Dyslexia
Academic Language Therapy
Academic Language Therapy includes intervention that is systematic (organized logically), sequential (one skill builds on another), and explicit (direct). The National Reading Panel’s report from 2000 recommends that all students be exposed to five components during reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. All of these skills are addressed during therapy sessions with the addition of spelling, which is critical for improving student’s writing and reading skills.
What is Take Flight?
Take Flight is a comprehensive Orton-Gillingham based intervention. Take Flight was developed by the staff of the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. Stephen had to fulfill 200 hours of course work related to Take Flight and to complete over 700 hours of reading therapy with students in order to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT).
What does a Take Flight lesson include?
A Take Flight lesson includes ten different activities, each targeting sub-skills necessary for rapid decoding of words, which leads to comprehension. The following are addressed in each lesson:
- Alphabet
- Phonemic Awareness
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Fluency
- Spelling
- Handwriting
- Comprehension
How long do Take Flight lessons take?
Take Flight lessons last between 55 minutes to one hour.
How many days per week do you recommend therapy?
In the clinical or school setting, students are in Take Flight up to five days per week. In the private setting, three days per week of therapy is recommended and is most optimal for growth. Students who are seen less than three days per week typically do not show the progress necessary to develop solid reading and writing skills.
