““That’s where my mission began, learning is the most important skill in business and in scholastic achievement, and I wanted to be a resource for people who wanted lifelong learning success.” ”
learning styles
I call my Academic Coaching “Brain 101”. Neuroscience confirms that we have different “learning styles”. Each person has a unique blend of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles where our thinking modes interact. I help learners of all ages recognize how to access the combination of thinking abilities they may need for different learning events or content. The robust assessment I use to identify the variety and strength of styles is The Highlands Ability Battery.
where it all began
I flunked stuff! I want parents to know that often students seem as if they “don’t try” since that is not as bad as their “fear of failing”. I was one of those students who tried, but didn’t succeed. I was told, “You’re just too social and don’t pay attention.” I tried to pay attention. After learning how to learn, I made all A’s in graduate school, worked a job and spent a lot of time riding a show horse!
Your student can learn how to learn, I’m fairly certain. Combining my learning model with the Highlands Ability Battery will open your student’s eyes to what is going on in his/her struggles. Options will open up that he/she never knew!!
I eventually earned that advanced degree (a masters in counseling psychology from Montclair University) - and graduated with top honors. I became a therapist and started working with students of all ages. Whatever the reason--behavioral issues, attitude or running away--learning (or NOT learning!) was at the root of most of my client's problems, and that was affecting their self-esteem, motivation and relationships.
Looking for Answers in Research
Continuing my search for answers, I studied educational kinesiology, the effects of nutrition on learning, brain research, neurolinguistic programming, classical learning theory and other theories about learning styles. I distilled what I'd learned about the brain and learning methodologies into a model called Expanding Learning Styles© that quickly helps students of any age improve and take charge of their own learning.
My research paid off, and counselors, teachers and parents alike wanted to know "What'd you do to Billy? He's studying and learning now!!"
The Learner's Edge simply evolved as a business from my private practice. Students didn't want to go to a therapist, so I adopted the role of "coach" for them and took the stigma out of the work they did together.
I have been a coach since the mid 80's when students - and then their parents - began coming to me. I am a Master Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, based on my years of experience in coaching, as well as in teaching coaches and therapists my techniques.
“Diane’s methods for evaluation of learning styles and then teaching the person how to best use those styles to their advantage has been very successful. [Her] knowledge in the area of learning exceeds that of most individuals with whom I have worked, and clients I have referred have said many terrific things about Diane and her learning strategies.”
