Dyslexia Therapy Training for Educators

TAKE FLIGHT: A COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA

Presented by:

Tara Chapman, M.S., AMS/EL, CALT-QI, and Co-Founder of The Written Word

Training Location:

The Written Word

Center for Dyslexia and Learning

319 S. Naperville Road, Suite 100

Wheaton, IL 60187

TAKE FLIGHT TRAINING COURSE

Course Description:

The Written Word’s Dyslexia Therapy Training Course is a two-year multisensory structured language training program for individuals who have completed a master’s degree and are interested in becoming a highly trained Certified Academic Language Therapist (Dyslexia Therapist). Individuals with a bachelor’s degree can enroll in the dyslexia therapy training course. However, a master’s degree must be earned before pursuing certification.

Participants will acquire the knowledge to develop a skill set that utilizes current evidence-based teaching strategies and techniques delivered in a multisensory, structured, explicit, and systematic way to provide the most effective intervention to those students with dyslexia who require specialized instruction.

Course participants will receive instruction in the implementation of Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, a two-year curriculum written by the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children. Take Flight addresses the five components of effective reading instruction identified by the National Reading Panel’s research and is a comprehensive Tier III intervention designed for students with dyslexia.

• • Scottish Rite approves TWW-DTT for Children (SRC) to offer training in Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia.

• • The Dyslexia Therapy Training Course will be delivered in lecture format with demonstrations, activities/assignments, discussion, and practicum experiences throughout the 2-year training. By the end of the 2-year training, participants will have received over 200 hours of course instruction.

• • Certification Opportunity: Upon completing the Dyslexia Therapy Training Course, trainees can pursue certification through the Academic Language Therapy Association.

• • Graduate-Level Credit Opportunity: Participants may receive graduate-level credit toward a Master of Education degree in Special Education or Reading. For more information, please get in touch with Marilyn Mathis, Course Instructor at King’s College in Pennsylvania. Email: marilynmathis1219@gmail.com, Website: www.kings.edu

Participants Receive Graduate Level Instruction in:

• • The acquisition of extensive knowledge regarding the history and characteristics of dyslexia and coexisting conditions.

• • The educational identification of dyslexia with an emphasis on screening, administering informal and formal assessments, progress monitoring, interpretation of test data, and recommendations for accommodations and modifications.

• • Diagnostic and prescriptive teaching with an emphasis on error analysis and progress monitoring to determine the instructional needs of a student.

• • The knowledge of human development, basic cognitive processes, learning theories/models, and instructional trends and issues.

• • Writing lesson plans that are multisensory, follow the EPPC model, and reflect the principles of direct and explicit instruction.

• • Designing and organizing a learning environment for academic language therapy.

• • Developing a student’s oral language skills and a survey of oral language disorders.

• • A multisensory, structured, and systematic approach to teaching phonological awareness with an emphasis on instruction in sound/symbol correspondence for reading and spelling, phonemic awareness and manipulation of phonemes, onset and rime, rhyme recognition, and production.

• • A multisensory, structured, and systematic approach to teaching reading, including instruction in alphabetic principle, decoding, reading automaticity, reading rate, prosody, orthographic patterns, the six syllable types, syllable division patterns and procedures, and morphology.

• • A multisensory, structured, and systematic approach to teaching spelling with an emphasis on phonemic awareness, sound/symbol-symbol/sound relationships, orthographic patterns, spelling generalizations, spelling formulas for derivatives, and spelling dictation skills.

• • A multisensory, structured, and systematic approach to teaching word relationships through grammar, morphology, semantics, and syntax.

• • A multisensory, structured, and systematic approach to teaching comprehension skills in expository and narrative text, including explicit instruction in vocabulary development.

• • The history of the English language with an emphasis on the layers of English and the etymology of word origins.

• • A multisensory structured approach to handwriting instruction.

• • Explicit instruction in composition with an emphasis on developing foundational writing skills beginning at the word level and progressing to the sentence level, and moving to write multiple paragraphs level.

• • The neurological, social, and emotional aspects of dyslexia.

• • Instructional strategies, techniques, and routines designed to support the academic success of students with dyslexia.

• • Establishing a private practice with an emphasis on best business practices.

• • Federal and state laws that protect individuals with disabilities, as well as local legislation, policies, and procedures pertaining to dyslexia in Illinois.

TRAINING COURSE SCHEDULE

2023-2024

 INTRODUCTORY COURSE

“Name – TBD”

2023-2024

DATES

• • Classes:  July 17 – 21, 2023
    • Mon – Fri, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

• • Classes:  July 24 – 28, 2023
    • Mon – Fri, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

• • Workshops: 9/16/23, 10/21/23, 11/11/23, 2/10/24, 4/13/24
    • Sat, 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

ADVANCED COURSE

“Flighter Pilots”

2023-2024

DATES

• • Classes:  June 12 – June 16, 2023
    • Mon – Fri, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

• • Classes:  June 19 – June 23, 2023
    • Mon – Fri, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

• • Workshops: 9/9/23, 10/7/23, 11/4/23, 2/3/24, 4/6/24
    • Sat, 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

FOR QUESTIONS AND TO REGISTER

PLEASE SUBMIT THE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

INTRODUCTORY COURSE

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

• 2 weeks of training
• 5 workshops throughout the year
• 100 introductory course contact hours
• 5 demonstration lessons
• Practicum hours with student(s) which includes 700 contact hours over two years of training.
• Additional assignments, book reports, and article summaries

ADVANCED COURSE

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

• Successful completion of the Introductory Course
• 2 weeks of training
• 5 workshops throughout the year
• 100 advanced course contact hours
• Continuation of practicum hours with student(s)
• 5 demonstration lessons
• Additional assignments, book reports, and article summaries
• Final group project, final paper, and literature expansion unit

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• A Bachelor’s degree-official copy of a transcript is required.  As. of May 1, 2023, a Master’s degree will be required before CALT certification is completed.
• 3 References
• Application for Introductory Course
• A passion for working with children

TUITION FOR TRAINING COURSE

• Introductory Course cost is $3,800* and includes all Take Flight curriculum materials.
• Advanced Course is $2,600* and includes all Take Flight curriculum materials
• Trainees that are self-pay have the option to remit tuition through scheduled payments.

*Costs are subject to change.

ALTA EXAM ELIGIBILITY

Upon completion of all Dyslexia Therapy Training (Take Flight Introductory and Advanced Course work), the trainee is eligible to apply for the ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE with a minimum of two years for the beginning of training and a maximum of 5 years from the completion of Certified Academic Language Therapy Training (CALT) training.

The ALTA Competency Exam for MSLE costs $180.00 to take, which includes the current year’s membership to the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA).  Current CALT dues are $75.00 annually.

When the candidate passes the examination, his/her candidacy will be presented to the Academic Language Therapy Association Membership Committee.  Upon final approval, the candidate will be sent a confirmation of eligibility for ALTA membership.  When the Membership Committee receives the applicant’s ALTA membership fee, notification of membership and a registration certificate will be sent to the applicant.

ALTA Exam Review Course

DETAILS

• • Are you ready to take the ALTA Competency Exam to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist?  This review class will comprehensively review the multisensory structured language course content in preparation for the exam.

• • The cost is $125 (Local) and $150 (Out-of-State) and includes an exam review notebook to help you study and prepare for the exam.

DATES

• • Online-Zoom Review Course (Out of State):
    • Saturday – April 22, 2023
    • 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
    • Registration Deadline – 4/1/23
    • A minimum of 6 registrants is required for the review course.

• • Person Review Course (Local):
    • Saturday – April 29, 2023
    • 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
    • Registration Deadline – 4/8/23
    • A minimum of 6 registrants is required for the review course.

THEY SAY

The Written Word

Center for Dyslexia and Learning

Dyslexia Therapy Training

• Approved by SRC (Scottish Rite for Children) to offer training in Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia.
• Certification Opportunity-Enables teachers and therapists to become certified through ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association) upon completion of the two-year course requirements.
• The training program’s course content reflects the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) Knowledge of Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
• Opportunity for Graduate Level Credit:  Master of Education degree in Special Education or Reading through King’s College, PA.

MEET THE INSTRUCTOR

Tara has been teaching students in both public and private settings for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction-Reading, and an American Montessori Society Elementary I Credential.

Tara is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). Tara earned her Qualified Instructor (QI) professional credential at McKinney Christian Academy’s Multisensory Teacher Training Center in Texas.

STEP BY STEP: GETTING STARTED

Interested in Dyslexia Therapy Training? This is how you get started.

For Questions and to Register