TAKE FLIGHT Information

Take Flight is a Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia that meets the criteria in all five components for a Comprehensive Dyslexia Program. 

Phonological Awareness: 

• Auditory discovery, articulation of sounds, placement of production, and voicing.
• Explicit script for teachers and consistent instructional routines. Regular words are orthographically mapped.
• Students practice articulatory features with introductory use of mouth pictures and auditory discovery to see and feel sounds to identify voiced/unvoiced, stop/continuant, etc.

Phonics 

• Word and Sentence reading. 
• Regular words are orthographically mapped.
• 6 syllable types and syllable division patterns are covered. 
• Encoding and decoding procedures encourage students to self-correct.
• Division patterns are covered.

Vocabulary 

• KWL Charts, vocabulary charts, and summarizing cards are used to promote discussion and dialogue.
• Program contains options for both younger and older students. 
• Evidence of academic vocabulary and Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Latin roots throughout the program.

Comprehension 

• Very detailed comprehension scope and sequence is provided. 
• Skills are individually practiced then applied in text practice. 
• Evidence of genre, structures, and story elements throughout.

Fluency 

• Students have a tracking sheet to measure rate.
• Protocol is given for timing and correcting errors.
• Rate passages begin with passage and moves to word level, then to phrases then applied to the passage.

When can someone begin to use the Take Flight? After the first initial week of training.

Do I have to become a CALT if I am trained in Take Flight?  NO. Any teacher can become trained in Take Flight. It is up to the participant if they would like to add the Academic Language Therapist Association (ALTA) certification of CALT.Email Any questions  

What is the goal of this training ? To train teachers and learning specialists in an accredited, two-year dyslexia therapy program that effectively incorporates the five pillars of reading. This is all for the purpose of providing empirically based, multi-sensory, systematic, synthetic, direct, and cumulative reading instruction and intervention. Upon completion, therapists-in-training can pursue certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT).

Why it is Important? It is critical that instructors use appropriate and accredited structured literacy programs when working with students with reading difficulties/disabilities. It is equally as critical that instructors are highly trained in these accredited programs. The standards for certification as a CALT include: at least 200 classroom instructional hours from a Qualified Instructor (QI), continued observations from a QI, and a minimum of 700 practicum hours working with children with reading disabilities in an accredited structured literacy program.

How will the coursework be completed? Over the course of two years, David Hanson (CALT-QI), will effectively instruct and train a group of teachers and specialists in Take Flight, an accredited dyslexia intervention program created through the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He will provide all instructional hours to therapists-in-training. Ten observations will be reviewed and critiqued for growth and development in therapy skills.

What are the intended results? At the end of the two year program, therapists-in-training who have completed all instructional hours, observational hours, and practicum hours will be able to register to take the Alliance for Accreditation and Certification of Structured Language Education, Inc. certification exam at the therapy level through the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). Upon passing, therapists-in-training will receive certification as an Academic Language Therapist. Having completed the highest level of dyslexia therapy training, CALTs will be able to effectively identify and provide remediation for students with varying levels of reading difficulties. 

Do you need to have a Master's to be trained? NO you do not need a Masters Degree. Bachelors degree is what one needs to be trained. The masters Degree requirement is a requirement to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). Academic Language Therapist Association (ALTA) starting in 2024. So if someone wants to be a CALT through ALTA they would need to have a Masters but it will most likely change back to bachelors by then. Take Flight training can be done by anyone that has a bachelors. Please pass this on to anyone that may thing this.

Additional Questions can be sent to:
accesslearningacademy@gmail.com