Meet Beth Samuelson
Equip students with the right tools and they will succeed—so says Beth Samuelson, Founder and Director of Student Organizational Services (“SOS”), who in 1989 set out on a mission to provide students the hands-on tools, guidance, and study techniques they need to navigate the often choppy waters of academic progress.
Working with Beth and S.O.S, students develop strategies that help them stay engaged and focused in the process of learning. They become motivated, taking on their studies with confidence and independence. They learn to plan, prioritize and multi-task. Schoolwork that once seemed so overwhelming becomes manageable. Grades improve, frustration fades, and stresses at home and at school disappear.
Beth’s unique academic coaching style centers on teaching students to develop positive study habits as well as master the skills and techniques necessary for success in the classroom . . . and beyond.
Parents describe the amazing transformations they see in their children as “miraculous,” “magical,” and “wonderful.” They observe their children as happy, self-confident, organized, relaxed—and for the first time able to enjoy the rewards of their academic success.
Background
Beth earned her teaching credentials and MA in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused on cognitive development and adolescent learning issues. While teaching English, History and Drama in various elementary, middle and high school settings, she began to research and develop strategies to help struggling students.
She became a learning specialist and collaborated with academic instructors to tailor programs and instruction for students with learning differences and disabilities. Later, she founded SOS to meet the needs of a range of students, including those with non-verbal learning disabilities, Aspergers and ADHD, as well as gifted teens with organizational and time management challenges.
Based in Walnut Creek, California, SOS specializes in academic coaching, teaching customized study strategies and techniques, student advocacy, and workshops for teens, parents and schools. Students range in age from 10 to 18 and come from private, public, home-schooled, and special needs settings.
Outreach
As a recognized authority in academic coaching, Beth routinely conducts workshops and participates in conferences, locally and regionally. Recent credits include . . .
- The MIND Institute on Neurodevelopment Disorders at UC Davis,
- The Northern California Spina-Bifida conference,
- The PEN/Parents Education Network,
- Mt. Diablo School District,
- Lafayette School District.
She and the SOS staff also conduct student workshops, academic workshops, teacher training, and parent workshops during the school year and over the summer. These workshops provide participants an opportunity to explore various learning styles and approaches, and to partake of hands-on exercises and discussions.
Beth has been an educational columnist for Parenting Bay Area Teens and has appeared a number of times on television as an expert in her field.
She also has become a much sought-after keynote speaker known for her enthusiasm, energy, humor, insight, and her ability to deliver straightforward messages.
Beyond SOS
Beth lives in Oakland, California with her husband (and chief web guy) Steven. In their free time, they enjoy traveling and entertaining their golden retriever and three cats. Beth also enjoys studying languages and seeing how many books she can read simultaneously.
An Invitation
Beth invites you to start your child along the path of success in the classroom . . . and a lifetime mastery of study and organizational skills. Contact her and the SOS team today at beth@sos4students.com, (510) 531-4767, or use the handy “contact us” form found on her Web site at www.sos4students.com.
