Literacy Services
Literacy & Reading Services in the Black Hills
Comprehensive Evidence-Based Intervention for Reading, Writing, and Spelling
Literacy is a direct extension of spoken language. Reading, writing, and spelling all rely on a strong foundation of underlying language skills—including phonological processing, vocabulary, narrative organization, and working memory.
When a child or adult struggles to read or express themselves in writing, it is often tied to how the brain processes language. Because speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are experts in the architecture of language, we are uniquely qualified to evaluate and treat the root causes of reading and written language difficulties.
At Dakota Speech and Swallow Center, we provide comprehensive, individualized literacy evaluations and therapy. We utilize explicit, evidence-based programs—including the UFLI Foundations (University of Florida Literacy Initiative) curriculum—to build strong decoding, spelling, and language foundations.
Services are available in-person at our Rapid City clinic and through telehealth options when appropriate.
Common Signs Someone May Benefit from Literacy Support
An evaluation may be helpful when an individual experiences:
Frequent sound, syllable, or word repetitions
Prolonged sounds
Blocks or difficulty initiating speech
Increased effort or tension when speaking
Avoidance of certain words or speaking situations
Frustration related to communication
Reduced confidence participating in conversations
Concerns from family, teachers, or healthcare providers
Screenings to Guide Targeted Intervention
Our literacy screening looks closely at key foundational areas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness: Hearing, identifying, and manipulating individual sounds in spoken words.
Decoding & Word Recognition: How efficiently printed words are translated into spoken language.
Reading Fluency & Accuracy: The speed, accuracy, and expression used when reading text.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding and retaining written text.
Written Expression & Spelling: Sentence formulation, spelling patterns, and mechanics.
Executive Functioning for Literacy: Working memory and attention required for reading tasks.
Our Process
Before beginning literacy instruction, our certified teacher conducts a focused screening to identify exact skill gaps in oral and written language. This ensures every session targets the specific skills your child needs to succeed academically and functionally.
Literacy & Language Areas We Address
Early Literacy & Foundational Reading
Building the crucial neurological pathways needed for early reading success through multisensory, hands-on learning.
Focus: Phonemic awareness, letter-sound automaticity, print concepts, and rhyming for early readers, while maintaining phonological support and foundational decoding strategies for older students needing gap-filling in grades 3–5.
Language Comprehension & Meaning-Making
Transforming simple word recognition into true comprehension and active listening skills.
Focus: Oral language development, vocabulary expansion, visualization, basic inferencing, and self-monitoring strategies that start through read-alouds and transition into independent reading checks.
Spoken-to-Written Language & Classroom Support
Bridging the gap between how children speak and how they read, write, and participate in classroom content.
Focus: Connecting oral language and listening skills directly to classroom learning—helping early learners follow directions and express ideas, while supporting 3rd–5th graders in accessing grade-level curriculum content.
Early Writing & Idea Organization
Building writing confidence from initial letter-forming and sentence-building up to structured paragraphs.
Focus: Letter formation, oral-to-written sentence construction, simple graphic organizers, and low-stress drafting techniques that reduce writing frustration across elementary grades.
Investment & Payment Information
Literacy & Reading Services are Private Pay
Because reading and writing challenges are not classified as medical diagnoses, traditional health insurance plans do not cover educational and literacy-based instruction. As a result, our Literacy Services are only offered on a private pay basis. Providing these services directly through private pay gives our certified teacher full flexibility to design personalized instruction tailored specifically to your child’s learning pace, academic needs, and goals.
For current private pay rates, monthly packages, or questions about payment options, please reach out to our front office team!
