The most important gift that Helaina has given my children is her appreciation of not only who they are as students, but who they are as people. This has an amazing and everlasting effect on them because she helped them become confident and capable. She has been a role model, life coach, and academic advisor Her ability to really understand them, outside of their learning profile, is part of her success. She not only guides them but she has supported us as parents as well, to better understand them holistically, and in turn to become stronger and more educated advocates for them.
-Marnie R.
Englewood, NJ
Children don’t always get what they need from the classroom, and as a parent, sometimes it’s hard to know how to help. This is why I called Helaina. She truly understands children and the stresses that can sometimes inhibit their success. Helaina is an exceptional educator and coach who worked with me on goals for my daughter at the start of each year that she helps her reach, ranging from valuable organizational skills to becoming a more mature writer and student.
Helaina brings a sense of calm to the chaos that kids feel about school. She helps them cut big ideas into smaller parts and relieves their panic. When my own assistance is ineffective, Helaina takes control, and guides my daughter through the process with the ease and polish of an experienced professional.
-Heidi L.
Englewood, NJ
My son was in academic crisis! He couldn’t organize himself well enough to bring home his homework, let alone execute a project. He was frustrated and worried about his homework every day. My husband and I had no idea how to help him, short of doing his work for him. Approximately mid-school year we turned to Helaina for help.
Within weeks, our son started implementing the simple but highly effective organizational systems Helaina patiently taught him. His habits changed: clearly detailed homework assignments came home, along with the papers and books necessary to complete them. Our son learned how to break things down into manageable parts and how to structure his time and ask for help. Helaina taught him how to keep assignments simple so they wouldn’t feel overwhelming.
In a matter of months, Helaina taught our son the skills he needed to become successful. But more than that, she built up his self-esteem and instilled in him a confidence that he could tackle any school work he had. We have not fought about school work since. Now, more than two years since their last meeting, he is an excellent student. He has never been overwhelmed by his homework since. I tell everyone that Helaina truly worked her magic!
-Jennifer C.
Montclair, NJ
What makes working with Helaina a unique experience is her holistic and non-judgemental approach. She intuitively understand teens and is able to demystify their struggles. She gets to the heart of the issues quickly and makes a plan that makes the individual student accountable. Somewhat of a kid whisperer, Helaina fills the role of problem solver for the students and finds individuated ways to empower them as learners and people.