ASDEC FAQ

Working With Students

6. Does my practicum student need a dyslexia diagnosis? 

Yes. Your supervised practicum student must have proper testing to identify dyslexia and any comorbidities. 

Important notes: 

• The word "dyslexia" may not appear explicitly in evaluations (tester-specific) - Check with your supervisor if the diagnosis is unclear 

• SIS is designed for students with language-based learning disabilities 

• Testing ensures appropriate support for the student's specific needs 

• If you take on an additional student without formal testing, consult your supervisor to confirm SIS is appropriate 

7. Can I work with my own child while training? 

Yes, you can earn hours working with your own child, but your child cannot be your primary practicum student. 

8. How often do I meet with my supervisor? 

Twice monthly: 

1. One-on-one meeting: Review your observed lesson, clarify procedures, ask questions about your student 

2. Group meeting: Collaborate with other interns under supervisor guidance 

CRITICAL: Prioritize these meetings. Do not schedule students or other commitments during your monthly group meeting time. 

9. What if a family can only meet 2 days per week? 

SIS requires minimum dosage for therapeutic fidelity: 

• 4 days/week at 45 minutes per session, OR 

• 3 days/week at 60 minutes per session 

Anything less prohibits therapeutic intervention with fidelity. You must explain the necessity of high-dosage therapy to families. If they cannot commit to the minimum, you cannot deliver SIS, and those hours will NOT count toward your required 700 hours. 

10. Do I need to work with 3 students simultaneously? 

No. Students can be consecutive (one after another). 

Requirements: 

• Begin the full intake process for 3 students (parent meeting, pre-testing, materials setup, etc.) - Only 1 student needs to be taken completely through Level 3 

• This ensures you experience all aspects of student onboarding and varied learner needs

11. Why must I take at least one student through Level 3 of SIS? 

Teaching through Level 3 ensures you: 

• Learn all 6 syllable types 

• Understand the complete structure of English language 

• Master structured literacy principles 

• Develop therapy-level certification competency 

While exposure to all 5 levels is important, Level 3 provides the comprehensive foundation necessary for certification. 

12. Can I work with a small group instead of one-on-one? 

Initially, no. SIS is a therapy-level intervention requiring proper implementation and fidelity. 

To maintain program integrity: 

• You must first learn and practice one-on-one 

• After gaining sufficient experience and demonstrated skill 

• You may request approval from the supervisory team 

• If approved, groups are limited to 2-3 students maximum (preferably 2) 

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This ensures students receive the individualized support needed for their unique learning profiles.

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13. Do I have to work with students over the summer? 

Not necessarily. Summer scheduling is intern and student dependent. 

Considerations: 

• Continuing over summer benefits both your training and student progress - Family travel, camps, and activities may require flexibility 

• Scheduling may be week-by-week 

• Some families pause completely 

If you pause supervision for July/August: 

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• You cannot count hours worked during the pause toward your 700 required hours - You may resume when you have a consistent schedule again