Our Approach to Professional Development

Successful professional development must be easily adaptable and relate directly to what teachers are doing in their classrooms. Research indicates that extensive follow-up training is necessary in order for teachers to successfully implement what they have learned. Follow-up should include opportunities for teachers to develop classroom lessons and to exchange ideas with their peers in small groups. All of Keys to Literacy’s professional development programs were developed with this in mind.

Core Training

Our programs are organized around four essential PD components: initial training, the identification and training of building-based coaches, long-term follow up for teachers, and administrator training. The graphic organizer below illustrates this training model.

Core Training Components

For Teachers:

  • Initial Training: Provides basic training, including how to teach the instructional components of each program
  • Guided Practice: Provides teachers time and assistance to generate lesson plans and classroom activities using our program
  • Small-Group Sharing: For participants who have already started using Keys to Literacy programs in their classrooms, supports long-term implementation of the program

For Coaches and administrators:

  • Coach Training: Two-day, advanced training to develop on-site support for implementation of Keys to Literacy programs by training building-based coach facilitators
  • Administrator Training: Half-day training and planning session that presents an overview of the Keys to Literacy program as well as recommendations for how building and district administrators can support implementation in their schools
  • Coaches and Administrators Annual Forum:One-day, in-depth forum for building-based coaches and administrator

Additional Training Options

For schools that have completed basic training and are implementing our programs, Keys to Literacy also offers additional training and consultation, illustrated in the graphic organizer here.

For Teachers:

  • Classroom Observation
  • Advanced in-depth training
  • Classroom Co-Teaching
  • Assistance with developing lesson plans

For Coaches:

  • Coach Support Session (half or full day)
  • Consultation meetings with building coaches or administrators