Academic Coaching Model

The goals of our Academic Coaching Model are to help students gain greater ownership over their learning through attention to the principles of self-awareness and self-advocacy, and through regular work on daily academic behaviors. Our model leads students toward greater independence in learning while providing appropriate, individualized support for each student. Students who enroll in Learning Center services begin by meeting three times per week with their personal academic coach in 1:1 sessions.

All students who are enrolled in the Learning Center receive regular, weekly feedback from each of their teachers. These updates are written to the student, and they help our students take ownership for their academic work from the outset. Each student's family, Academic Coach, advisor, dorm parents, other teachers also receive the updates. This piece of the  Academic Coaching Model provides for transparency in communication and quick feedback for all those working with Learning Center students. Weekly updates help our Academic Coaches develop a plan for each student's week.

Our all-school network platform provides students, families, and teachers with "live" digital calendars of each student's progress in every course, including grades, homework assignments, upcoming tests and projects, and conduct reports. It is an incredible resource.

When students demonstrate a pattern of success at one level of the Academic Coaching Model they are encouraged to move on to lesser support structures. In his or her time at White Mountain, a student may move from meeting with a coach three times per week in 1:1 sessions, to joining a small group skills development class in our Academic Skills Program.