About
Our Learning Studio
OLS is a private tutoring practice in Winston-Salem. If your child struggles with reading and writing skills, help is available!
Learning Opportunities:
- Reading Intervention
- Writing Instruction
- Enrichment
- Parent Workshops
Dr. Killeen-Pittman
Dr. Cathleen Killeen-Pittman, founder of Our Learning Studio, is a literacy tutor for students needing extra support with reading and writing skills. She serves Pre-K through 5th grade students at her studio in Winston-Salem.
Dr. Pittman uses multi-sensory teaching methodologies based on Orton-Gillingham principles to help her students grow as readers and writers. Only about 1/3 of students identify primarily as auditory learners, and this number decreases for students with learning differences. By adding visual, tactile, and kinesthetic components to each lesson, Dr. Pittman provides a targeted mulit-sensory approach to reading to help make things "click" for young readers. Instruction is provided in a one-on-one setting, and all lessons are individualized to meet the needs of each student.
Dr. Pittman's career as an educator spans over 25 years. She has served as a teacher or administrator at Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Appalachian State University, and Davidson County Schools. She is currently in her 12th year serving as the Beginning Teacher Evaluator for DCS where she mentors teachers during the first three years of their careers. Dr. Pittman holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a graduate degree in Educational Leadership, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration.
How It Works
- Free Consultation: The initial consultation is the first step in enrolling in the program. Contact Dr. Pittman to schedule a no-obligation 30-minute consultation to discuss your child's needs and determine if the multi-sensory literacy instruction provided at this learning studio is the right match for your child.
- Enrollment: Choose an available time slot that will work for your family. Most students attend two sessions per week. There are no registration fees or long-term contracts. Since children progress at varying rates, enrollment is done on a monthly basis.
- Instruction: You've completed the consultation and enrolled your child. Now it's time for learning! Your child will receive individualized and hands-on literacy instruction in a one-on-one setting. Sessions are 55 minutes in length.
- Communication: You will receive a monthly report summarizing your child's progress. With your permission, the report can also be shared with your child's classroom teacher.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
READING INTERVENTION
Does your child struggle with decoding? Is reading comprehension an ongoing challenge? Multi-sensory reading intervention may be the answer. There are five essential building blocks to reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These intensive one-on-one sessions are designed to fill in the missing building blocks through hands-on and engaging activities. Each lesson is individualized and focused on increasing the student's confidence as a reader and scholar.
WRITING INSTRUCTION
Reading and writing go hand in hand. As children acquire additional reading skills, improvement in their writing is usually evident. While students may be able to tell detailed stories, they often have difficulty getting their words on paper. These one-on-one writing sessions are purposeful and intensive yet fun and out of the box!
ENRICHMENT
Is your child scoring at or above grade level in reading and writing but feeling bored with school? Does your child need a challenge to reach full potential? Consider one-on-one enrichment sessions designed specifically for your child based on high interest areas.
PARENT WORKSHOPS
If you're interested in teaching your child at home using a multi-sensory approach, consider attending a one-on-one reading workshop for parents. Come learn about hands-on reading strategies for Pre-K and elementary-aged students! These 90-minute consultations are conducted on a one-on-one basis to cater to your child's specific needs.
TUITION
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Could your child benefit from one-on-one reading and writing intervention? The initial consultation is the first step in enrolling in the program. Contact Dr. Pittman to schedule a no-obligation 30-minute consultation to discuss your child's needs and determine if the multi-sensory literacy instruction provided at this learning studio is the right match for your child.
ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING
$70 per session
Tutoring sessions are 55 minutes in length. There are no registration or testing fees, and the cost of all materials is included in the tuition fee. A long-term contract is not required as enrollment is done on a month-to-month basis.
TESTIMONIALS
A few words from our learning community...
Every grandfather wants to see his grandchild have a great start to school. Each hopes to see him/her bringing home top grades, making lots of friends, and displaying an overall feeling of happiness regarding school. Realizing one or more of these things might not be in place could cause a grandfather to panic. Consequently, when my grandson displayed some difficulties with reading in first grade, grandmother and I sat down with his parents to determine what we should do. We knew we must find someone who knew how to identify specific areas of weakness and then address them.
Thankfully, I had worked with Dr. Cathleen Pittman in the Davidson County School System. After grandmother, mom, and dad heard me describe Dr. Pittman and her skills, we all agreed to contact her. We made the contact and introduced our grandson to Dr. Pittman. A positive connection was made and serious instruction started immediately.
Every instructional session was meticulously planned for him. Every action had a purpose. Every skill was introduced in a specific sequence. Each step was designed to prepare for the next. Appropriate materials were used to enhance learning. Skills were learned and retained for use in the present and for mastering future skills.
Our grandson responded very quickly and positively to Dr. Pittman. As a certified reading specialist, her instruction made all the difference. He had struggled in reading in first grade, but when he completed third grade and took his first End of Grade test in reading, he scored a 4 (this is the highest mark given).
From a truly grateful grandfather,
Dr. Tony A. Peele
Deputy Superintendent for Human Resources and Administration
Davidson County Schools
Retired
