Kākau Mea Nui 2.0

Writing Matters!

Strong writing skills can open up a world of self-expression and be the key to better understanding and full meaningful participation in our world.

The KMN 2.0 Writing Matters project for Advancing Academic Success of Native Hawaiian Students provides teachers professional development (PD) addressing effective inclusive, culturally responsive instructional strategies to increase the writing performance of Native Hawaiian students. The project builds on the success of the Kākau Mea Nui (KNM) project and its positive impact on Hawaiʻi public schools. Like its forerunner, this project, from the Native Hawaiian Education Program, U.S. Department of Education, is aimed at improving the writing of K-8 students. KMN offers rigorous, culturally based PD for teachers across content areas. Students are given meaningful, structured experiences to develop competency in core writing abilities in ways that benefit students’ educational experience across subject areas. These evidence-based activities are aligned with Common Core Standards.

FREE PDE3 Course for K-8 Teachers

Target Audience. For K-8 teachers interested in strengthening student writing by applying culturally responsive strategies and research-based writing process utilizing the 6+1 Traits of Writing.

Delivery Modality. The PD will be conducted virtual/hybrid. 10 modules covering the Writing Process and 6+1 Traits of Writing are through our online course platform, Canvas with facilitated synchronous Zoom sessions. Teachers will implement evidence-based writing strategies and receive coaching and feedback on their implementation. They will develop mini lessons for their PDE3 portfolio submission.

For more information, see our Recruitment Flyer. Teachers should register a KMN 2.0 Writing Matters Information Session at:

Upcoming Zoom Information Sessions

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 @4PM

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 @4PM

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 @4PM

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 @4PM

How Students are Guided

As students move towards mastery, they will also be doing so in engaged, technology-infused ways.

At its completion, the goal of the project is both to: (1) Give teachers the tools they need to help students’ writing flourish; and (2) Create engaging curricular material and training that can later continue to serve other schools and teachers.