Keys to Literacy May 2024 Newsletter

Keys to Literacy Newsletter

May 2024

Our Latest Blog Post

Phonics Instruction for English Learners

This post focuses on instruction of phonics for English learners. English learners benefit from explicit instruction in literacy skills, including phonics, similar to native English speakers. This instruction should consider the unique needs of English learners, such as their oral language proficiency, vocabulary, background knowledge, and the need to address new English sounds (phonemes). A structured literacy approach to teach phonics should be used: explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic. Click here to read more.

Recommended Literacy Resources

The Literacy View Podcast addresses hot topics in the field of literacy. Click here for the YouTube channel, and click here to see a recent podcast with Joan Sedita about comprehension strategy instruction.

Watch a video of Dr Elsa Cardenas-Hagan titled What Do We Need to Do to Support Our Multilingual Learners? sponsored by the Utah State Board of Education. Click here to watch.

Watch a webinar featuring Dr. Sharon Vaughn, "Misunderstandings of the Science of Reading," here.
Access a word mapping tool that is available at the Phonics & Stuff website. The tool identifies the graphemes and phonemes of any word and is available here.
The SCOE California Dyslexia Initiative offers a large collection of free, archived webinars presented by national literacy experts here.

News at Keys

The Writing Rope framework has been translated into French!

Canadian educator Kim Lockhart recently translated Joan Sedita’s The Writing Rope instructional framework into French to share with literacy presentations across Canada, emphasizing that the model is not only helpful for English-speaking students. Download your own free copy of the image above as a PDF on this page.

Free Webinar on Demand

Joan Sedita was pleased to join Heggerty to present a free webinar, "Elementary Writing Week: The Writing Rope and Integration of Reading and Writing Instruction. Watch the recording here!

Our Literacy Training Team is Growing!

Welcome, Melissa Gill!

Faculty at Indiana University
Director, Wabash Valley Education Center
Former classroom teacher, instructional coach, and administrator
M.A., Educational Leadership

Welcome, Erin Sharon!

Faculty at Bay Path University
Founder, Winding Way Literacy
Licensed K-12 Reading Specialist
Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner
M.Ed., Reading

Certified Facilitator Team Talk

It’s time for “wrapping up” the school year and “ramping up” for PD planning for the fall…

The end of the school year can be a great time to “bring in a buzz” to gear up your colleagues for upcoming Keys to Literacy PD in the 2024-25 school year! If you are interested in getting all of your scheduling and ordering set for your 2024-25 Debrief Sessions right now, please be sure to get your material orders in for processing as soon as possible. Our Keys to Literacy staff needs a three-week window to be able to prepare, set up online courses for participants, and ship the Keys to Literacy manuals to get to you on time. If Certified Facilitators have any questions about the ordering process, please reach out to stacey@keystoliteracy.com. In addition to ordering materials, if you need support as you schedule or prepare for the sessions you will be delivering, please contact darren@keystoliteracy.com anytime.

Higher Education

Keys to Literacy is seeing growing interest in our Higher Education offerings, and we are pleased to present our first public opportunity for live, virtual professional development!

Client Spotlight

Bethlehem Area School District has transformed literacy instruction from K-3 to grades 4-12, emphasizing evidence-based practices across all subjects. Led by Supervisor Kim Harper, the district prioritizes equipping educators with tier 1 instructional strategies for comprehension, vocabulary, and writing through a partnership with Keys to Literacy. Notably, administrators undergo training before teachers, actively participating in lessons and providing crucial support during implementation. This hands-on approach fosters a deep understanding of literacy practices and strengthens leadership within the district. With ongoing professional development and support, BASD demonstrates a commitment to enhancing student achievement through effective adolescent literacy instruction.

Read the entire case study in this blog post!

Upcoming Keys to Literacy Events

Virtual Live Sessions

These live trainings are delivered by Keys trainers.

Join others in engaging and collaborative training sessions!

*NEW!* Leading Evidence-Based Writing Instruction with The Writing Rope: 1 day

May 29 $129 Register Here

The Key Comprehension Routine, Grades 4-12: 2 days

June 18 & 25 $325 Register Here

The Key Vocabulary Routine: 2 days

June 19 & 26 $325 Register Here

Adolescent Reading Intervention: 1 day

June 20 $175 Register Here

Understanding Dyslexia: 1 day

June 27 $175 Register Here

Keys to Early Writing: 2 days

July 9-10 $325 Register Here

Advanced Word Study, Grade 4 & Beyond: 1 day

July 10 $175 Register Here

Keys to Content Writing, Grades 3-12: 2 days

July 16-17 $325 Register Here

Keys to Adolescent Literacy: 1 day

July 23 $175 Register Here

In-Person Sessions

These live, in-person sessions will be held in Canfield, OH. Join others in engaging and collaborative training sessions with Jen Leffers!

Keys to Early Writing: 2 days

State Support Team Region 5, Canfield OH

June 4-5 $200 Register Here

Keys to Content Writing, Grades 3-12: 2 days

State Support Team Region 5, Canfield OH

June 6-7 $200 Register Here

Peer Coach Training

Advanced virtual training for building or district-level individuals to become a peer implementation coach/facilitator for these programs:

Keys to Early Writing Peer Coach Training: 2 days

June 5 & 13 $425 Register Here

Keys to Content Writing Peer Coach Training: 2 days

June 6 & 13 $425 Register Here

The Key Comprehension Routine Peer Coach Training: 2 days

June 11 & 13 $425 Register Here

The Key Vocabulary Routine Peer Coach Training: 2 days

June 12-13 $425 Register Here

Train-the-Facilitator

Advanced training for building or district-level educators to become facilitators for Keys to Literacy Training Programs:

Keys to Beginning Reading: 3-day virtual live training

June 3, 4, & 10 $1050 Register Here

Keys to Content Writing: 2-day virtual live training

June 18-19 $750 Register Here

Keys to Early Writing: 2-day virtual live training

July 23-24 $750 Register Here

Key Comprehension Routine: 2-day virtual live training

July 24-25 $750 Register Here

The Key Vocabulary Routine: 2-day virtual live training

July 30-31 $750 Register Here

*NEW!* Higher Education Certified Faculty

Advanced training for building or district-level educators to become facilitators for Keys to Literacy Training Programs:

Keys to Beginning Reading: 3-day virtual live training

June 25-27 $1050 Register Here

Learn From Us!

Keys to Literacy staff will be presenting at these upcoming conferences:

Annual Literacy DC Conference

May 22, 2024 - Virtual

"Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom & Intervention Practices" with Shauna Cotte

"Supporting Language Development in Early Childhood Classrooms."

with Donna Mastrovito

Learn More

Teacher Leader Summit 2024

May 28-30, 2024 - New Orleans, LA

"Keys to Strengthening Sentence Sense"

"Keys to Advanced Word Study"

with Ivetha Witherspoon

Learn More

Nicario Memorial's Teach, Learn, G.L.O.W. Literacy Conference

May 29-30, 2024 - Naperville, IL

"The Writing Rope" Keynote

"Instructional Strategies to Support the Stages of the Writing Process"

with Joan Sedita

Learn More

New Mexico Summer Literacy Convening

June 4-5, 2024 - Albuquerque, NM

"The Writing Rope: A Framework for Evidence-Based Writing Instruction"

with Lisa Klein

Learn More

Learning Alley's Spotlight on Dyslexia Conference

June 5-6, 2024 - Virtual

"Advanced Word Study: Targeted Instructional Strategies: Grades (3-6)"

with Tiffany Aden

Learn More

Literacy Equity for Every Student:

Building Bridges to Brighter Futures

June 7, 2024 - Virtual

"Keys to Early Writing: The Writing Rope"

with Lisa Klein

Learn More

Pennsylvania PaTTAN Literacy Symposium

June 11-12 - Virtual

"Adolescent Literacy: Content Writing to Support Comprehension"

with Joan Sedita

"Critical Thinking: Strengthening Sentences K-5"

with Lisa Klein

Learn More

Additional Resources

Looking for state-required literacy PD resources?

Click on a state to learn more:

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