Keys to Early Writing:
Evidence-Based Professional Development Course
Would you like to learn evidence-based instructional practices for teaching foundational writing skills? This course is just what you need!
This practical course provides the background knowledge needed to teach the components of beginning writing instruction. The instructional suggestions are developmentally appropriate for young children in kindergarten through grade 2, and easily transfer to classroom lessons that can be integrated with any writing curriculum or published writing program. The course is tightly aligned with state writing standards.
The live training for this course takes approximately 12 hours (2 days) to complete and includes a training manual. The course covers these topics:
- Writing Basics
- Engage a Community of Writers
- Writing Process
- Structure for the Three Types of Writing
- First Steps: Drawing, Labels, Lists
- Syntax, Sentences
- Paragraph Writing
- Writing from Sources
Please note that the course does not include detailed suggestions for how to teach spelling — this is addressed in the phonics module of the Keys to Beginning Reading course.
Download an informational flyer that includes the course outline.
There are multiple options for accessing this professional development, listed below.
Option 1: Live Training
Participate in live training delivered by Keys to Literacy trainers using a virtual-live format (using Zoom meeting software) or onsite at your school district. We will develop a customized professional development plan to meet your scheduling needs.
Option 2: Online Course
A companion Keys to Early Writing online course is available that takes approximately 15 hours to complete. It covers the same content as live training and is aligned to the Keys to Early Writing training manual. It is an asynchronous course, which means users can log on and off multiple times to complete the course assignments at their own pace. Individual educators can register to take the course, or schools can register groups. The course registration fee includes a free copy of the training manual. Contact us to learn more, or register for the course at the Keys to Literacy store.
Option 3: Facilitated Online Course
Coming Soon! This facilitated online option is for educators who would like to complete the online course and also participate in a live, debrief session facilitated by a Keys to Literacy trainer. The facilitated session provides a collaborative opportunity to debrief activities completed during the online course, share ideas for connecting course content to classroom instruction, and have the facilitator answer questions and clarify online course content. Contact us to learn more.
Colorado CDE Approved Version
The Keys to Early Writing course is on the Colorado Read Act Advisory List of PD Programs. Click here to learn more, or contact Keys to Literacy.