Comfortable Communication for:
Rising College Students
Rising 9-12 Students
Rising 7-8 Students
Welcome to your next comfortable conversation!!!
We want to hear what you have to say.
Essig Education Group is excited to announce our new programs: Comfortable Communication for College Students, Comfortable Communication for High School Students, and Comfortable Communication for Middle School Students. These 10 hour, week-long, 8-student programs are safe, empowering spaces where students learn how to confidently and appropriately talk to professors or teachers, advisors, school advocates/ administrators, and peers – while also strengthening executive function skills like planning, self-advocacy, and organization.
Are you ready to level up your communication and confidence next semester?
Comfortable Communication will combine social communication training with executive function strategies — teaching you how to approach professors or teachers, navigate difficult conversations, and manage your time and priorities effectively.
You’ll learn:
How to start and maintain formal or casual conversations
How to professionally ask for help or clarification
How to set healthy boundaries with roommates, peers, and professors or teachers
How to self-advocate while staying composed
How to use executive function skills to plan, prioritize, and communicate effectively
Here is the day-by-day breakout of what you’ll learn:
Day One
Getting Organized and Knowing What to Do
EF Focus
Organization systems
Tracking assignments
Understanding workload
Middle School
Organizing materials + folders
Writing assignments in planner
Practice: “What do I say if I don’t understand?”
EF Focus
Weekly planning
Time management
Prioritization
Middle School
Build a weekly planner
Estimate time for homework
High School
Create a weekly academic plan
Time block study hall + after school
EF Focus
Task initiation
Breaking down assignments
Reducing procrastination
Middle School
Break assignment into steps
Practice saying “I’m stuck”
Day Four
Focus, Distractions & Managing Stress
EF Focus
Attention control
Emotional regulation
Distraction management
Middle School
Identify distractions
Practice calming/reset strategies
EF Focus
Study strategies
Self-monitoring
Independence
Middle School
Note-taking basics
Practice asking for help
Communication Focus
Asking for help
Clarifying expectations
High School
Navigating Canvas/Google Classroom
Tracking assignments across classes
Practice: Asking teachers for clarification
Day Two
Planning Your Week & Managing Time
Communication Focus
Communicating schedules
Advocating when overwhelmed
Day Three
Beating Procrastination & Starting Work
Communication Focus
Asking for help early
Updating others on progress
High School
Use 5-minute start strategy
Break down multi-step tasks
Communication Focus
Expressing stress appropriately
Managing social pressure
High School
Phone/social media strategies
Build focus routines
Day 5
Studying Smarter & Advocating for Yourself
High School
Cornell notes
Writing teacher emails
Owning mistakes
College
Reading and breaking down syllabi
Creating a master task system
Practice: Emailing professors / asking questions
College
Reverse plan from deadlines
Plan week across classes, work, life
College
Plan long-term assignments early
Identify avoidance triggers
College
Manage burnout + independence
Create personal productivity systems
Communication Focus
Self-advocacy
Professional communication
College
Active recall + space repetition
Office hours communication
Professional communication
Comfortable Communication is led by Derrick Sherman, M.Ed. As a behaviorist with over 12 years of experience in behavior therapy, Derrick applies evidence-based strategies rooted in applied behavior analysis to help students achieve significant progress. He is also an autism specialist, bringing deep expertise in designing individualized supports that foster communication, independence, and confidence in students on the spectrum.