Keys to Beginning Reading: Evidence-Based Professional Development: Cohort #4

This practical course provides the background knowledge needed to teach all the components of beginning reading instruction. The instructional practices are designed to easily transfer to classroom lessons and can be integrated with any reading curriculum or published reading program. The course is tightly aligned with state literacy standards and has been approved by Act 20 as a K-3 science of reading professional development option. 

Keys to Beginning Reading is a hybrid learning experience. The online course is organized into 11 modules (36 hours). Educators learn course content by completing the online course modules asynchronously (see the pacing guide for full details). Additionally, there are five, live meetings that will be facilitated by a CESA 5 Keys to Literacy trainer to support the 36-hour course (12.5 hours). Four of these sessions will be facilitated virtually with the final session to be facilitated in-person at CESA 5. These sessions provide a collaborative opportunity to debrief activities completed during online modules, share ideas for connecting course content to classroom instruction, and have the facilitator answer questions and clarify online course content. The live sessions offer a forum for teachers to process what they’ve learned and will support districts to create system-wide improved instruction.

See the Course Pacing Guide for More Details 

Registration fee: $650 per person~ Prices are subject to change depending on KEYS licensing fee.

Registration fee includes the Keys to Beginning Reading Training Manual, access to the Online Course, and participation in the professional learning series.

Per the Keys to Literacy policy, online course licenses are non-transferrable. Once a participant has confirmed/logged into their account it cannot be transferred to a new participant.

Location: Zoom or CESA 5 Main Conference Room

Click flyer to view as PDF

Cohort 4:

Introductory Meeting: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 3:30-4:00 PM (Virtual) 

Session 1: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 2:30-5:00 PM (Virtual) 

Session 2: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 2:30-5:00 PM (Virtual) 

Session 3: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 2:30-5:00 PM (Virtual) 

Session 4: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 2:30-5:00 PM (Virtual) 

Session 5: Thursday, June 17 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (In-Person) Lunch included

Course Content: 

The course is organized into 11 modules covering these topics (with training time noted):

Module 1: Reading Basics (1.5 hrs)

Module 2: Oral Language (1.5 hrs)

Module 3: Phonological Awareness (3 hrs)

Module 4: Phonics (7.5 hrs)

Module 5: Fluency (3 hrs)

Module 6: Vocabulary (6 hrs)

Module 7: Sentence Structure (1.5 hrs)

Module 8: Text Structure (1.5 hrs)

Module 9: Comprehension (6 hrs)

Module 10: Students with Reading Difficulties (2 hrs)

Module 11: Reading Assessment (2 hrs)

Participants will be asked to log on for a brief introductory informational meeting to kick off the learning series. 

Target Audience: This course is designed for any educator who teaches basic reading skills to students in grades K-3 or students in upper elementary grades who struggle with basic reading skills. It is also appropriate for literacy coaches and administrators who develop beginning reading curriculum or support teachers.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Cancelation Deadline: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Districts will be invoiced after Wednesday, December 18, 2024.   At that time, cancellations will not be accepted, and refunds will not be allowed.  Registration is transferrable to a staff member in your district, before login is completed. This supersedes our regular cancellation policy.

For questions regarding registration: Stephanie Helmann, helmanns@cesa5.org (608) 745-5472
For questions regarding workshop content:  Maggie Trenda, trendam@cesa5.org (608) 745-5476