Student Success
Coaching
Reimagining student success
through executive function strategies
Sarah Zeilstra M.Ed.
Certified Executive Function Coach
Are you a parent of a student who works hard but still isn't reaching their potential?
Or a parent of a student feeling constantly overwhelmed with school, leaving things till the last minute or struggling to get started?
Are you ready to start this school year with less overwhelm, less stress, and a more independent student?
Join me for 4 weekly in-person coaching sessions to build the Executive Function skills needed to manage school, reduce overwhelm, and build independence.
What is Student Success Academy?
Overwhelm to Organized is a 4-week program for Grade 11, 12 and first year college and university students. We build executive function skills step by step: organizing assignments, managing time, building routines, and reducing overwhelm.
Working from real course outlines, each student builds their own semester plan and a personal system for keeping track of it all. The program is a small cohort, practical, and designed ot help students move towards more academic independence.
If this sounds like what you or your family needs, check out the details and register at the link below.
"We have observed clear improvements in our son's ability to manage his time, stay organized, and meet school deadlines with minimal prompting from us. His planning and organizational skills have noticeably improved. Honestly, this experience has been a tremendous relief for me, allowing me to focus on my work and nurture my relationship with my son instead of constantly discussing what he has or hasn’t accomplished. I'm continually amazed by how much Sarah and my son achieve during each session! I highly recommend working with Sarah. She is wonderful, and we are very grateful for her support!"
S.A. Parent
What is Student Success Coaching?
Student Success Coaching is a transformative, strengths-based approach, empowering students to excel in school and beyond. Personalized coaching sessions are designed to equip students with practical executive function strategies tailored to their unique needs.
From mastering organization and prioritization, to honing time management and communication skills, Student Success Coaching provides the tools and supports students need to thrive, helping them overcome overwhelm, navigate homework and school life, and develop a growth mindset, fostering resilience and confidence.
What is Executive Function?
Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that help students plan ahead, stay organized, manage thoughts and behaviours, and stay focused on tasks.
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The pre-frontal cortex part of the brain responsible for these skills, continues to develop to 25 years of age. These skills affect everything from time management, organization, prioritization, and emotional control.
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Challenges with executive function skills can deeply impact students success, especially for students with anxiety, ADHD, ADD, ASD and other learning challenges. The good news is, through practical strategies, executive function skills can be strengthened, and improving them can help increase independence and improve self-confidence.
"Executive function is a quality of life issue"
Seth Perler - Executive Function, ADHD, & 2e Coach
Hello & welcome
I'm Sarah Zeilstra,
executive function coach, professor, speaker, and small win seeker. I help students develop internal accountability and build academic independence.
A teacher, academic advisor, and student advocate for 28+ years, I have coached students in implementing transformative strategies to increase their executive function skills, and academic success.
I’m a lifelong learner at heart and a true believer that mindset develops skillset with a deep passion for coaching students in maximising their potential.
The Coaching Process... how it works
5 Stages to Student Success
Free
Consultation
Intake
Process
Coaching
Sessions
Parent/Family
Meetings
Independence
Free
Consultation
The free consultation is an opportunity to learn more about the transformation you would like to see occur through working with an executive function coach, as well as an opportunity to share more about the process to support your goals. Through a series of questions, we will collaboratively identify if we are a “right fit” for each other.
Intake
Process
During the intake process, we evaluate your student’s current executive function skills to establish a baseline by which we will measure progress. The initial assessment session covers: data collection on your students EF skills, a review of any assessment, IEP, or other documents, initial consultations with teachers & other health professionals.
Coaching
Sessions
The weekly coaching sessions prioritize building relationships & establishing a connection with students that enable them to strengthen their EF skills. Using transformative strategies customized to each students unique needs and goals we address executive FUNCTION skills: Focus & Attention, Unique Prioritization, Navigation Planning, Cognitive Flexibility, Time Management, Initiation of Tasks, Organization, Nurture-Self Regulation.
Parent/Family
Meeting
The Parent/Family Meeting is an opportunity for parents/family to meet & engage in the coaching process, including celebrating the wins, and identifying adjusted new goals.
Independence
Phase out is approached incrementally with the goal of helping the student take ownership of their developing EF skills while reducing the intensity of our intervention to allow independent practice. Essentially moving from external accountability to intrinsic accountability. This could be reducing to bi-weekly meetings, then deciding an end of service date. A minimum of 6 months or an academic semester of coaching is recommended to fully integrate and apply executive FUNCTION skills with guidance.
Free Consultation
This free 30 minute consultation is an opportunity to learn more about the transformation you would like to see occur through working with an executive function coach.
We can explore how this personalized coaching program can equip you with transformative strategies and tools needed to manage your workload and support you on your journey to success.