• Our child struggled with the increased academic and organizational demands of college during their first quarter. Fortunately, Ivy came along at just the right time. She taught him study skills, organizational habits, and the mentality needed to bridge the gap between high school and university success. By the end of the year, he was able to perform at a much higher level with much less stress.  ~ William M., parent, college student

• We are so grateful for all of the help you’ve given. It has been well worth it and made a huge impact. For me, it has been very satisfying to watch the adoption of  organizational tools that have been summarily rejected in the past. You really have a special talent. ~ R.K., parent, college student

• In coaching, I was able to learn how to properly manage my time in order to complete homework without getting overwhelmed. I learned how to take notes during class and still pay attention to all necessary information during lecture. I also learned how to effectively translate my notes into a study tool for final exams. P.S. I got all A’s this quarter.  ~ Gabe M., college student

• Ivy has taught both my daughters over the years. My kids have loved working with Ivy and have both benefitted enormously. Ivy really sees the whole person and cares about their success, not only outwardly and academically, but also how they feel about themselves. She is a teacher, guide and advocate, finding out what motivates them and helping them achieve the goals they set for themselves. ~ Carmen H., parent, high school student

• “Ivy has been an attuned and skilled writing coach and mentor to my kids for three years now, and we hope to continue working with her for a long time. Ivy has found ways to build my kids’ comfort level, interest, enthusiasm, confidence, and proficiency in reading and writing. My child who was a reluctant reader now reads chapter books for fun. My other child already loved reading, and I’m blown away when I read their writing now. Being able to work with Ivy has been a true gift for our family. I recommend her whenever I get the chance.”    ~J.M., parent

• Thank you, Ivy. And thank you for all of your help. You were such a big supporter of my process.    ~ L.D., high school senior, college essays

• Ivy’s tool chest and innovative techniques build trust and confidence, and have helped shape our son as a person. If I were only allotted one instructor for my son across his education, I would choose Ivy. She has a “sixth sense” with tutoring, by meeting each unique learner exactly where they are, adjusting lessons, and taking action to boost individual learning. ~T.H., parent

• “Ivy Sandz brings to teaching a wonderful sense of humor and a deeply-held belief in the infinite possibilities held by every child. ~Karen Jorgensen, teacher and author of The Whole Story

• “Ivy Sandz has a remarkable ability to understand individual students’ skills and work with their strengths. She sees places where students are weak and helps them overcome their difficulties—her students love her.” ~Paula Horowitz, classroom teacher

• “Ivy is a highly skilled literacy expert, who is able to work with a group of children while addressing individual needs. Her creative and focused environment encourages students to want to learn about reading and writing.”   ~Betty Peterson, M.Ed., Educational Therapist

• “Ivy’s careful diagnosis and instruction enable her students to become successful readers and writers.”   ~Laurie Stoneham, reading specialist

• “Ivy, I would like to let you know that R’s 7th grade STAR test results arrived in the mail the other day and that he received a 100% on the writing portion of the test. I have to smile when I think back to that day when I came to you, asking for help with my inability to get him to put pencil to paper. You had no small part in this 100 that he received on the test and I’d like to send you my heartfelt thank you.”   ~Marianne F., parent

• “When I was in high school I didn’t realize how valuable the material we covered would be later on, but as a college freshman I found myself returning to the essays I wrote with you and using them as models for new assignments in a variety of classes. Organization and little things like making sure that the first and last sentence of a paragraph match the thesis have been indispensable in crafting effective essays. Another thing I repeatedly fall back on in English classes is letting a work speak for itself. You said to let a piece show the beauty of its own writing, and this has definitely enhanced my papers. I remember how worried I was that I wouldn’t measure up to college standards, but I needn’t have been because you more than prepared my writing for it. What I remember most from our sessions is your enthusiasm for literature and teaching. It was easy to see that you loved what you did, and I was very impressed and inspired by your passion. This is one of the reasons I became an English major, so thank you for this and for your constant encouragement.”     ~Jani S., former student