What Happens During an Academic Coaching Session?
A student can be perfectly capable of doing advanced academic work and still struggle with managing it. They may procrastinate on large assignments, underestimate how long work will take, have trouble keeping track of deadlines, or spend hours studying without getting results that match their effort.
These are the kinds of challenges academic coaching is designed to address. At Hodis Learning & Music, academic coaching provides individualized instruction in the skills and systems students need to manage their academic responsibilities more effectively and independently.
What Is Academic Coaching?
Academic coaching focuses on the skills behind successful learning and academic management. Depending on the student’s needs, coaching may address:
- Time management and planning
- Organization
- Procrastination and task initiation
- Breaking large assignments into manageable steps
- Study strategies and test preparation
- Note-taking
- Prioritizing competing responsibilities
- Managing long-term projects
HLM begins with an informal assessment of the student’s current academic performance and functioning. This helps the coach identify what is already working, where problems repeatedly occur, and which skills should be prioritized.
How Is Academic Coaching Different From Tutoring?
Traditional tutoring primarily focuses on helping students understand academic content. A student struggling with calculus, chemistry, writing, or another subject may need a tutor who can teach that material.
Academic coaching focuses instead on how the student manages their academic life. For example, a student may understand the material in their classes but struggle to start assignments on time, plan for exams, organize their workload, or study effectively.
Coaching also isn’t simply accountability or having another adult keep track of a student’s deadlines. The goal is to teach students strategies they can eventually use independently.
Who Is Academic Coaching For?
HLM’s academic coaching program is specifically designed for high school seniors, college students, and graduate students.
At these stages, students are expected to manage much of their academic lives independently. Assignments and projects may stretch across weeks or months, exams require advance preparation, and students may be balancing school with jobs, internships, research, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities.
For younger K–12 students who need help with organization, planning, time management, study skills, or other executive functioning skills, HLM generally addresses those needs through executive-functioning-focused tutoring.
What Happens During Academic Coaching?
Academic coaching combines direct instruction with practical application. A coach doesn’t simply tell a student to “manage your time better” or “study more.” Instead, the coach teaches specific strategies and helps the student learn how to use them.
Students also practice these skills using their actual academic responsibilities. A student learning how to break down long-term assignments might create a plan for an upcoming research paper. A student working on time management might organize their schedule for the week. Someone developing better study strategies might practice using material from an upcoming exam.
Sessions can also include reviewing strategies introduced previously. If a planning system isn’t working, for example, the coach and student can identify why and adjust it. As students become more comfortable using a skill independently, the amount of guidance they need can gradually decrease.
How Long Does Academic Coaching Last?
HLM’s academic coaching program typically lasts 10–20 sessions, although the exact length depends on the student’s needs and progress.
Academic coaching isn’t intended to continue indefinitely. The goal is for students to leave the program with practical systems they understand, have practiced, and can continue using independently.
Is Academic Coaching the Right Fit?
Academic coaching may be a good fit for a high school senior, college student, or graduate student who is academically capable but repeatedly struggles with the management of school.
At Hodis Learning & Music, we identify the student’s individual needs, provide direct instruction in the skills that need development, and give students opportunities to practice those skills using their real academic responsibilities. Ultimately, the goal is to help students become more effective and independent in managing their academic lives.
If you’re wondering whether academic coaching would be a good fit for you or your student, call Hodis Learning & Music at (626) 227-1149 or submit a contact form on our website to discuss our academic coaching program.
