SOS4Students
Community SubscriberAcademic Coaching Support for tween, teens and college students
We specialize in executive functioning skills by offering support through 1:1 sessions, workshops, parent coaching, and so much more.
Visit SOS4Students.com to learn how we can help your student today!
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.We are in a similar situation with our high school sophomore, although she was diagnosed as far back as elementary school. Having an IEP/504 is a big help. We also started her with an academic coach, Beth at SOS4students.com, last fall. It was 6 weeks of sessions first, then we continued it on a week by week basis. The emphasis is on learning skills, by using examples of specific assignments. We have family friends with an ADHD kid who swear by Beth. Our daughter's progress is a bit slower, but these things take time, and it has helped. It's not cheap though.
One thing about it is that the coach puts the responsibility on the child to learn skills and make progress, and parents are asked to let the kid manage their own homework. That was hard at first for us parents, but at this stage, it's exactly the skill that teens need to learn, even if they fail sometimes. And as you say, most teens aren't interested in their parents advice or want them as accountability partners.
Hi,
check out SOS4Students. https://www.sos4students.com/. They do inperson and online courses. Our developmental pediatrician highly recommended this place.
Our 20yr old, with a similar history, is a junior in college and working with an executive function coach from SOS 4 Students. It has helped greatly, particularly with remote learning, and allowed me to not be involved at all. https://www.sos4students.com/
You didn't mention if your child is in a social group, getting social group therapy and/or individual therapy, but you may want to check out Sue Diamond. Since your child has been homeschooled, your son may benefit by social group therapy. Sue is an amazing professional and has been conducting groups via zoom during the pandemic.
Additionally, have you checked SOS for students in Montclair? Beth Samuelson runs a fantastic program to help with executive functioning and balancing workloads.
We could not have done it without Sue and Beth!
Good Luck!!
Try Nancy Chin nancy [at] stepbystep4success.com (510) 384-1909 or SOS 4 Students (510) 531-4767
I work at Orinda Academy and we have SOS on campus to work with students with executive functioning weaknesses--they come to our school and I've heard positive things about Beth Samuelson. Nancy Chin has come by and left materials as well. She does 9 week-12 week programs in Oakland and Walnut Creek.
Here's the link to SOS summer programs (being held at Orinda Academy)-you can contact Beth at (beth [at] sos4students.com (beth[at]sos4students[dot]com))
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Dec 2011
RE: Need organization/study skills coach for 14 yr old son asap
My son worked with Nick at SOS http://www.sos4students.com/, and he was fantastic. He really understood my son and his organizational challenges, but pushed him to do his best. I highly recommend the company. Carrie
July 2011
RE: Evaluation for daughter with executive function issues
My son also has executive function disorder. We had him tested in 8th grade, and he has no other disability. He is also very bright, but was struggling with every aspect of school organization. The best thing we ever did was get him involved with Student Organizational Services, based in Walnut Creek. Beth Samuelson, the founder and director, absolutely changed my son's life. SOS offers a fabulous weekend seminar, ''Nailing Ninth Grade'', which addresses the very issues you mentioned. The seminars fill up quickly though, and if you have missed them for this summer, I highly recommend the one-on-one coaching. My son worked with Beth throughout high school, and developed all the skills necessary to succeed in college. He just completed his freshman year with flying colors. Check them out: www.sos4students.com. Good luck! SOS fan
June 2010
RE: Educational Consultant for help with 14yo's organization
I would suggest Student Organizational Services (sos4students.com). They do a very good job with our students at Orinda Academy with organization, study skills, time management, test taking etc. They also have a preparation for high school program at the end of the summer. Orinda Academy (www.orindaacademy.org) also provides a high school prep program at summer school and an excellent program in the fall for students who learn differently. Ron
Jan 2009
RE: Organizational tutor for 13 year old boy
Try www.sos4students and see if Student Organizational Services has what you need. Beth Samuelson, who runs it, has lots of experience in dealing with exactly what you are describing. They have workshops and individual tutoring. You can call them and see what they think would be best for your son. Good luck! Debbie
June 2007
RE: Summer help for disorganized teen
You might want to look into SOS (Student Organizational Services). They have workshops (in Orinda and Berkeley) and individual coaching to help students navigate the increased workload and expectations of middle school and high school. I have heard their director, Beth Samuelson, speak a couple of times and think she is very good. Their website is www.sos4students.com. Julie
Oct 2006
RE: Honors student can't stay focused on homework
My son has benefited enormously from the programs at Student Organizational Services (www.SOS4Students.com). They are located in Walnut Creek, but work with students from all over the Bay Area. My son took ''Nailing Ninth Grade'', a fantastic 2-day summer workshop designed to help kids prepare organizationally for high school. SOS has many other programs, and also offers one-on-one coaching, and study space consultations (where someone comes to your home and evaluates the student's study area). The coaching service is very popular, and has a long waiting list. The workshops fill quickly as well. The SOS staff is hip and great with teens, plus they know their stuff. They have fabulous ideas for kids and parents about organization and time management. I can't recommend them highly enough! Good luck Another Ninth Grade Mom
We looked at that program but it seemed crazily expensive - Classroom Matters does an EF program for teens and their parents that we attended and it was pretty helpful, but my teen did not have big EF challenges or need anything in-depth - but they may also do one on one work or be able to refer you to something a bit less costly. Good luck!
My now college graduate child saw Beth, the owner of SOS 4 Students, for 6-9 months in his senior year of HS. It was a definite game-changer. No one else had really been able to help him with his EF challenges, and near school avoidance. I cannot vouch for anyone else that works there, but Beth is truly amazing.
My son really had a solid relationship with his EF coach through SOS. It was good for him to have someone other than his parents supporting him and cheering him on. And I will say it was quite expensive, part of why we stopped, the cost didn't outweigh the benefits. He still wouldn't do the things to stay on task and organized.
We have family friends who loved SOS4 - their son with mild ADHD was really helped by the program. We started our daughter with ADHD on the 6-week introductory session, and continued weekly hourlong visits after that. To be clear, it's strictly academic coaching as opposed to therapy or psychological counseling. It is somewhat expensive, but I think it's been helpful. Our daughter has learned good academic skills, and is making progress towards managing her workload and budgeting her time.