Executive Function Explained

High School
Coaching
(9th-12th Grade)

Building Independence, Accountability, and Skills for What’s Next

High school is where expectations rise — quickly.

Students are expected to manage:

  • Heavier workloads

  • Long-term assignments

  • Multiple teachers and deadlines

  • Increased independence

  • Growing pressure about the future

Many capable students struggle not because they can’t do the work, but because they haven’t yet developed the executive function skills needed to manage it all.

At Positive Learning, we support high school students as they learn to manage themselves — with structure, guidance, and realistic expectations.

Is Coaching Right for Your Child?

Coaching may be a great fit if your teen:

  • Procrastinates or waits until the last minute

  • Struggles with time management, planning, or organization

  • Has difficulty getting started or following through

  • Feels overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out

  • Is intelligent and capable but inconsistent

  • Relies heavily on parents to stay on track

Coaching helps students build skills before stress, pressure, and self-doubt take over.

High school coaching is about building skills for independence — not micromanagement.

Common areas of focus include:

Executive Function Skills

  • Planning and prioritizing

  • Time management and workload balance

  • Task initiation and follow-through

  • Organization systems that actually work

  • Flexible thinking when plans change

Independence & Accountability

  • Learning to take ownership of responsibilities

  • Understanding expectations and deadlines

  • Building routines that support consistency

  • Practicing self-advocacy with teachers and adults

Self-Awareness & Regulation

  • Recognizing stress, energy levels, and burnout

  • Managing anxiety around school demands

  • Learning how to reset when overwhelmed

  • Reframing negative self-talk

What Coaching Looks Like at This Age

Coaching sessions are:

  • Collaborative and student-centered

  • Structured, but not rigid

  • Focused on real academic demands

  • Strength-based and non-judgmental

We work directly with students to problem-solve current challenges while helping them build systems they can eventually manage on their own.

This is not tutoring and not therapy.

Coaching focuses on skills, strategies, and long-term growth.

Monthly Investment Options

Part Time Individual Coaching - $375/month

  • Introductory Coaching Session (one-time)

  • Three 25 minute monthly individual coaching sessions (Zoom)

  • One 15 minute check in for client/parent (Zoom or phone call)

  • Weekly Client/Parent collaboration

  • Light email support

  • Optional School & Support Team Collaboration Add-On

Full Time Individual Coaching - $525/month

  • Introductory Coaching Session (one-time)

  • Three 50 minute monthly individual coaching sessions (Zoom)

  • One 15 minute check in for client/parent (Zoom or phone call)

  • Weekly Client/Parent collaboration

  • Light email support

  • Optional School & Support Team Collaboration Add-On

Optional School & Support Team Collaboration Add-On - $100/month

  • This optional add-on allows your coach to collaborate directly with teachers, school staff, therapists, physicians, or other members of your student's support team.

    Examples include:

    • Teacher communication

    • School questionnaires

    • IEP/504 collaboration

    • Support team communication

    • Advocacy and consistency across environments

Meet The Coaches

Need more than weekly coaching?

For some students, meaningful growth happens with support beyond a once-a-week session.

Signature Coaching offers additional accountability, multiple points of contact throughout the week, and enhanced collaboration with families.

Learn More About Signature Coaching →

Why Families Choose Positive Learning

Families choose to work with Positive Learning during the high school years because our coaching is designed to support both independence and accountability.

Our approach is:

  • Strength-based, not pressure-driven
    We don’t rely on fear, consequences, or constant reminders. We focus on helping students understand how their brain works and how to use that knowledge to their advantage.

  • Built around executive function skills for real life
    Coaching targets the skills high schoolers need most: planning, time management, task initiation, organization, follow-through, and flexible thinking — all within the context of real academic demands.

  • Focused on independence, not dependence
    Sessions are structured to help students take increasing ownership of their responsibilities while still receiving appropriate support.

  • Supportive of parent–teen dynamics
    We help families shift out of power struggles by clarifying expectations, roles, and communication — so parents can step back while teens step forward.

  • Practical and relevant
    Coaching focuses on current classes, assignments, deadlines, and responsibilities — not abstract strategies that don’t translate to daily life.

  • Oriented toward life beyond high school
    Whether students are headed to college, work, or another path, coaching builds skills they’ll need long after graduation.

Students aren’t micromanaged or shamed.

They’re supported as they learn to manage themselves, advocate for their needs, and follow through with confidence.