Commonly Asked Questions

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How do you assess where a student is academically when they first begin working with your coaches?

ELS coaches use a variety of methods to assess students. We most often begin by reviewing testing and IEPs and collecting observations and data from the parents, the student, and their other providers. Very often, that is enough and then we may provide mini academic assessments as we go. However, if more data is needed, executive functioning surveys or an informal academic assessment may be given.

Everything we do is tailored to the individual student. If the kids are capable of setting their own goals right off the bat, we encourage that. If not, we use the collected data to set them together.

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What kind of strategies or tools do you use to identify their specific needs and then track their progress?

The strategies we use also vary based on the student's individual needs and learning profile. I create new ones constantly, as do the members of my team.

If we are working with a student intensively on a subject, so like remedial reading or math, we use checkpoints to assess growth, but we also have their school performance which shows a lot.

EF growth, study skills, and overall growth as a learner is demonstrated by their school performance as well.

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My child is already overwhelmed with their schoolwork. Do you give students a lot of extra work when you work with them?

During the school year, we embed all supports and strategies into a student’s regular school- and every-day tasks as to not add to their work load too much and to help them see these new strategies as applicable to their real life needs. For many of our kids, the addition of a strategy on its own feels like a whole lot of extra work.

When students are not assigned schoolwork, however, academic coaches may give students small assignments to provide them an opportunity to practice what is being taught in sessions.

Practice tasks or homework may also be assigned during summer sessions for the same reason. (As we all know, practice makes better!)