The Coach

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. — Albert Einstein

The role of the Coach is extremely important in a cognitive first approach. A student’s activity can be monitored in their lab work or by their parents when they are working at home. In addition, each student can have a one-on-one meeting with a coach each week during the twelve weeks of their brain skill development exercise program. This provides a much needed time for instruction in a character trait and for a review of the student’s progress. Meetings are typically 15 to 30 minutes long. During that time, coaches can have administrative access to observe a student at any level or degree of difficulty in a particular exercise and can encourage and guide their progress.

The entire online program is self-directed by the student so the primary importance of a coach is relational — showing the student that someone cares about them and their success — and reminding them each week that the new thinking and reasoning skills they are gaining can open unbelievable doors to a brighter future. A comprehensive brain training program is designed to be both engaging and challenging. Making progress means the student will struggle at times to reach the next level. As they do, it is important to have the character qualities of respect, determination, dependability, diligence, responsibility, attention, and confidence reenforced and related to the cognitive skills work they are doing.

Coaching a sport can be gratifying. There you may coach athletes who become “game-changers”. Being a coach for a student who takes their learning skills to the next level — that’s even better — as a coach you have become a “life-changer!”