Academic & Executive Function Coaching for Grades 8–12
Helping capable students manage school independently—so parents can step back with confidence
Many middle and high school students understand their coursework but struggle to manage the process of school on their own. Assignments are missed or rushed, projects pile up and parents end up monitoring portals, reminding and supervising most evenings.
Academic & Executive Function Coaching is designed for students who are capable—but not yet managing increasing academic demands independently.
The goal is simple and practical:
help students take responsibility for their schoolwork so parents no longer have to manage it for them.
Is This Your Teen?
Parents often reach out because:
- Their student understands the material but misses, rushes or underperforms on assignments
- Homework requires constant reminders or last-minute supervision
- Parents feel responsible for checking portals, tracking deadlines or catching missing work
- Evenings are spent arguing about work rather than reviewing learning
- Long-term projects regularly become late-night or last-day crises
If this sounds familiar, Academic and Executive Function Coaching may be an appropriate next step.
A diagnosis or academic crisis is not required. Many students simply need guided support as expectations increase faster than organizational skills naturally develop.
What This Service Focuses On
This is not tutoring. Instead, coaching focuses on helping students manage school effectively using their real assignments, schedules and school platforms.
Support typically addresses three overlapping areas:
1. Academic Coaching: Core Academic Skills
In Academic Coaching, students build foundational skills that support consistent performance across subjects. Instruction is practical, applied and grounded in students’ current coursework, helping them understand expectations and show what they truly know.
Students learn to accurately interpret assignments, understand exactly what teachers are asking for and match their effort to expectations. This reduces rushed work, incomplete submissions and unnecessary mistakes.
Students develop skills in:
Writing
- Understanding assignment expectations
- Developing clear theses and organized paragraphs
- Breaking writing into planning, drafting and revision stages
- Revising for clarity, structure and accuracy
Active Reading
- Reading with purpose and strong comprehension
- Annotating and summarizing effectively
- Retaining information for discussion, writing and assessments
Study Skills
- Knowing how to study for different types of assessments
- Using active recall, self-testing and spaced review
- Preparing efficiently rather than cramming
Note-Taking
- Identifying key ideas instead of copying verbatim
- Using structured note formats
- Creating notes that can be used directly for studying
Together, these skills improve accuracy, reduce last-minute stress and help students consistently produce work that reflects their true understanding.
2. Executive Function Coaching: Reliable Systems
Executive Function Coaching focuses on building systems that make school more manageable and predictable.
Through coaching, students learn to:
- Track assignments and deadlines accurately so nothing slips through the cracks
- Plan when to start work rather than reacting at the last minute
- Break large or overwhelming projects into clear, manageable steps
- Organize materials and digital platforms so work is not lost or forgotten
For parents, this often means fewer nightly reminders, fewer portal checks and fewer last-minute crises. Students begin to follow through on their responsibilities independently using systems they understand and can maintain.
3. High School Planning & Balance: Sustainable Progress
As academic expectations increase, coaching helps students keep pace without becoming overwhelmed.
Support focuses on helping students:
- Manage increasing course demands across high school
- Balance academics with activities, responsibilities and downtime
- Build habits that support steady progress rather than short bursts of effort
- Pace themselves to avoid burnout and chronic stress
Rather than pushing for constant intensity, coaching emphasizes consistency and sustainability. The focus can shift over time as students mature, ensuring support evolves alongside changing expectations.
What Parents Notice Changing
Over time, families often report:
- Fewer reminders and less daily oversight
- More predictable routines and fewer surprises
- A student who can explain their plan and deadlines
- Less conflict around schoolwork
- Greater confidence stepping back without worrying things will fall apart
The goal is not perfection—it’s growing independence.
How Coaching Works
- Weekly 60-minute online sessions
- Sessions focus on current assignments, deadlines and school platforms
- Strategies are practiced during sessions—not assigned as theory
- Systems are reviewed and adjusted as demands change
- Monthly written updates keep parents informed without daily involvement
- Parents may join sessions as needed
Coaching may focus on one, two or all three areas depending on your student’s needs.
What To Expect From The Start
In the first session, I assess how your student currently manages school and identify where breakdowns occur.
We then:
- Build rapport and engagement
- Identify academic stress points
- Establish an executive function baseline
- Review assignments and platforms in real time
- Choose 1–3 realistic starting goals
- Practice a small, workable strategy right away
- Clarify expectations with parents
Progress begins immediately and builds through guided practice.
Why These Skills Matter for College (Without Pressure)
Colleges evaluate applicants holistically, looking for patterns that show a student can manage increasing responsibility over time.
Rather than reacting to individual assignments or activities, coaching helps students develop consistent academic habits that support:
- Grades and course rigor
- Teacher recommendations
- Follow-through with activities
- Sustainable workload management
These habits matter long before applications are submitted—and support success well beyond high school.
Who This Service Is Most Helpful For
Academic & Executive Function Coaching is designed for students in Grades 8–12 who:
- Are capable but inconsistent
- Avoid or delay challenging tasks
- Struggle with organization, planning or follow-through
- Rely heavily on parent oversight to keep school on track
This service is especially helpful during transitions—into high school, increasing course rigor or rising independence expectations.
My Approach
I’m Dale Koplik, M.Ed., an Independent Educational Consultant and Certified K–12 School Counselor.
I work through a developmental lens, recognizing that organization, planning and follow-through skills develop over time and improve with guided practice—not pressure.
Sessions focus on clear, workable systems that fit how your student already manages school, so strategies are realistic and sustainable.
The goal is steady progress and increasing independence—so parents can step back knowing their student has tools that work.
Ready to Talk About Your Student’s Needs?
If you’re unsure whether coaching is the right fit, a consultation can help clarify next steps.
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