Study Skills Sprint
2026
“My teen has no idea where to begin.”
“They sit at their desk but don't seem to get anything done.”
“I keep nagging them to study.”
“They've got all the information from school but aren't using it.”
“They think rereading their notes is studying.”
“They know the content but fall apart in tests.”
Let's turn that around
Vanessa Leaver
Executive Functioning Coach
Speech Language Therapist
Mum
17 years working with ADHD
I’m Vanessa Leaver, a Speech Pathologist and Executive Function Coach, and I’ve spent more than 17 years working with children, teens and families across Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Through my work with students, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: they’re given the study guide, the exam date and the topics — but no one has really shown them how to turn that into a plan they can actually follow.
That’s why I created Study Sprint. This course isn’t about cramming more content or adding another tutor into the mix. It’s about teaching senior students the Executive Functioning skills behind independent study — how to prioritise, organise, start, retrieve, monitor, adjust and rehearse — so when a parent asks, “Have you started studying?”, their teen has a clearer idea of what to do next.
At The Executive Hub, my focus is always practical: giving students, parents and educators strategies that make real life feel more manageable. Study Sprint brings that approach to exam preparation, helping Year 12 and 13 students build the structure and confidence they need to study with more independence.
Why this course
Less nagging, more independence
If you’re constantly reminding your teen to study, the issue may not be motivation — they may not know how to organise, start, prioritise and follow through on study independently
From overwhelmed to organised
Senior students often have the exam dates, study guides and subject content, but still feel stuck about where to begin. Study Skills Sprint helps them turn all of that information into a clear, manageable study plan.
Practical exam preparation skills, not tutoring
Across five sessions, including four live sessions and one video session, students learn the Executive Functioning skills behind effective study: planning, active recall, exam-style practice, self-monitoring and rehearsal, so they can approach NCEA exams with more structure and confidence.
The details
Epsom Community Centre - Central Auckland
Starts the week of 11th October
Mondays or Wednesdays
5:45-7:15pm
Small group work
Limited to 10 spaces each session
