Dyslexia Therapy Training for Educators

TAKE FLIGHT: A COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA

The Written Word – Dyslexia Therapy Training (TWW-DTT)…

✅ Professional Development Provider for Illinois Educators: Educators participating in The Written Word’s Dyslexia Therapy Training course will receive professional development (PD) hours through Everyone Reading Illinois.

✅ Take Flight meets the required standards set forth by all states, including Texas: Because Take Flight is taught by those trained to the therapy level, it can be used to meet the needs of students in Special Education identified with dyslexia who require specially designed instruction.” (SOURCE: SRC)

✅ Illinois State Board of Education – Dyslexia Toolkit: Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia is recognized as an Intervention Curriculum for Educators in the Illinois State Board of Education’s published dyslexia toolkit.

DYSLEXIA THERAPY 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 implementing 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 for Children (SRC) approves TWW-DTT 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 (Introductory and Advanced Courses), 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 (ALTA).

• • 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 contact 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 emphasizes error analysis and progress monitoring to determine a student’s instructional needs.

• • 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 and local legislation, policies, and procedures pertaining to dyslexia in Illinois.

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 is a prerequisite to attending the Advanced 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.  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 $2,900* and includes all Take Flight curriculum materials
  • Trainees who are self-pay have the option to remit tuition through scheduled payments.
  • This training may be cancelled if there is an insufficient number of registrants.

*Costs are subject to change.

INTRODUCTORY COURSE  – YEAR 1

Illinois CoHort

Now Open for Enrollment

• • Summer Course: Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    • July 14-18, 2025
    • July 21-25. 2025

• • Workshops: Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    • September 6, 2025
    • October 4, 2025
    • November  1, 2025
    • February 7, 2026
    • April 18, 2026

ADVANCED COURSE – YEAR 2

Illinois Cohort

“The Speedy Super 6”

• • Summer Course: Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    • June 9-13, 2025
    • June 16-20. 2025

• • Workshops: Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    • September 13, 2025
    • October 11, 2025
    • January  17, 2026
    • March 7, 2026
    • April 25, 2026

Contact us for group rates or to schedule customized training dates.

ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION – DYSLEXIA TOOLKIT

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, including 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, their 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

Are you ready to take the ALTA Competency Exam to become a Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP) or 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 (In-Person) and $150 (Out-of-State), including a review course binder to help you study and prepare for the exam.

THEY SAY

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Tara J. Chapman

Executive Director, M.S., AMS-EL, CALT-QI

Tara Chapman has taught public and private education students for over 35 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction-Reading, and an American Montessori Society (AMS) Elementary I Credential. Tara is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and a Qualified Instructor (QI). As a CALT, she is trained to provide diagnostic, explicit, and systematic Multisensory Structured Language intervention, which builds a high degree of accuracy, knowledge, and independence for students with written-language disorders, including dyslexia. A Qualified Instructor (QI) has earned the credentials necessary to teach professionals to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) through the Academic Language Therapy Association. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning, a dyslexia-focused, International Multisensory Language Education Council (IMSLEC)-accredited Center in Wheaton, Illinois. She is dedicated to educating and supporting students, parents, and teachers throughout the state of Illinois and beyond. Tara completed her CALT training in the Learning Therapy Program at Southern Methodist University and her QI training at McKinney Christian Academy’s Multisensory Teacher Training Program.

As a Qualified Instructor, Tara is approved to offer Dyslexia Therapy Training in Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, BUILD A K-1 Early Reading Intervention, Rite Flight: A Classroom Reading Rate Program, and Rite Flight: A Classroom Comprehension Program, developed by staff at the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children (SRC) in Dallas, Texas. She also offers professional development courses in A Structured Approach to Teaching Reading, Writing, and Spelling, and Literacy and Learning Workshops designed to teach parents how to support their students’ development of literacy skills. She serves on various ALTA National committees and the ALTA Illinois Chapter Board, which she helped establish in 2018. She is currently an active board member of Everyone Reading Illinois.

Melody Herring

M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI, RPED

Melody has worked in public education for more than 20 years. She has served as a special education and general education teacher, elementary and middle school campus administrator, a dyslexia therapist, and an educational diagnostician. She received both her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas Woman’s University. She worked on her Educational Diagnostician credentials for certification through Midwestern State University and is a Registered Professional Educational Diagnostician through Texas Professional Educational Diagnosticians. She is the Founder and Executive Director of R.E.A.D. Evaluation and Dyslexia Center offers professional development and training in reading, structured literacy, dyslexia, and the identification of dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Melody is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and a Qualified Instructor (QI). As a CALT, she is trained to provide diagnostic, explicit, systematic, Multisensory Structured Language intervention, which builds high accuracy, knowledge, and independence for students with written-language disorders, including dyslexia. A Qualified Instructor (QI) has earned the credentials necessary to teach professionals to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) through an accredited International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) training center. Melody is approved to offer training in Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, developed by staff at the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children (SRC) in Dallas, Texas. Melody completed her CALT and QI training through McKinney Christian Academy – Multisensory Teacher Training (MCA-MTT), where she is currently contracted as an instructor. Melody is a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist in the state of Texas.

Amy Cox

M.A., CALT, QI in Training

Amy is a Reading Specialist and Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) in Plainfield School District 202 with nineteen years of teaching experience and thirteen years specializing in literacy instruction. She has experience teaching at elementary, middle, and high school, spending the most years at the middle school level. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s Degree from Lewis University in Reading and Literacy, and a certificate from the University of St. Francis in English as a Second Language. Amy earned her CALT credential through McKinney Christian Academy’s Multisensory Training Center and is currently a QI in training at The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning in Wheaton, IL.

Erin Young

M.Ed., CALT, QI in Training

Erin has 22 years of experience teaching primary and middle school students in public education. She is now in private practice at The Letter Loft, providing dyslexia therapy in the western suburbs of Chicago. Erin uses the intervention Take Flight: a Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia developed by Scottish Rite Hospital for children in Dallas, Texas. In addition, she is trained in BUILD, also through Texas Scottish Rite. Erin very much enjoys getting back into classrooms while supervising student teachers at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. She is currently serving as secretary for the ALTA Illinois chapter and is training to be a QI at The Written Word Center for Dyslexia and Learning.

STEP BY STEP: GETTING STARTED

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