Innovate. Educate. Empower.
For the Next Generation of Learners.
Workshops and Seminars
for Teachers and Parents
Rose Writing Professional Development Center
Online Professional Development and Teacher Training
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Teaching Writing and Reading
Enhance your teaching with our workshops designed for K-12 educators. These interactive sessions offer practical, research-based strategies for engaging students in reading and teaching writing in a meaningful way that incorporates both structure and style. Learn how to provide effective feedback on writing assignments, facilitate deeper understanding through reading, and create classroom experiences that inspire confidence and growth—all aimed at boosting student achievement.
These workshops are also a valuable resource for parents who want to support their children’s reading and writing skills at home. Discover easy-to-implement techniques and resources to encourage a love of reading, guide your child through writing tasks, and help them become more confident, independent learners—setting the stage for academic success in any environment.
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Executive Function for All Learners
What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales. Empower your teaching with our executive functioning workshops designed for K-12 educators. These interactive sessions provide practical strategies to help students develop essential skills such as organization, time management, planning, impulse control, and self-regulation. Learn how to seamlessly integrate executive functioning support into your classroom, address common challenges, and foster academic and social success for all learners.
These workshops are also valuable for parents who want to help their own children strengthen executive functioning skills at home. Discover effective techniques and resources to support your child’s growth in organization, focus, and self-management, setting them up for success both in and out of school.
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AI for Education
Enhance your teaching with our AI in Education workshops designed for K-12 educators. These interactive sessions offer practical strategies for integrating AI into your teaching practice, building engaging lessons and curriculum, and guiding students to use AI as a research tool rather than a shortcut for writing—ensuring ethical, effective learning in the classroom. You’ll also learn how to foster digital literacy and critical thinking, preparing students for success in an AI-driven world.
These workshops are also helpful for parents who want to support their children in using AI responsibly. Discover tips and resources to encourage thoughtful use of AI at home, helping your child build strong research skills and healthy academic habits while navigating new technology with confidence.
Executive Function Workshop Series
Fall 2025
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Workshop 1: Foundations of Executive Function
September 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Introduction to Executive Function
• Core Components of Executive Function
• The Role of Executive Function in Academic and Social Success
• Brain Development and Executive Function: What Teachers Need to Know
• Developmental Expectations: Executive Function Across Grade Levels
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 2: Working Memory - Strategies for Strengthening and Supporting
September 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Working Memory
• Classroom Strategies
• Technology and Tools
• Supporting All Learners
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 3: Task Initiation - Helping Students Get Started
October 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Task Initiation
• Strategies to Support Task Initiation
• Motivation and Engagement
• Addressing Procrastination
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 4: Planning and Prioritizing - Tools for Academic and Life Success
October 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Planning and Prioritizing
• Teaching Planning Skills
• Prioritization Techniques
• Classroom Applications
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 5: Organization - Systems and Routines for Students
October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Organization
• Physical Organization
• Information Organization
• Building Habits
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 6: Self-Monitoring - Fostering Reflection and Self-Assessment
October 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Self-Monitoring
• Strategies for Self-Monitoring
• Embedding Reflection in Instruction
• Supporting Struggling Students
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 7: Impulse Control and Inhibition - Managing Behavior and Focus
November 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Impulse Control
• Classroom Strategies
• Positive Behavior Supports
• Collaboration with Families
$20 per session. Sign up below.
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Workshop 8: Cognitive Flexibility (Shifting) - Adapting to Change and Problem-Solving
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen• Understanding Cognitive Flexibility
• Strategies to Build Flexibility
• Supporting Transitions and Change
• Growth Mindset and Adaptability
$20 per session. Sign up below.
Workshops are conducted online using Zoom or Google Meet. Payment is due upon registration. A certificate of completion, including the hours and skills attained, will be emailed upon workshop completion.
Join Our Upcoming Workshops
Enhance Your Teaching
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All attendees of our professional development workshops will receive a certificate documenting the hours completed and the specific skills learned. This certificate can be used to track or report your professional development hours, supporting your ongoing growth as an educator.
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Unlock innovative strategies to elevate your teaching with our hands-on workshops. Learn how to seamlessly incorporate technology into your classroom, from mastering Google Classroom to understanding the role of AI in education. Our sessions are designed to equip teachers with the latest technical skills and practical tools to engage students and enhance learning in today’s digital world.
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Our workshops are led by experienced facilitators who have received specialized training in the latest technology and proven pedagogical methods. Because all of our instructors are actively teaching in classrooms today, they bring fresh, real-world insights and practical strategies directly from their own practice to every session.
About Rose Writing Center
Professional Development
The Rose Writing Center Professional Development Center was born out of a vibrant online community of parents and teachers who, through a dedicated Facebook group, voiced their ongoing questions and challenges in teaching writing and reading. Recognizing the need for accessible, high-quality support, we expanded our mission to provide expert training and resources for educators who seek to elevate their instructional practices.
Our center is committed to equipping teachers with the latest strategies in writing and reading instruction, while also addressing the critical need to integrate executive functioning skills into every classroom. We recognize that helping students develop organizational skills, time management, and self-regulation is crucial for achieving academic success across all subjects.
With the rapid emergence of AI in education, one of our instructors, Dr. Deanna Heikkinen, is finishing her certification in AI for education, ensuring that educators and parents are prepared to guide students in the ethical and effective use of AI tools for writing, regardless of discipline. At Rose Writing Center, we are dedicated to empowering educators with the knowledge and confidence to meet the evolving needs of today’s learners.
Meet the Team
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Founder
Sydney founded Rose Writing Center in 2020 in response to the unprecedented demand for high-quality online education during a time of global transition. Drawing on her passion for writing and education, she envisioned a center that would empower both students and educators to excel in writing, reading, and executive functioning skills—whether in-person or in the digital classroom.
Sydney’s journey as an educator began at Emory University, where she served as a writing tutor at the Emory Writing Center. There, she underwent rigorous, research-based training under the guidance of world-class instructors, mastering best practices in writing pedagogy and student-centered instruction.
Over the years, Sydney has tutored and mentored hundreds of university-level students, providing individualized feedback and support on a wide range of writing assignments, from analytical essays to research papers and creative projects.
In addition to her work with students, Sydney has trained numerous faculty members at Rose Writing Center, leading faculty discussions and forums on effective teaching strategies. Her leadership in these professional learning communities inspired her to expand Rose Writing Center’s mission to include comprehensive teacher development and training.
A lifelong learner, Sydney is an Experienced Instructor through the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), where she specializes in the acclaimed Structure and Style methodology, and she also has a strong background in the Lost Tools of Writing curriculum. She has successfully taught dozens of students the foundations of effective writing, helping them build confidence and mastery through structured, evidence-based approaches. Sydney continues to champion innovation and collaboration in education, supporting both students and teachers in their pursuit of excellence.
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Lead Facilitator
Dr. Deanna Heikkinen is an accomplished educator and scholar specializing in writing, reading, and executive functioning instruction, with a strong focus on online and technology-enhanced learning. She holds a Doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership from California Lutheran University. Her extensive academic background includes advanced degrees in history and anthropology.
With over a decade of experience teaching at the college level, Dr. Heikkinen has served in roles ranging from Associate Professor of Humanities to and Distance Education Coordinator. Additionally, she has been teaching students from second through twelfth grades for over seven years, focusing on writing, reading, and the humanities. She has developed and delivered curriculum across diverse disciplines, including writing, reading, and executive functioning.
Dr. Heikkinen is also recognized for her leadership in curriculum development, outcomes assessment, and faculty training, and has presented at numerous conferences on topics related to digital pedagogy and educational innovation.
As the Lead Professional Development instructor at Rose Writing Center, she brings a deep commitment to empowering teachers with the tools and strategies needed to foster student success in today’s digital and AI-driven educational landscape.
