Supporting students, regardless of location.

Executive function (or EF) skills include planning, organization, time management, focused attention, impulse control, task initiation, flexibility, emotional regulation, verbal and working memory, problem-solving, and metacognition. These skills are hosted in the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, attention, behavior, and emotion. (When people talk about our brains not fully developing until our mid- to late-twenties, this is the part of the brain they’re referring to.) In more tangible terms, these are the skills that help us maintain routines, prevent procrastination, and get out the door on time (among other things).

Many people develop these skills in their teens, but sometimes the skills don’t come naturally to everyone. People who have learning challenges like ADHD and dyslexia, those who struggle with anxiety or depression, and many others with no official diagnoses, often need to be taught these skills. With practice, everyone is capable of learning them.

That’s where we come in!

While traditional tutoring aims to improve understanding and performance in specific subject areas, executive function coaching targets the skills necessary for effective learning across all subjects. Untapped’s mentors empower students to understand their own learning processes, develop strategies for overcoming obstacles, and build self-regulation skills. We like to say that we approach executive function skill development through an academic perspective, but our focus is on the cognitive processes behind successful learning. Planning, organizing, etc. through the lens of school provides consistent, tangible ways for mentors and students to recognize and practice these skills. This approach typically facilitates immediate academic improvement, but more importantly, it fosters long-term resilience and adaptability, equipping students with the skills to tackle new challenges on their own.

At the end of the day, we’re less focused on GPA and more focused on increasing independence and building confidence so our students are successful in and beyond school.

Our remote middle and high school students meet with their mentors twice a week for 30-minute sessions. These shorter meetings help students stay engaged and focused.

Regardless of student age or location, mentors reach out throughout the week to check in on progress, help problem-solve any situations that may arise, and provide supportive accountability from a non-parent, non-teacher perspective.

The first of the two sessions typically focuses on creating a plan for the week that includes any assignments the student needs to complete, extracurricular activities, appointments, etc. The plan also includes big tests and due dates, and the mentor will help the student break down those projects, essays, or tests into smaller, more manageable tasks; the resulting essay-writing breakdowns and study schedules set the student up for success.

The second session of the week is designed for the mentor and student to reflect on what’s going well in the week as well as what’s been challenging. This time is spent adjusting the weekly plan, problem-solving, and driving task initiation for any assignments a student has potentially been avoiding.

Our remote sessions require a stable internet connection, a computer (ideally with camera and video call capabilities), and a quiet environment. Mentors and students typically hold sessions via Google Meet and often collaborate by sharing their screens, so we ask students to close nonessential tabs on their end—helping them to stay focused while also preventing lagging or delays caused by computer or network overload.

After witnessing the trials and tribulations of “remote learning” in the COVID era, some parents may be hesitant when it comes to students focusing in virtual environments. Trust us, we get it! The shorter, remote meetings make it easier to stay focused, and our mentors often have students “drive” their own sessions by sharing their screens as they scour portals and teacher websites to create the weekly plan together (thus removing some of the temptation to have other tabs open or additional distractions pulled up). Between the one-on-one sessions and the individualized approach mentors take with each student, we find students are receptive and open to help! After all, our goal is to help students develop executive function skills so they stay on top of schoolwork, minimize anxiety, and ideally have more time to do the things they love!