Maine Professional Learning Courses

Keys to Literacy is proud to provide these engaging, research-based module offerings to Maine educators!

Our Process

Asynchronous Design for On-Demand Access

All our courses and their component modules are designed for asynchronous, on-demand access:

Participants have 24/7 access to course content for one full year after registration
Our learning management system automatically saves progress, builds progress reports, and provides certificates upon completion
Courses can be paused and resumed at any point
User-friendly interface allows for easy navigation between modules

This design ensures that educators can access professional learning at times that fit their schedules and may progress at their own pace, maximizing the impact of the learning experience.

Informational Flyer

Core Course Offerings

While our courses are comprehensive in nature, we have designed them to be modular, allowing Maine SAUs to select specific 4- to 6-hour modules based on their needs. This flexibility ensures that educators can access targeted professional learning that addresses their specific areas of focus within the Science of Reading framework.

Our comprehensive course offerings aligned with Maine DOE:

1. 1. Keys to Beginning Reading (KBR): Our flagship IDA-accredited K-5 course covers all essential components of structured literacy, including phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension.
  2. Keys to Early Writing (KEW): Evidence-based writing instruction for K-2 with special emphasis on foundational skills and development.
  3. Keys to Content Writing (KCW): Evidence-based writing instruction for grades 3-5 with a focus on using writing as a tool to strengthen comprehension and written expression.
  4. Understanding Dyslexia (UD): Professional learning on dyslexia characteristics and research-based approaches to effectively support students with language-based learning differences.

Course Modules

Keys to Beginning Reading (KBR)

This IDA-accredited program provides comprehensive training in Science of Reading principles and practices for K-5 literacy instruction. The full course includes 11 modules totaling 40 hours. To accommodate Maine’s unique educational landscape, for the first time we are offering unprecedented flexibility through individual module access. Maine educators can select specific modules that align with their immediate professional learning priorities, allowing districts to create customized implementation pathways that address their particular literacy instruction needs while maintaining the program’s research-based integrity.

Course Overview:

Grades K-5
Total course: 40 hours across 11 modules
Module length ranges from 1.5-9 hours
7 out of 11 modules fall within or below the 4-6 hour range
While longer modules (Phonics & Advanced Word Study at 8 hours and Comprehension at 9 hours) exceed the preferred range, these modules are designed to be delivered as complete units to maintain instructional coherence
Districts may select which modules best meet their needs based on local priorities and professional learning goals

Module Overview:

Module	Hours	Key Topics
1. Literacy Basics	2	Overview of Science of Reading, 5 components of reading, the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Reading Rope The Writing Rope framework, integrating reading and writing instruction Language components: phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax, discourse, pragmatics Decoding simulation: a new reader’s experience Overview of structured literacy Introduction to dyslexia, instruction for English learners, and culturally responsive literacy instruction
2. Oral Language	3	The language and literacy connection Developing listening and speaking skills Discussion about text: text talk, dialogic reading, talk moves Phonological sensitivity: word awareness, rhyming, alliteration
3. Phonological & Phonemic Awareness	2	Phonological awareness: syllable awareness, onset and rime Phonemic awareness and learning phonics Phoneme blending, segmenting, manipulating Phoneme articulation and pronunciation
4. Phonics & Advanced Word Study	8	The alphabetic principle, English orthography, principles of effective phonics instruction Letter recognition and naming, beginning handwriting Phonics scope and sequence Letter-sound correspondences Blending and segmenting routines to decode and spell The orthographic mapping process Using decodable text Teaching high-frequency words Spelling instruction Advanced word study, multisyllabic words: Morphology (prefixes, suffixes, roots) Syllable types and syllable division Structural analysis of multisyllabic words, schwa Using high-quality text for multiple purposes
5. Fluency	3	Definition of fluency: accuracy, rate, prosody, automaticity Progression of fluency instruction: letter-sound association, word parts, syllables, word reading, continuous text Measuring fluency Activities to develop fluency: choral, echo, cloze whisper reading, wide reading Developing prosody Repeated reading
6. Vocabulary	6	Vocabulary basics: connection to reading comprehension, direct and indirect effective instruction practices Previewing unfamiliar vocabulary prior to reading Activities to connect words: semantic mapping, semantic feature analysis, categorizing, opposites Selecting and teaching essential words in-depth Word learning strategies: use of context, knowledge of meaningful word parts Promoting word consciousness
7. Sentence Structure	1.5	Syntax and language comprehension, syntactic awareness to support reading and writing Sentence basics: 2 parts, 4 types Sentence elaboration and sentence combining
8. Text Structure	1.5	Role of text structure for reading and writing Overall text structures: narrative, informational, opinion Paragraph structure Patterns of organization: description, sequence, compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution Transition words and phrases
9. Comprehension	9	Overview of reading comprehension, the Simple View, connections to writing Background knowledge and reading comprehension The role of metacognition while reading, making inferences Comprehension strategy instruction: Categorizing and main idea skills Graphic organizers: topic webs and two-column notes Retell and summary Answering and generating questions
10. Students with Reading Difficulties	2	Multiple causes of reading difficulties: environmental and neurobiological How the brain learns to read Effects of dyslexia and executive functions on learning to read Reading instruction for English learners
11. Reading Assessment	2	Reading assessments: screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, summative Assessment drives instruction: a problem-solving model for analyzing data

Keys to Early Writing (KEW)

Our K-2 writing program focuses on foundational writing skills with emphasis on the connection between reading and writing development. This course is presented to Maine educators in two parts of 6 hours each, delivered as standalone modules.

Course Overview:

Grades K-2
Total course: 12 hours across 2 modules
Two modules each 6 hours in length
Districts may select which modules best meet their needs based on local priorities and professional learning goals

Module Overview:

Our K-2 writing program focuses on foundational writing skills with emphasis on the connection between reading and writing development. The course is divided into two independent parts of 6 hours each, which can be taken in any order:

Module

Hours

Key Topics

Part A

6

• Writing Basics

• Writing Community

• Writing Process

• Writer’s Craft and Text Structure

Part B

6

• First Steps: Drawing, Labels and Lists

• Syntax, Sentences

• Paragraph Writing

• Writing from Sources

Note: Part A and Part B are designed as standalone modules. Participants may take either module independently, and there is no prerequisite requirement to complete them in sequence.

Keys to Content Writing (KCW)

Designed for grades 3-5, this course focuses on using writing as a tool to strengthen comprehension and written expression. Like KEW, this course is presented to Maine educators in two parts of 6 hours each, delivered as standalone modules.

Course Overview:

Grades 3-5
Total course: 12 hours across 2 modules
Two modules each 6 hours in length
Districts may select which modules best meet their needs based on local priorities and professional learning goals

Module Overview:

Designed for grades 3 and up, this course focuses on using writing as a tool to strengthen comprehension and written expression. Like KEW, it is divided into two independent parts that can be taken in any order:

Module

Hours

Key Topics

Part A

6

• Writing Basics

• Quick Writes

• Sentences & Paragraphs

Part B

6

• Writing Process

• Summary Writing

• Three Types of Writing

• Writing from Sources

Note: Part A and Part B are designed as standalone modules. Participants may take either module independently, and there is no prerequisite requirement to complete them in sequence.

Understanding Dyslexia (UD)

This focused 6-hour course provides essential professional learning on dyslexia characteristics and effective support strategies for students with language-based learning differences.

Course Overview:

Grades K-5
Total course: 6 hours

Module Overview:

Hours

UD Key Topics

6

• What is Dyslexia?

• The Reading Brain

• Dyslexia and the Five Components of Reading

• Screening for Dyslexia

• Effective Instruction for Students with Dyslexia

• Structured Literacy: Sounds

• Structured Literacy: Sound-Symbol Correspondances

• Structured Literacy: Syllable Types

• Structured Literacy: Morphemes

Register Today!

To enroll in these course offerings, please complete the registration form linked below.

Individual Registration

Click below for group registration.

Group Registration

Questions:

Email: info@keystoliteracy.com

Phone: 978-948-8511

Maine Professional Learning Courses

Asynchronous Design for On-Demand Access

ACCESSING KEYS TO LITERACY PD DURING SCHOOL CLOSURES

We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and the impact on our employees and the schools where we provide professional development.

During this time period when onsite, face-to-face training and coaching is not possible, we offer multiple options for accessing our literacy PD content and instructional practices.

If you are a current or new partner, explore our website or contact us to learn more about: