In the heart of Toronto, a remarkable educational endeavour is rewriting the book on student success. We’re leading a revolution, built around the incredible power of the "falling forward philosophy." It’s this unwavering belief in every child's potential that emboldens children to create their own paths to lifelong success.
At Sapphire Studies, the approach is simple yet profound. Our mission is to give any child the right tools so they can achieve extraordinary results. It's a belief that has transformed the lives of countless students, and it's a story worth sharing.
Why is academic support important?
At Sapphire Studies, we’ve seen this exact story play out numerous times.
Imagine a student who once struggled with mathematics. The struggle was so profound that the student was averaging marks as low as 20%.
That student’s family connected with Sapphire Studies, and they underwent a new approach to learning and development. In just three months, that same child achieved a remarkable 90% in their math class, and they also scored a 97% evaluation on their final math test of the semester.
The unbridled power of a growth mindset
A growth mindset that’s based upon confidence, empowerment, and a core belief in one’s own abilities is the key to success. Students who master a growth mindset put more energy into learning and further developing their innate skills. Once a child masters these inherent traits, they can apply them, not just in the classroom, but in other areas of their lives.
That same child — whose math evaluations skyrocketed — also converted their newfound energy and empowerment onto the soccer field. As a defenceman, that child went on to score seven goals in one game.
What notably defines Sapphire Studies’ approach to youth empowerment is our focus on the mind as the catalyst for action. By building confidence in the mind, children learn to unleash their newfound strengths in all walks of life. Suddenly, they have the capacity to make split-second decisions, and they begin to discover their potential for leadership.
Our growth mindset methodology
One of the key components of our methodology is about teaching students the power of self-advocacy. Students learn to approach their teachers in a manner resembling relationships between coaches and athletes.
A coach’s job is to help his or her players become the best version of themselves in-game and out in the world. This is how we teach our Sapphire Studies students to approach their relationships with their teachers.
This psychological shift creates a more collaborative relationship between students and teachers. Viewing teachers as helpful mentors rather than strict instructors, students learn how to better hone their crafts, acquire new knowledge, and accept helpful guidance.
The biggest example of a growth mindset in practice is when students feel confident asking for help. Asking for help is often one of the hardest things to do in this world — not just for students. We’re all guilty of not seeking support during moments in our lives. But when students feel confident that asking for help is a sign of strength, they avoid those lifelong struggles to ask for help when the need arises.
How we empower our students
Our learning program is custom-made and tailored to each individual child.
We begin by connecting with the family in an attempt to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the student(s). We then seek written permission from parents to collaborate with the teachers at the child's school, so that we can gain deeper insights into the student’s in-classroom behaviours, dynamics, and interactions with peers.
Using these insights, we work to eliminate the child’s perceived weaknesses to better enhance their core strengths. We bring a wealth of energy and enthusiasm to every session, encouraging students to ask questions without hesitation. Our role is to complement the main educational experience at school, like a vitamin to the main meal.
We don’t create new lesson plans for our students. Instead, we use the takeaways from our conversations to convert the learning material into a format that resonates with the student. Every child’s ability to comprehend knowledge is different, and so is their ability to take in new information. We consider missed understandings from in-class lessons as opportunities for growth; learning curves, not setbacks.
Here's a brief overview of how our approach varies by grade level.
Elementary Students (Grades 3-6):
For younger students in elementary school, the most important traits of academic support workers are to offer guidance, assist with assignments, answer questions, and review completed work.
To that end, we conduct our discovery sessions with both parents and teachers to understand each elementary student’s strengths, weaknesses, and general learning needs.
Once we have this information, we gather class outlines, syllabi, and important dates in the semester to prepare our programs accordingly. Based on the teacher’s schedules, we customize the delivery of our services to align with those key dates throughout the school year.
Our sessions aim to erode negative weaknesses and accentuate positive strengths. We maintain a vibrant and energetic teaching style, emphasizing that there are no silly questions.
Middle School Students (Grades 7 & 8):
Middle school students undergo one of the biggest transitions of their school careers. In elementary school, they spend all of their days with one teacher and one group of students. When middle school begins, they suddenly have five to six different teachers and share classrooms with dozens of different students.
Therefore — in addition to the homework, learning, and development support — our job is to help students adapt to this transition. We adapt lesson plans based on the specific needs of these students, and we provide them with a safe space to voice their concerns about undergoing this transition in their own growth.
High School Students (Grades 9-12):
By the time a child enters high school, they begin to ask questions about themselves and what they want to do for a career. It’s important to help these adolescents discover their own purpose while feeling emboldened to both set and achieve their goals.
Our approach is to provide a forum for more in-depth discussions about career goals and college preparation. We provide support tailored to the complexities of high school coursework, exams, and college applications. Above all else, we focus on helping each high school student build independence and leadership skills.
Contact us to discuss our growth mindset philosophy
Our overall philosophy remains consistent regardless of each child’s age, grade, skills, or capabilities. We’re here to provide unwavering support, teach children about how to create a growth mindset, and empower every student to achieve their full potential.
Interested in learning more about how we can help your child? Book a discovery call with our Chief Learning Officer and let’s determine the best way to help your child achieve academic excellence!