Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Workshop approach?

The philosophical inspiration for Workshop Education evolved from Writer’s Workshop, developed by Lucy Calkins. The idea is to make learning as closely related to real life challenges as possible. Young writers write as authors do, composing original drafts, editing, copyediting, and publishing as Featured Authors. Students got the chance to build the muscle of creativity by facing blank pages and turning them into books. They then shared their books at Featured Authors, and heard what their classmates felt were strengths, as well as questions and suggestions about their work.

The founder, Alexa Frisbie, was very impressed with this approach in her student teaching at University of Virginia. Frustrated with her science instruction outcomes, Alexa adapted Writer’s Workshop to science with Experimenter’s Workshop. Alexa went on to incorporate other subject areas to the Workshop approach with Workshop Education, including design thinking (as taught at Stanford d.school) and social and emotional learning objectives.

How are Workshop Education enrichment classes different from other enrichment classes?

Our class curriculum is designed to have a direct and immediate impact on your child’s happiness and success in school and life. Our “flex enrichment” classes make it easier to arrange and juggle changing schedules.

I am not sure of my child’s schedule for enrichment classes. Is it okay to register?

Yes. We know that for many parents, the only sure thing about your child’s schedule is that it is ever changing. Once your application has been approved, using the Parent Portal, you can add or drop classes by 7 A.M. the morning of class. You log in as a member, and go to the Schedule tab. You move to the correct month, and select or unselect days as needed for each child. If the day is not available, it is either a school holiday or classes are already full that day. Save the changes in the cart. You are billed at the end of the month, only for enrichment classes actually attended. No more guessing and wasting money!

How are you able to have parents request classes by 7:00 a.m. the day of?

In addition to our regular Workshop site directors and teachers, we have on call teachers who can go to different sites depending on need.

Where do students meet for Workshop?

After you register, we will send you the sign in location via email. If you do not receive this email, first check your spam and then contact our Director of Operations, Corina Outten at corinaoutten@workshopeducation.org.

Can my child come to Workshop before or after another on campus class or a sport activity?

Yes. You will not be charged for time your child is at another class, sport or activity. Since we offer enrichment classes from school dismissal until 6 P.M., our teachers are not able to leave Workshop to walk children to other classes, but you can ask the teacher of the other class to pick up and drop off at Workshop.

How do you handle the age range in the classroom?

During Study Skills Workshop, the children are typically with children in their grades in smaller groups. During Innovation Workshop, our curriculum is structured so that all of the students are working on the same project (a book, experiment, survey, art or a skit) but at their own level. For example, during a Writing Workshop, a younger child may be working on a picture book while an older child works on a chapter book. However, they all come together for presentations to give feedback on strengths and suggestions for each other’s work.

How do you design the Workshop class curriculum?

We design our enrichment classes by reading the latest education research and asking college admission advisors, principals, and employers: what skills are missing that children need in order to be happy and successful? The answers lead to the curriculum for our 360 unique classes (2 a day for 180 school days) each year. We create new curriculum each year. We think of it as essential enrichment and ‘education for life.’

What professional development do Workshop teachers participate in?

Our teachers embrace best teaching practices within the Workshop Education program. This includes online modules, professional development and in-class coaching. We feel the combination of goal-oriented curriculum development and robust professional development creates a stellar atmosphere for meaningful learning.

How does billing work?

Parents are only billed for the classes their child attends. We charge $23 an hour for our enrichment classes with discounts for siblings, and attending more hours. Families sign up for auto-pay at Registration, invoices are sent on the 7th of the month and processed automatically on the 15th. Learn more about tuition here.