TY - JOUR

T1 - What Methods of Scoring Young Children’s Spelling Best Predict Later Spelling Performance?

AU - Treiman, Rebecca

AU - Kessler, Brett

AU - Caravolas, Marketa

PY - 2019/2

Y1 - 2019/2

N2 - BackgroundChildren’s spellings are often scored as correct or incorrect, but other measures may be better predictors of later spelling performance. Method We examined seven measures of spelling in Reception Year and Year 1 (5–6 years old) as predictors of performance on a standardized spelling test in Year 2 (age 7). Results Correctness was the best predictor of later spelling by the middle of Year 1, and it significantly outperformed a binary measure of phonological plausibility at the end of Reception Year. Nonbinary measures based on Levenshtein distance were significant predictors of later spelling in the middle of Reception Year and in children who produced no correct spellings. Some widely used scales performed less well with children who did not yet produce any correct spellings. ConclusionsNonbinary measures of spelling performance can predict later spelling performance, but for a more restricted period than anticipated based on many theories.

AB - BackgroundChildren’s spellings are often scored as correct or incorrect, but other measures may be better predictors of later spelling performance. Method We examined seven measures of spelling in Reception Year and Year 1 (5–6 years old) as predictors of performance on a standardized spelling test in Year 2 (age 7). Results Correctness was the best predictor of later spelling by the middle of Year 1, and it significantly outperformed a binary measure of phonological plausibility at the end of Reception Year. Nonbinary measures based on Levenshtein distance were significant predictors of later spelling in the middle of Reception Year and in children who produced no correct spellings. Some widely used scales performed less well with children who did not yet produce any correct spellings. ConclusionsNonbinary measures of spelling performance can predict later spelling performance, but for a more restricted period than anticipated based on many theories.

KW - Spelling

KW - Phonology

KW - Ortography

KW - Spelling errors

KW - Levenshtein

U2 - 10.1111/1467-9817.12241

DO - 10.1111/1467-9817.12241

M3 - Article

VL - 42

SP - 80

EP - 96

JO - Journal of Research in Reading

JF - Journal of Research in Reading

SN - 0141-0423

IS - 1

ER -