The Research
ELLs and Spelling
The Study Time Line
Date
Intervention
February
2-6
Pre-Test Words Their Way Elementary Spelling Inventory
Spelling Attitudes Survey
February
9-13
Week 1 of Instruction
Spelling Instruction and comparison of the Vowels e/i in Spanish and English
February
16-20
Week 2 of Instruction
Spelling Instruction: Focus on the confusion between the short i/e sounds and spellings
February
23-27
Week 3 of Instruction
Spelling Instruction; Cognate confusion & Digraphs
March
2-6
Week 4 of Instruction
Spelling Instruction: Review of Language transfer connections and post-test
Words Their Way Spelling Inventory
This is the form used for the students pre and post tests. The students worked up to word 10.
Results
The red represents student scores on the pre-test and the blue represents student scores on the post-test.
Skills are not taught in isolation
Children then must practice reading the words they are learning to spell in context!
What the Data Shows...
Was a small improvement in the scores of all students from pre to post test. While this was a short study with a small group, the results show the direct instruction in phonological awareness and language transfer are proven to have a positive effect on student spelling!
Website: http://www.nhcs.net/williams/
Location: Mary C Williams Elementary School, Wilmington, NC, United States
Phone: 910-350-2150