IEP & Evaluation Support

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Homeschool Curriculum Support

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Self Regulation & Coping Skills

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Parent Coaching

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Homework Help

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Dance & Movement

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SPED Advocacy

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IEP & Evaluation Support | Homeschool Curriculum Support | Self Regulation & Coping Skills | Parent Coaching | Homework Help | Dance & Movement | SPED Advocacy |

Supporting kids and caregivers

From strong roots to confident blooms

  • Neurodivergent kids & their families

  • Children with and without disabilities

  • Parents seeking support

Who do we work with?

Services

Not an exhaustive list -

please view the “Services Store” for details,

or reach out with specific inquiries!

Hi, I’m Tiana!

I am a special education teacher, dancer, and full-time learning enthusiast! I enjoy working with families to be a problem-solver and parent ally. At Sapling & Sage, I offer personalized academic tutoring, family support, and special education guidance that meets kids (and their grown-ups) where they are. Whether your child needs a boost in reading, a plan for tricky homework nights, or a safe space to build confidence in daily routines, I’m here to listen, adapt, and cheer them on.

Tiana Nygren, M.Ed

So, how did we get here?

I hold a firm belief that a child’s success is based in their foundation (their roots, if you will 😉). After many years in public schools, it became impossible to look past the invisible wall between educators and parents/guardians that was interfering with student growth.

In 2023, I decided to conduct my own research on the relationship between school teams and parents. Here’s what I found:

“What are parents of children receiving services looking for from their Teams?”

  1.  Acknowledgement of the whole child within both the family system and school system

  2. Being treated as equal partners of the Team

  3. Feeling that their input is respected and valued

  4. Feeling comfortable openly discussing and/or questioning their child’s programming in meetings

There is most definitely a disconnect between the characteristics service providers are asking for and the reaction they display when a parent is exceptionally communicative. There seems to be a fine line between communicative and needy, but that line is difficult to pinpoint.
— Nygren, 2023 | "The Collaborative Relationship Between Special Educators and the Families of Their Students"

“According to service providers, what are the main contributing factors to a positive relationship between parents and the Team?”

  1. Parents appear open to learning more about the areas in which the provider specializes 

  2. Parents view the Team as trustworthy collaborators