Tutoring plus coaching
Working with families to take the fight out of homework.
1-on-1 tutoring and coaching for capable-but-stuck teens. In 60 days, I help your son or daughter set his or her own goals and follow through, so the nagging stops and ownership starts.
Sound familiar?
If this sounds like your house…
You've got a good kid. Capable. You can see what's in there. But lately it feels like a fight to get the best out of him or her: the nightly homework standoff, the shrugging, the talent that doesn't quite show up when it counts.
You've tried reminding, pushing, bargaining, maybe a tutor. Some of it works for a week. Then you're back to the same arguments at the dinner table, and you're tired of being the bad guy.
I built this coaching program for exactly that kid, and exactly that parent.
What I do
This goes beyond tutoring. It's ownership.
A good tutor fixes tonight's assignment. I work on the thing underneath the assignments: self-awareness, resilience, and the habit of taking responsibility. Grades follow when ownership shows up.
I become the outside adult in your kid's corner: the calm, non-emotional voice that you, as a parent, often can't be. Not because you're doing it wrong, but because you're too close, and the relationship matters too much.
The goal
What your teen will be able to do, on his or her own
Set real goals
Make a plan and work toward it, without you assigning it.
Start without reminders
Begin homework and manage a full week without being chased.
Bounce back
Recover from a bad grade, a loss, or the bench instead of folding.
Self-advocate
Talk to a teacher or coach directly and speak up for himself or herself.
Know themselves
See strengths and weaknesses honestly, and act on them.
Carry it forward
Build habits that hold through senior year, college, and beyond.
How it works
Simple structure. Steady accountability.
- 60 days
- Six focused steps, one 1-on-1 session each week.
- First session in person
- Whenever possible. Real trust gets built face to face, from day one.
- Weekly 1-on-1
- A standing session to coach, set goals, and hold your teen accountable, so you don't have to.
- I come watch
- When schedules allow, I'll come to a game or competition. Showing up tells your kid this is real.
- You stay informed
- A weekly update from me, without you having to chase or nag.
- It sticks
- An optional 30-day follow-through locks in the habits so they hold on their own.
My promise to you
No miracle promises. One real one.
If you don't see a calmer home and your teen starting homework on his or her own within the first 14 days, you get a full refund. No awkward conversation.
I can stand behind that because it's usually the first thing that changes.
From a parent
“My daughter worked with Coach Thompson last year while in 10th grade. It was wonderful experience for all of us. Coach T was patient, encouraging, and without any judgement. He made an easy-to-follow week to week schedule, and worked on accountability, identifying her strengths and weaknesses and organizational skills. Her confidence started to build, and she took ownership of her successes and her failures.
We are so grateful for Coach T’s help and cannot recommend his services enough!”
★★★★★ Carroll Boatman, parent of a 10th grader · Google review
Free for families
Strong Systems Build Tough Minds
My free guide to the first month of school, written for parents of middle and high schoolers. Inside: a weekend-before game plan, a day-by-day plan for week one, a week-by-week plan for the rest of the month, and the six systems that carry a student all year.
Plain talk from a teacher and coach, backed by current research. Print it, put the checklist on the fridge, and share it with a family who needs it.
Printables for families
The sheets my students actually fill out
These are the working papers from my sessions, set up to print at home. One purchase covers your own family, so print a sheet as many times as your kid needs it. Every packet comes in color and in plain black and white for the printer that is always low on ink.
The Mental Toughness Scorecard
Score the habits, start work on the lowest one, then rescore at day 30 and day 60 to see what moved.
The Daily Ten and the Sweep Sheet
A ten-step nightly routine, a daily sweep of every class, and the Top 3 card that decides tomorrow.
The 60-Day Habit Tracker
Sixty days of check boxes. Long enough that the routine stops needing a reminder.
Why me
I've coached the sport, taught the classroom, and parented my own.
I wasn't the most gifted athlete. I outworked people to start varsity my senior year and walk on in college. So I know exactly what it takes to close the gap between potential and performance.
I spent 30 years as a teacher and coach, including 26 years at one of Nashville's most respected independent schools, teaching Honors English, helping coach basketball teams to two state championships, and building a golf program. I helped design a school-wide mentoring system that guided 120+ students and 25 teachers toward one goal: an environment where kids could actually thrive.
Your kid won't be my first. This is the work I know how to do.
The next step
If your kid came to mind, let's talk.
Tell me a little about your student. I read every message myself and reply within a day, and the first conversation is short and no-pressure: whether your son or daughter is a fit, and whether I'm the right person to help. If it's not right, I'll tell you.
Got it. Thank you.
I'll read it today and reply within a day, usually sooner.
Prefer email? thompsong22@gmail.com
Coaching and tutoring support for families in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville and online.