OUR LEARNING STUDIO ONLINE ACADEMY
Writing Workshop: Building the Basics
Who: 3rd-6th Graders*
When: Summer Session 2026: June 8th-July 17th
(+ access for two extra weeks for extended time if needed)**
Where: Online
Registration: Opens on May 1, 2026
Time Commitment: Approximately 2-3 hours/week
*While this course is geared toward 3rd-6th graders, it is also open to older students seeking help with foundational writing skills.
**Is your child participating in other activities or traveling during some of the workshop days? No problem! This is a self-paced online course, and your child will have six weeks to complete the activities. Access to the modules will remain open for two extra weeks so your child may have extended time if needed.
HOW IT WORKS
- 6 weekly instructional modules
- 36+ instructional videos
- 50+ printable resources
- 6 Writing Workshop Wednesdays Zoom calls with Dr. Pittman
- 5 writing feedback videos
- Access to the course for 2 extra weeks for extended time if needed
This six-week online course is designed for students needing extra support with foundational writing skills. The goal of the course is for students to gain confidence as writers by having step-by-step tools to go from a blank page to a published writing piece!
On the first day of the workshop, you'll receive access to the course in the Teachable platform. Your child will have all week to complete the lesson at your family's convenience.
Each weekly module includes pre-recorded instructional videos, model texts, a writing assignment, editing checklists, graphic organizers, and other printable resources! Your child will study a different type of writing each week and practice the following skills:
- Brainstorming ideas and choosing a topic
- Using graphic organizers
- Writing a strong opening sentence to hook the reader
- Adding supporting details
- Using transition words
- Adding adjectives to create a movie in the mind of the reader
- Writing a conclusion
- Revising and editing
-
Publishing
At the end of the six weeks, your child will have five final writing pieces and a reference notebook filled with resources for writing!
Meet the Teacher
Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman, Founder of Our Learning Studio
Dr. Pittman is an academic support specialist and literacy coach. She is the founder of Our Learning Studio, an academic support practice based in North Carolina, where she works in private practice to support parents, teachers, tutors, and students across the country.
Dr. Pittman's career as an educator spans over 30 years. She has served as a teacher or administrator in the public school, community college, and university settings. She spent 15 years serving as the Beginning Teacher Evaluator for the public school system where she mentored teachers during the first three years of their careers. She had the privilege of conducting over 2,000 classroom observations during that time, and she developed a particular interest in how to set students up for success in structured, supportive learning environments with meaningful instruction.
Dr. Pittman holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a graduate degree in Educational Leadership, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration.
Writing Workshop Review
Working with Dr. Pittman at Our Learning Studio is, simply, one of the best investments that you can make in your child's education! My children have been learning with her through one-one-one tutoring and workshops for the past few years, and she has become one of their favorite, most trusted educators.
In particular, Writing Workshop: Building the Basics benefits writers of all skill levels. (I've been a professional writer for 25 years and I learned new approaches to drafting and editing my writing when my child took this course!) The Writing Workshop is extraordinarily well organized, with resources and planners that students can use to approach future writing assignments beyond the course and throughout their education. The self-paced elements of Writing Workshop pair perfectly with helping students brainstorm a topic and explore different ways to approach writing each essay. Dr. Pittman's feedback is insightful, genuine, and enthusiastic, inspiring and encouraging student writers by highlighting the strengths of their work and offering positive suggestions for improvement. From week to week, I watched my child grow not just in skills but in confidence. It was incredible to see him incorporate feedback from prior essays into new drafts, becoming a stronger writer with each assignment.
I especially want to highlight how the Writing Workshop gives students the tools to reflect on their work and revise it. I have often found young writers are intimidated by the editing process; once they've written a draft, they often don't know what to do with it. To revise a draft piece of writing into a polished work is an essential skill, and Dr. Pittman removes all the mystery and confusion that can surround this process.
I will always be grateful for the powerful influence Dr. Pittman has had on my children and their education, helping them to overcome challenges to become fluent readers, strong writers, and lifelong learners.
Parent of a 6th Grade Writer
Let's summarize!
Weekly Modules
Instructional videos, model texts, writing assignments, editing checklists, graphic organizers, and other printable resources!
Writing Workshop Wednesdays
Drop-in group office hour on Zoom where students can ask questions about the week's assignment or share their work in progress!
Feedback Videos
Students may submit their work at the end of each module, and they will receive a 5-10 minute video with feedback about their writing.
Parent Support
Introductory video on how the course works and ways to support your child
Printable Resources
Writing process cards
Word wall folder
Graphic organizers
Brainstorming maps
Editing checklists
Transition words
Beginning, middle, and end cards
Writing prompts
And more!
Student Notebook
At the end of the six weeks, students will have a notebook full of writing resources and completed writing pieces! This is a great resource that can be used throughout the school year!
