.png)
BECOME A CERTIFIED DYSLEXIA PRACTITIONER
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME
Orton-Gillingham Based...Enhanced with the Latest Neuroscience
Learn to identify and succeed with the multiple deficit profiles encountered when
working with students with dyslexia.
Dyslexia is not a one-size-fits-all reading disability.
​
Knowledge and Practice Based
​
Two Comprehensive Exams
60-Hour Supervised Practicum
COMPLETE YOUR CERTIFICATION ONLINE
TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Intensive/Accelerated (complete in 6 months)
or Self-Paced
​
UPON COMPLETION OF YOUR CERTIFICATION, YOU WILL BECOME PART OF OUR
CERTIFIED DYSLEXIA PRACTITIONER REFERRAL NETWORK
​
The Fluency Builders certification program leads to a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (CDP) certificate
issued by Early Literacy Solutions. Being certified means that...
-
You are thoroughly familiar with the Science of Reading and how to apply that science to screening and intervention for students with dyslexia.
-
You are familiar with the risk factors and deficits associated with dyslexia, relevant neuroimaging studies, intervention studies, Structured Literacy features and components, Orton-Gillingham methodology, fluency studies, prevention of reading failure in at-risk students, and the remediation of reading failure in older struggling readers.
-
You are qualified to screen students of all ages to assess their risk for dyslexia using the Fluency Builders Dyslexia Screeners.
-
You are qualified to provide parents and/or teachers with a student’s unique deficit profile based on the results of the Screener.
-
You are qualified to make recommendations related to differentiating the intervention based on a student’s unique profile and to implement these recommendations.
-
You have demonstrated your effectiveness in using all components of the Fluency Builders Orton-Gillingham based program.
​
Download the Certified Dyslexia Practitioner Program Brochure
The enhanced Orton-Gillingham based Fluency Builders Dyslexia Program you will use with your practicum student during the certification process is an evidence-based dyslexia screening and intervention program which includes the latest neuroscience on fluency - the biggest challenge in dyslexia intervention. View the results of a recent school pilot where students with dyslexia were able to make significant gains in critical reading domains in a matter of weeks using the Fluency Builders program.
View detailed results of the significant progress made by these students:
Results in Weeks...Not Years...in a School Setting
As an Interventionist in an elementary public school setting, I highly recommend the Early Literacy Solutions Orton-Gillingham based Fluency Builders Program.
Our school began using the program in March through May to meet fluency needs that weren’t successfully addressed with other programs. All students showed improvement in several areas during this short time frame. 7 out of 11 students showed improvement in Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM) and Phonological Awareness. All students showed improvement in Decoding.
The Fluency Builders Screener and Progress Tracker are comprehensive and well organized to easily analyze and interpret progress. The responsiveness and customer service from Georgie Normand is outstanding. All questions were answered within 24 hours if not sooner! From the rapid improvement in the students’ progress to the excellent customer support, it has been a pleasure utilizing the Fluency Builders Program. I highly recommend Fluency Builders!
- Christine Quick, M.Ed.
Interventionist
​
This Has Provided Me with Invaluable Insight into How and Why
to Work on Fluency
I had focused on phonics in the past; however, even when the child could decode, they were not able to read efficiently and at grade level and had many dyslexia-related reading errors. Many of my students also have ADHD so having a program that has a basis in executive functioning training was also helpful for me. I didn't screen for RAN and fluency prior to taking this course and I wouldn't think of completing a reading screen without it now, as it gives a picture of the overall efficiency of the reading network. There are so many helpful tools in the training program: dyslexia checklist, research articles, lesson plans, fluency passages, etc.
​
Georgie was incredibly responsive. The feedback was positive and constructive. She even helped troubleshoot cases outside of my study case (practicum student). If I read an article and wondered about how it fit in with the research behind Fluency Builders, she gave some great responses and pointed me in the direction of more articles for my learning. I found this open dialogue really helpful for my learning process.
​
The certification process equipped me well to work with students who are diagnosed or identified as at-risk for dyslexia.
​
- Natasha Richards, M.Sc., R. SLP, S-LP (C)
Registered Speech-Language Pathologist
Vernon, British Columbia
​
I Love the Fluency Builders Program
My practicum student had struggled with sounding out every word in every sentence for the past year. After completing one level of Fluency Builders with her (as part of my certification), she was able to read the passages in the program fluently. She remembers her spelling rules and talks through them when spelling words. It really is quite remarkable. Thank you for helping me help her.
Vanessa Dettrie, M.Ed.
Virginia Beach, VA
​
My Student Made Great Gains
My second grade practicum student gained more than 30 Words Correct per Minute
in his first 3 months.
Sita Qeleni
Special and Inclusive Education Senior Coordinator
Suva, Fiji
​
Practicum Student Is Now at Grade Level Reading Fluency
I am very pleased with my practicum student's progress. He just scored 5.3 in reading comprehension on the Stanford 9 SAT. I truly love this program and am looking forward to applying it in my education endeavors.
Sherry Holliday, M.Ed.
Reading Specialist, Houston, TX
​
My Experience with the Certification Program Has Been Great!
Georgie was always there for me when I had any questions and she reached out to me on a regular basis. She made sure I had everything I needed to implement the program. My practicum student has made progress since using the program. Even after graduating from the program, Georgie continues to be there for me as a mentor when I have questions. I would definitely recommend this training for anyone who wants to help a struggling reader.
- Heather G.
Kindergarten Teacher, Commercial Point, Ohio
​
From the Moment I Reached Out...
to Georgie Normand about the Certified Dyslexia Practitioner Program, I felt like I had a guide, a mentor, and a cheerleader to walk with me through each step of the process. Georgie was quick to respond to email or text questions and scheduled phone calls for longer questions. She taught me the logical reasons behind each component of the Fluency Builders program and her responses were full of evidence-based research, statistical support, and years of experience working with dyslexic students. This gave me great confidence in the Fluency Builder program and built trust with the clients I am serving.
Note: Since graduating from the certification program, Karina is consistently seeing fluency gains of over 60 Words Correct per Minute (WCPM) in her first 90 days of working with students.
- Karina B.
Private Tutor, Bend, OR
​
I Cannot Say Enough Positive Things About this Program...
From start to finish, consistent support and coaching from Georgie was provided, user friendly research and resources were included, and fast and effective results were obtained by my practicum student. I am already utilizing the Fluency Builders program and my certification training with several other students and seeing positive progress in just a few short weeks. As a practicing speech-language pathologist and mother, I was able to fit this dyslexia training program into my schedule with ease. I highly recommend this Certified Dyslexia Practitioner Program!
- Brooklynn Pursley, M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist, Sturgeon Bay, WI
​
Severely Dyslexic Practicum Student Almost Doubles Fluency
in Words Correct per Minute (WCPM)
in 5 Months
This program provided such a clear and concise approach while still allowing me the flexibility to accommodate the unique learning style of my practicum student and other students I work with.
- Katelyn Nedza , M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist, Island Lake, IL
​
​
Download the Fluency Builders Dyslexia Program Brochure
How it Works
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS
AT THIS TIME
Early Literacy Solutions offers a single certification program for becoming a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner. The program is administered in 3 Parts. You can take as long as you need to complete the 3 parts, but the minimum time frame for completing all 3 parts will require approximately 6 months of continuously working with a student who is in the second grade or older.
Select a student who is in the second grade or older.
You will be using the enhanced Orton-Gillingham based Fluency Builders Dyslexia Program with your student throughout the certification process. You will need to work with your student at least twice weekly with sessions of 60-90 minutes each.
​
The Certification Steps Must Be Completed in the Following Order:
​
PART 1 ($500) Part 1 Exam and Practicum
DYSLEXIA SCREENING FOR A TARGETED INTERVENTION
WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR PART 1, YOU WILL SELECT A PART 1 EXAM DATE FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU. YOU WILL RECEIVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS BY EMAIL. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE FLUENCY BUILDERS DYSLEXIA KIT AND THE MATERIALS NEEDED TO COMPLETE PART 1.
Online Exam: The Science of Reading and Its Application to Dyslexia Screening
Submission of 3 videos
Student Video
You will video record your screening of the student using the Fluency Builders PreK-2 or Grades 3-12 Screener. The screening will establish baselines in every reading domain for use in progress monitoring throughout the intervention.
Parent Conference Video
30 minute video clip from your conference in which you explain the results/recommendations from the screening to the parent(s).
​
Early Work Video
Video to establish baselines of the student's reading proficiency and your early fidelity to the program
PART 2 ($650) Part 2 Exam and Practicum
THE SCIENCE OF READING AND THE STUDENT WITH DYSLEXIA
WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR PART 2, YOU WILL SELECT A PART 2 EXAM DATE FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU. YOU WILL RECEIVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS BY EMAIL.
Online Exam: The Science of Reading and Its Application to Dyslexia Intervention
Fidelity Checks
Progress Monitoring Checks
The Fluency and Comprehension Boot Camp
Ongoing Coaching
​
​
PART 3 ($650) Practicum
LEARNING
MENTORING
COACHING
WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR PART 3, YOU WILL SELECT AN ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU. YOU WILL RECEIVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS BY EMAIL.
Submission of 2 videos (word lists and oral reading fluency passages) and the Most Recent Progress Tracker
Fidelity Checks
Progress Monitoring Checks
Ongoing Coaching
​
​
​​
REGISTER NOW
Select:
PART 1
$500
PART 2
$650
PART 3
$650
Train-the-Teacher License ($1,800)
PREREQUISITES:
-
Must be a state certified teacher
-
Must have earned the Early Literacy Solutions Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (CDP) Certification
​
Certified teachers who have already earned the ELS Certified Dyslexia Practitioner certification can apply for the Fluency Builders Certified Train-the-Teacher License issued by Early Literacy Solutions. This certification ensures that those who are training in-service teachers are preparing them to implement the program with fidelity. Again, the emphasis is on implementation. Applicants must submit 5 videos in which they are teaching the following:
​
How to Use the Fluency Builders Screeners and the Research Behind Them (Workshop)
As part of the workshop, teacher participants must watch the Fluency Builders Screener Training video. Your workshop must be a minimum of 3 hours long with at least 3 teacher participants. Your video submission must include 2 1/2 hours of actual training.
​
Teacher TOOLKIT Workshop
As part of the workshop, teacher participants must watch Fluency Builders Toolkit video. Your workshop must be a minimum of 3 hours long with 3 teacher participants. Your video submission must include 2 1/2 hours of actual training.
​
Fluency Builders Workshop: Implementing Fluency Builders 1-14
Your workshop must be a minimum of 3 hours long with 3 teacher participants. Your video submission must include 2 1/2 hours of actual training.
​
Fluency Builders Workshop: Implementing Fluency Builder 15
As part of the workshop, teacher participants must watch the Fluency Builders 11-15 video. Your workshop must be a minimum of 3 hours long with 3 teacher participants. Your video submission must include 2 hours of actual training.
Dyslexia Awareness Workshop
As part of the workshop, the teacher participants must watch the 1-hour Fluency Builders Dyslexia Awareness video with the Stop & Review Questions. Your workshop must be a minimum of 3 hours long with 3 teacher participants. Your video submission must include 2 hours of actual training.