To meet the needs of K-1 students who have been identified as at risk for dyslexia
BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention
To meet the needs of K-1 students who have been identified as at risk for dyslexia, the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children has developed a 100-lesson reading intervention called BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention. BUILD is a small group intervention that addresses five specific components of reading instruction. Each component is taught developmentally using a direct, systematic, cumulative, multisensory method of introduction and practice to meet the specific needs of kindergarten and first-grade students struggling with reading.
The five components of BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention:
1. Alphabet: the identification of letters, sequencing skills, and alphabetizing
2. Letter/sound knowledge: the direct instruction of individual letters and sounds, leading to the practice of reading words and sentences
3. Phonological awareness: the explicit introduction of the relationships between speech-sound production, from rhyme to spelling
4. Vocabulary: the direct teaching of strategies using context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words
5. Comprehension: the explicit teaching of specific learning strategies used to identify the basic components of a story
SOURCE: SCOTTISH RITE FOR CHILDREN, DALLAS, TEXAS
BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS – PROGRESS MONITORING
Are you looking to be more diagnostic and prescriptive in your teaching?… Order your Benchmark Assessments today!
- Utilize the Benchmark Assessments as a progress monitoring tool in conjunction with BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention, specifically designed for early literacy development. By administering these assessments, you’ll gain valuable insights to inform your next steps and tailor instruction for students who require additional support in acquiring foundational literacy skills, whether during or after the intervention. (52-page Booklet—Includes Benchmark Assessments for Teachers and Students for Books 1 -3.)
- Please note that the Benchmark Assessments are not part of the research-based curriculum BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention developed at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, Texas. Under copyright law, the content of the Benchmark Assessments is restricted to use by a single individual who has purchased it.
- The Benchmark Assessments are co-authored by:
- Tara J. Chapman, M.S., AMS-EL, CALT-QI, The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning
- Melody M. Herring, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI, Educational Diagnostician, R.E.A.D. Evaluation & Dyslexia Center
- 1st REVIEW! – “The Benchmark Assessments serve as a wonderful tool to gain insight on how my students are responding to intervention. They are tremendously helpful in guiding instruction, as well as documenting student progress. Each assessment is easy to administer and corresponds perfectly with the intervention!“ J. C.
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION – DYSLEXIA TOOLKIT
The Dyslexia Toolkit provides evidence-based assessment and curricular materials focused on learners with dyslexia, those with other specific learning disabilities, as well as students who struggle with reading. The toolkit includes websites, books, videos, podcasts, screeners, training opportunities, and additional reading materials catering to diverse target audiences.
- BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention is recognized as an Intervention Curriculum for Educators in the Illinois State Board of Education’s published dyslexia toolkit.
(SOURCE: SLDSupports.org)
One-Day Training
Who:
- Certified Teacher, Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
- 6 CEUs are available through ALTA
When:
- 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST.
- Zoom-Online
- Register Due Date – 10 days before the training date.
Dates:
- August 2nd, 2025 – Saturday
- November 8th, 2025 – Saturday
- January 23rd, 2026 – Friday
- Please contact us for group rates or to arrange personalized training dates.
Why train at The Written Word?
Experience the transformative benefits of LIVE Zoom training, where interactive instruction, real-time feedback, and expert guidance come together to enhance your literacy teaching skills. Take advantage of this opportunity to engage deeply and refine your approach to teaching. Elevate and empower your literacy skills today!
✅ IMSLEC Accredited Center & CALT-QI Instructor – ✅ Live Interactive Online Training – ✅ Presentation with Supplemental Handouts – ✅ Additional Teaching Resources
Steps required to register
Step 1 – The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning*
- Fill out the Registration Form located at the bottom of this page.
- Once registration is received, The Written Word will issue an invoice for the $300 training fee and email instructions for purchasing materials from Scottish Rite for Children. The purchase of a kit from Scottish Rite for Children is required to attend the BUILD training.
- Additional handouts & instructional posters will be available to download through a shared drive after completing the training.
Step 2 – Scottish Rite for Children*
- The BUILD Intervention Kit costs $750 and must be purchased through the Scottish Rite for Children (SRC) online portal.
- Materials in the BUILD Intervention Kit include:
- The BUILD Interactive Files
- Teacher’s Guide downloads (there are 3 teacher’s guides)
- The training materials purchased through Scottish Rite do not include additional children’s books used for the comprehension component listed in each Teacher’s Guide.
- Unlimited student workbook downloads
- 7 Alphabet strips
- Alphabet Deck
- Instant Word Deck
- Letter Card Deck
- Keyword Deck
- 5 W-Charts (Comprehension Graphic Organizer)
Step 3 – Ordering Additional Materials
- The following materials are necessary for implementing the BUILD intervention. You can purchase them from the links provided.
No-Glamour® Language Cards by Carolyn LoGiudice:
- Upper-case plastic 3-dimensional blue letters. Item #101: click here to buy it.
- The following materials are necessary for implementing the BUILD intervention. You can purchase them from the links provided.
*Training programs do not offer refunds, but you will receive credit for future training. Please note that costs may vary, and credit card payments will incur a 4% processing fee.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Tara’s Credentials
- Co-Founder of The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning
- Certified Academic Language Therapist and Qualified Instructor
- Certified Public School Elementary Teacher, WI & AZ
- Certified Montessori Elementary Teacher, TX
- M.S. Curriculum and Instruction – Reading
- B.S. Elementary Education
- ALTA Illinois Chapter Member
- Everyone Reading Illinois Board Member
Registration Form
Please fill in the information below and click submit. Your acceptance into BUILD training will be confirmed within two business days via email. Instructions for ordering materials from Scottish Rite for Children and submitting payment for the training will be provided in the email.
