Success Coaching helps students gain the skills they need to become self-efficient, independent learners. Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School ensures that college is preparatory and has written a Success Coaching Playbook to train teachers to help students learn academic skills.

What is Success Coaching?

Success Coaching is an approach individualized program. It is similar to tutoring and goes beyond tutoring. For example, a tutor might work with someone who is generally a good student but is struggling with one subject or preparing for a particular test. A coach, on the other hand, would work with someone struggling in most of their classes. Or, the tutor may help the student complete their homework on time, while a coach helps the student learn how to prioritize homework and develop study skills. All ensure that the student is successful no matter what challenges they face.

Why does Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School believe Success Coaching is Important?

Success Coaching helps students reach their full academic potential in much the same way that sports coaches help athletes achieve. Almost all students can benefit from success coaching, although those who are neurodiverse or have a learning disability or have poor study habits will benefit the most. For example, they may need help starting work, remaining focused, or managing their time. Or, they may study for hours but fail to retain any information. success coaching can help students develop strategies and find resources to improve their study habits to grow academically.

An excellent success coach identifies the student’s strengths and weaknesses. They also provide guidance and encouragement as the students develop their needed skills. They work with them to develop strategies for prioritizing their work, organizing their study space, managing time, and mastering the material. Through success coaching, students can become effective lifelong learners.

Because success coaching focuses on developing skills for success, it also benefits students in other aspects of their lives. Once students learn to organize their study space, they can apply that skill to decluttering their closets or the garage. Once they know how to manage study roadblocks, they can apply this knowledge to managing other challenges in life. The student can use the same skills to plan and prioritize their job tasks as they did to plan and prioritize their study tasks.