broken into 3 stages:
1. Set goals and meet immediate needs:
Discuss what is working and what isn’t working and set clear goals. Begin with any tasks that are causing high-level stress or urgency.
2. Create a foundation of efficient routines and habits:
Develop systems that are sustainable and lead to consistent results.
3. Shift the responsibility to the student, moving toward independence:
The students steps into full responsibility with continued accountability and support in place to make sure questions are answered and problems are solved so that nothing derails the forward momentum.
The First Step
Contact Sarah for a conversation about your teen’s challenges and goals and to find out more about the Foundations Program.
What Parents Say
- Sarah has met our daughter’s needs as they have changed and evolved. From being a home schooler to a college student. Sarah has nurtured a love of learning, helped her connect to her creative vitality and taught with very practical essay writing and executive functioning skills. She is amazing and we are so grateful to have her be a part of our lives.” – Jen Ohno, Portland Parent
- “I can’t thank you enough for how much support and help you have given me with writing and just school in general. Working with you has been such a blessing and I can’t wait to work more with you this year. I appreciate everything you’ve done. Thank you so much again!” – Max, Portland 12th grader
- “Our relatives and friends all know about Sarah. We talk about her anytime they ask how the boys are doing because she has been that important in our lives. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without her.” – Julia Youst, Portland Mom
I’ll meet you where the rubber meets the road. With guidance, structure and skills, your child will soon be in the driver’s seat of their life.
