Welcome to the Keys to Literacy Store

For your convenience, you can purchase our products via phone, fax, mail or online.

To fax or mail your order, please print and complete the Keys to Literacy order form.

You may also order online with a credit card by selecting any of the products below from our secure Keys to Literacy Store.

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The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Grades book

The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Grades
by Joan Sedita, ©2012

The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Grades is a practical program for teaching comprehension to students in grades K-3. It is the primary grades version of the original Key Comprehension Routine for grades 4-12. The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Grades teaches text structure, categorizing, and main idea skills. As with The Key Comprehension Routine for grades 4-12, four strategy activities are the core of the routine: top-down topic webs, two-column notes, summarizing, and question generation

In this book you will find:

  • A review of the research on effective comprehension instruction in grades K-3 and factors that can affect comprehension.
  • An explanation of the routine and its implementation at both the classroom and school level.
  • The connection between oral language and comprehension.
  • Hands-on practice for teaching categorizing, main idea, text structure, top-down topic webs, two-column notes, retelling and summarizing, and question generation using Bloom’s Taxonomy.
  • Opportunities to develop lessons that incorporate the routine using your own classroom reading material.

The book also provides a variety of classroom examples, practice exercises, and a collection of reproducible templates, as well as opportunities to develop activities from reading material used in the teacher’s own classroom. Soft cover, 266 pages. USD $38. US Shipping & Handling: $7.00 for 1st item; $1.50 for each additional item. Please allow two weeks for delivery.


The Key Comprehension Routine bookThe Key Comprehension Routine
by Joan Sedita, ©2010 2nd edition

This book is the updated second edition of the The Key Three Routine: Comprehension Strategies. The Key Comprehension Routine is a flexible program that can be used to teach and practice comprehension strategies for grades 4 through 12. The routine includes the following skills and strategies: main idea skills, use of text structure, top-down topic webs, two-column notes, summarizing, and question generation using Bloom’s Taxonomy. These skills are combined into a series of four activities that can be used with all content reading material and classroom lessons.

In this book you will find:

  • An overview of reading comprehension strategies, including factors that can affect comprehension.
  • A description of The Key Comprehension Routine with suggestions for how it can be implemented both in the classroom and as a school-wide program.
  • Hands-on suggestions for how to teach the skills in the routine embedded in content instruction.

The book includes numerous examples and practice exercises, including opportunities to develop activities from reading material used in the teacher’s own classroom. There are also reproducible templates. Soft cover, 218 pages. USD $38. US Shipping & Handling: $7.00 for 1st item; $1.50 for each additional item. Please allow two weeks for delivery.


The Key Vocabulary Routine bookThe Key Vocabulary Routine
by Joan Sedita, ©2009

The Key Vocabulary Routine is a content vocabulary program for grades 3 through 12 that can be used in all classrooms. The program emphasizes the integration of vocabulary instruction in any content area (e.g., science, social studies, English language arts, math).

Research has found that that there is no one best method for vocabulary instruction, and that vocabulary should be taught both directly and indirectly. It has also found that the least effective instructional practice is the memorization of word definitions.

The Key Vocabulary Routine emphasizes growth of vocabulary through wide reading, multiple exposures to words and linking new words to background knowledge. The teacher training includes hands-on practice for the following:

  • Providing direct, systematic instruction of specific content vocabulary and how to select the most appropriate new words from content reading material
  • Teaching a word in relation to other words using activities such as categorizing, semantic feature analysis, and semantic mapping
  • Analyzing word structure and teaching word parts, including the most common roots, suffixes and prefixes
  • Teaching strategies for using context to determine word meaning
  • Teaching strategies for effective use of a dictionary and creating student generated definitions

The Key Vocabulary Routine includes numerous examples and practice exercises, including opportunities to develop activities from reading material used in the teacher’s own classroom. There are also reproducible templates. Soft cover, 152 pages. USD $38. US Shipping & Handling: $7.00 for 1st item; $1.50 for each additional item. Please allow two weeks for delivery.


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Professional Development Online Courses

Keys to Literacy offers professional development online courses for The Key Comprehension Routine (Grades 4-12), The Key Comprehension Routine: Primary Grades and The Key Vocabulary Routine. Educators who would like to acquire the initial training for these programs but cannot attend live training may access it online.

Learn more about our online courses and see a demo!

Download the online course registration form.


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Keys to Literacy Posters  (click on each image to see larger poster)

Poster: Question TermsQuestion Terms poster
Item #P-QT

Dimensions: 22″x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine
This is based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, and it provides question terms at a variety of levels of comprehension. It is an excellent tool for teaching vocabulary and improving understanding of classroom content. Sold individually ($5.00).


Poster: Transition WordsTransition Words poster
Item #P-TW

Dimensions: 22″ x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine
This is an easy guide to commonly used transition words. It is designed to help all students learn how to connect sentences and relate ideas to one another, especially when they are writing summaries. Sold individually ($5.00).


Poster: How to Write a SummaryHow to Write a Summary poster
Item #P-WS

Dimensions: 22″ x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine
This provides a clear, step-by-step guide to writing a summary. It is a useful reminder to help students as they write an overview of the most important information from classroom content and materials. Sold individually ($5.00).


Poster: Summary TemplateSummary Template poster
Item #P-ST

Dimensions: 22″ x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine
This template helps students plan before they write a summary. It guides them through listing main ideas, writing an introductory sentence, and turning main ideas into sentences. Sold individually ($5.00).


The ANSWER Key RoutineThe ANSWER Key to Open Response poster
Item #P-ANS
Dimensions: 22″ x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine
Using the steps in The ANSWER Key Routine, this provides a visual guide for students in planning, analyzing and writing answers to extended response questions. Sold individually ($5.00).


Sample pack of all 5 postersSample pack of 5 posters
Item #P-5P
Dimensions: 22″ x 25.5″ — Standard size for laminating machine. ($20.00).


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Keys to Literacy Student Guides

Student Guide: Question TermsQuestion Terms student guide
Item #SG-QT

Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″
This laminated page has three punched holes in the side so students can have a handy reference to question terms. Sold in packs of 10 ($15.00).


Student Guide: Transition WordsTransition Words student guide
Item #SG-TW
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″
This handy list of transition terms comes in an laminated page with three punched holes in the side. Sold in packs of 10 ($15.00).


Student Guide: Summary TemplateSummary Template student guide
Item #SG-ST
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″
This template guides students through writing a summary, and it is laminated with holes for easy filing in a notebook. Sold in packs of 10 ($15.00).


Sample pack of all 3 guidesSample pack of 3 guides
Item #SG-3P
Dimensions: 8.5″ x 11″
Sample pack of all 3 guides ($5.00).


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Keys to Literacy Implementation Portfolios

Implementation Portfolio: Key Comprehension RoutineKey Comprehension Routine implementation portfolio
Item #IP-KY
Dimensions: 9.75″ x 11.5″ Fits into a standard file drawer
This portfolio provides an Activity Log to easily record Key Comprehension activities as you implement them in the classroom and serves as a handy place to keep samples of Key Comprehension activities for quick reference and follow-up meetings. Sold in packs of 20 ($15.00).


Implementation Portfolio: Key Vocabulary RoutineKey Vocabulary Routine implementation portfolio
Item #IP-VO
Dimensions: 9.75″ x 11.5″ Fits into a standard file drawer
This portfolio provides an Activity Log to easily record Key Vocabulary activities as you implement them in the classroom and serves as a handy place to keep samples of Key Vocabulary activities for quick reference and follow-up meetings. Sold in packs of 20 ($15.00).