Instructional Leadership
Professional Development
Systems, Structures and the Science of Reading are the key ingredients in all highly-performing schools.
Professional Development
Elementary
Elementary PD
It is with great pleasure that we bring this catalog of professional development offerings to ensure that educators are able to increase literacy outcomes for students. Keys to Literacy offers a variety of mini-courses proven to be effective for many different stakeholders- Teachers, Interventionists, Administrators, and even Paraprofessionals- specifically designed to address many of the common challenges schools face when raising literacy achievement.
HOW CHILDREN LEARN TO READ
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: Universal Instruction or Whole Group and Small Group Instruction
- Half-day webinar
UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTION
Participants will learn the basis of the learning process and what can hinder a student’s ability to learn. Also discussed are high-leverage instructional strategies including explicit instruction, how to design and deliver a lesson, and effective lesson planning tools for both whole group and small group instruction.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: How Children Learn to Read or Whole Group and Small Group Instruction
- Half-day webinar
CREATING EFFICIENT RTI AND MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
Participants in this session will develop a clear understanding of what creates a solid Response to Intervention through a multi-tiered system of support. This is a highly interactive session. Attendees will reflect on practices they already have in place, determine what needs to be developed, and will walk away with a specific action plan to establish a complete system that will ensure success for all students.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person
- Half-day webinar
WHOLE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION
Often teachers are unaware or lack the knowledge of what a good literacy block looks like. This session delves into how the literacy block should be constructed, what components of reading are critical to teach, the necessary timeframes for each component, and a gradual transfer of responsibility from teacher to student. Participants also learn the purposes and research behind small group instruction and how to differentiate. Can be customized to be delivered with your school’s core reading program.
Training Options
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: How Children Learn to Read or Universal Instruction
- Half-day webinar
INTERVENTIONS FOR STRUGGLING READERS
The question of what comprises quality interventions for struggling students is addressed. The research behind high-quality interventions, how to select a research-based intervention, the lay- out for instruction, as well as the varying times and intensity for grade levels is also incorporated into this session. A proprietary Intervention Calculator, which supports leadership in determining how many minutes and sessions of interventions a school needs is included.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: Data Analysis or Instructional Strategies for Targeted Small Group Interventions
- Half-day webinar
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
Choosing the correct assessments to guide literacy instruction can be a daunting task. This professional development session explains what we should be assessing, why we should assess it, and examples of appropriate assessments to consider. Benchmark tools used for screening, progress monitoring and diagnostic assessments are covered. A background on the reading brain and how it links to assessment is also included.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with How Children Learn to Read
- Half-day webinar
DATA ANALYSIS: UNDERSTANDING THE SUBSKILLS OF ASSESSMENT
Often educators know how to give the assessment, and even how to interpret the results. But, what is often missed are considerations for what we actually do with the data to target instruction for students. This session addresses what the outcomes of a high-quality literacy assessment can inform a teacher about instruction and how to create an action plan.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: Data Analysis or Instructional Strategies for Targeted Small Group Interventions
- Half-day webinar
LEVERAGING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR REMOTE LEARNING
The switch to remote learning has highlighted the urgency for teachers to have access to high- quality instructional materials that are also appropriate for e-learning. Some vendors provide a technology component to core/intervention resources that are supportive to teachers in easily delivering remote instruction. However, many schools have found some of their most impactful resources ineffective for remote learning. Let us work with you to establish systems and routines to ensure all teachers and students have rigorous materials to be effective for remote learning.
Training Options:
Please contact us for a customized plan to meet your need
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR TARGETED SMALL GROUP INTERVENTIONS
Many schools offer daily interventions for students, but often the strategies used during the small group instruction do not reflect research-based practices. Participants will learn numerous instructional strategies that have proven to be effective for students in all areas of literacy. A sampling of the strategies include:
- Improved spelling and decoding through phoneme-grapheme mapping
- Mediating grade level text for below level learners
- Strategies that promote fluency
- Student engagement strategies that will keep students motivated
- Strategies for reading multisyllabic words
- Activities that promote letter recognition and sounds
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: Universal Instruction or Whole and Small Group Instruction
Half-day webinar
Professional Development
Secondary
Secondary PD
Our consultants provide professional development geared towards your schools needs. The following are available topics for secondary education.
UNIVERSAL INSTRUCTION
Participants will learn the basis of the learning process and what can hinder a student’s ability to learn. Also discussed are high-leverage instructional strategies including explicit instruction, how to design and deliver a lesson, and increase motivation and engagement with students.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined one or more of the following topics: Motivation and Engagement, Reading Fluency, or Vocabulary at the Secondary Level
- Half-day webinar
ENHANCING LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACROSS CONTENT AREAS
Many students dropout and/or become frustrated with school because of their lack of ability to read grade level content material. Raising literacy levels of students at the secondary level is complex and requires all teachers engage in increasing literacy outcomes. Many secondary teachers feel ill-equipped to know what strategies increase students’ literacy levels. This course is intended for all discipline/content teachers and administrators and provides an overview of what ALL teachers can do to increase students’ reading abilities without leaving the content behind.
Training Options:
- Full day in-person
- Two (2), half-day webinars
UNIT PLANNING
At the secondary level, most content is taught through “units.” Lesson planning, aligning standards, learning targets and data analysis can all be embedded into a unit plan. This session walks teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators through building of unit plans and linking them to the school’s assessment system so that continual monitoring of growth is assured for all students.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined one or more of the following topics: Using Formative Assessment Data to Differentiate Instruction and Vocabulary at the Secondary Level
- Half-day webinar
CREATING EFFICIENT RTI AND MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
Participants in this session will develop a clear understanding of what creates a solid Response to Intervention through a multi-tiered system of support. This is a highly interactive session. Attendees will reflect on practices they already have in place, determine what needs to be developed, and will walk away with a specific action plan to establish a complete system that will ensure success for all students.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person
- Half-day webinar
MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT
As many secondary teachers would say, students just seem to lack engagement and motivation including non-struggling readers. Motivation and engagement are often considered intrinsic in nature, but there are many factors that can enhance student interest in the various disciplines. This session offers strategies and tips to teachers in every content.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with Vocabulary at the Secondary Level, or Reading Fluency
- Half-day webinar
CREATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCREASE LITERACY OUTCOMES FOR ALL
Raising the literacy levels of students at the secondary level includes not only ensuring content/discipline teachers know what strategies to use, it also includes infrastructural changes within the school. Examples include:
- A teaming approach by teachers
- Effective schedules that guarantee all students who need an intervention receive an intervention
- Professional development for all content teachers
- an assessment system that monitors the progress of ALL students
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person
- Two (2), Half-day webinars
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
To increase literacy levels at all grade levels, it is imperative that secondary schools use the correct assessments and have a comprehensive assessment system in place. Choosing the correct assessments that not only monitor literacy levels of students, but also measure content standards, may sound like a daunting task, but in many cases is more simple than what a school is already using. This professional development session explains what we should be assessing, why we should assess it, and provides examples of appropriate assessments to consider. Screening tools, progress monitoring, diagnostic assessment, and benchmark assessments towards the standards are all covered.
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day in-person
- Half-day webinar
READING FLUENCY
How much a student “practices” reading by simply reading is the best remedy for disfluent readers, yet struggling readers are the least apt students to read, creating a chasm between struggling readers and proficient readers. Disfluent readers need to hear good readers and they need to be guided through important passages of text to help them comprehend. At the end of this session, teachers will understand basic fluency strategies they can use in any content area to help increase students’ fluency abilities.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day in-person, combined with Motivation and Engagement, or Vocabulary at the Secondary Level
- Half-day webinar
VOCABULARY AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL
Vocabulary knowledge can have a significant impact on both reading comprehension and fluency at the secondary levels. Vocabulary instruction in the content areas should not only increase the number of words a student knows, but also the depth of understanding of these words. This professional development session will offer various vocabulary strategies that all content teachers can use that enhance students ability to comprehend text and develop a rich vocabulary.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day in-person, combined with Motivation and Engagement, or Reading Fluency
- Half-day webinar
USING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT DATA TO DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION
Linking formative assessments to learning targets or goals gives teachers a clear understanding on not only on how students are progressing toward the goal/standard, but also how it can improve a teacher’s instruction. When linking formative assessments with Unit Planning, teachers have the ability to differentiate instruction and provide necessary scaffolds to ensure success for more students.
Suggested Training Options:
- Two (2) hour session in-person, and can be combined with Unit Planning
- Half-day webinar
Professional Development
Administrators
Administrators PD
Keys to Literacy knows the research on effective schools and works with districts and school leaders to create focused systems of learning.
ESTABLISHING A MISSION AND VISION
Any school dedicated to ensuring all students learn at high levels must stop debating what they think students can or can’t do, and instead change the question to: How will we get every learner there? Administrators will explore the fundamental purpose and power of Mission and Vision statements. The research behind school leadership highlighting a tightly aligned community is integral to this session. Participants will engage in strategies that promote collaboration, inquiry and trust regarding the foundational purpose of the school, “Why do we exist?”. Clarity around the purpose of a collaboratively created Mission and Vision supports a community, guides decisions, and focuses on student achievement. Strategies can be customized to be delivered with your school’s leadership team and community.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person
CREATING EFFICIENT RTI AND MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
Participants in this session will develop a clear understanding of what creates a solid Response to Intervention through a multi-tiered system of support. This is a highly interactive session. Attendees will reflect on practices they already have in place, determine what needs to be developed, and will walk away with a specific action plan to establish a complete system that will ensure success for all students.
Suggested Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person
- Half-day webinar
BUILDING LEADERSHIP TEAMS
A building/school leadership team promotes two-way trust and open communication between administration and staff. This session guides administrators and teacher leaders through the steps of creating a Building/School Leadership Team. By creating a building leadership team, you create a shared-decision making process within your school culture. Research indicates that schools with a shared-decision making process have higher achievement outcomes than those that have not incorporated one into their culture.
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day session, and may be combined with Creating a Collaborative School Culture
CREATING A COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL CULTURE
This session will guide school-based leadership on how to create a collaborative culture that enables school teams to work alongside the principal to increase student achievement. Participants will learn the 4 T’s of a collaborative environment:
1. The components of trust in schools
2. How to create effective school teams
3. Maximizing time through organizational systems
4. Monitoring the necessary targets that lead to school success.
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day session, and may be combined with Building Leadership Teams
BUILDING THE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AND PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIP
A quality relationship between the building principal and instructional coach can be one of the most rewarding relationships. Regrettably, this pairing can be fraught with potential disaster if not well planned and understood. This session provides principals and coaches with clear responsibilities, tools for communication, and how to avoid the trap of “asking the other parent.”
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day session, and may be combined with Providing Effective and Timely Feedback
PROVIDING EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY FEEDBACK
This professional development session delineates the roles and responsibilities of the coach and principal, how to enlist teachers into working with the instructional coach, and the difference between instructional feedback provided by a coach and and the principal. Participants will receive access to, and learn how to effectively use forms designed for their specific role that have proven highly effective in providing feedback and support to teachers.
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day session, and may be combined with Building the Instructional Coach and Principal Relationship
DATA ANALYSIS: UNDERSTANDING THE SUBSKILLS OF ASSESSMENT
Often educators know how to give the assessment, and even how to interpret the results. But, what is often missed are considerations for what we actually do with the data to target instruction for students. This session addresses what the outcomes of a high-quality literacy assessment can inform a teacher about instruction and how to create an action plan.
Training Options:
- One (1) day, in-person combined with one of the following topics: Data Analysis or Instructional Strategies for Targeted Small Group Interventions
- Half-day webinar
VIRTUAL COACHING FOR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS
As a leader, one of a principal’s most important roles is to provide feedback on classroom instruction, but competing priorities and other emergencies sometimes take precedence. Through the use of video, and in collaboration with your Schools Cubed Consultant, you will learn how to provide feedback on classroom instruction. The power of video in a classroom enhances an instructional leader’s ability to maximize time, and offer timely feedback to teachers.
Training Options:
- Please contact us for a customized plan to meet your need
Professional Development
Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals PD
Too often, schools do not have enough highly trained staff to meet the demand of students who require intervention. Consider leveraging all human resources as a solution! It is often more cost-effective to train paraprofessionals than hire Reading Coaches or similar job-types. Most schools, especially those who receive Federal Title I funds, staff classes with paraprofessionals, or instructional aides. With the right training and support in research-based materials, paraprofessionals can become highly qualified individuals who are a key component in improving a school’s literacy outcomes.
HOW CHILDREN LEARN TO READ PARAPROFESSIONAL EDITION
It is critical for any adult who engages with children on their journey to becoming a reader to understand the Science of Reading. When equipped with the “why”, it becomes seamless to train paraprofessionals in any research-based literacy intervention.
Suggested Training Options:
- Half-day, in-person can be combined with Delivering Highly Effective Interventions
- Two (2) half-day webinars
COACHING AND MODELING
A Schools Cubed Consultant works in partnership with literacy leadership at each school to provide individual support for each paraprofessional through modeling and coaching. A transfer of responsibility is achieved once the paraprofessionals have demonstrated that there is high fidelity to the intervention resource, and instructional decisions are made to meet needs on individual students in the small group.
Training Options:
- Please contact us for a customized plan to meet your need
Contact our team to learn how we can partner together in your district!
We offer a range of services including PreK-12 evidence-aligned professional development and coaching for educators; comprehensive literacy audits and literacy leadership coaching; and partnerships with institutions of higher education. Together we canvhelp you create the knowledge, systems, and structures required to support critical literacy work.