Author Question: Identify the purposes and components of the Developmental Spelling Test and create a mini-case study ... (Read 64 times)

jho37 · **on:** Jun 20, 2018

Identify the purposes and components of the Developmental Spelling Test and create a mini-case study of two children in grades three through five, one of whom is assessed at a primary grade instructional spelling level and the other of whom is at grade level.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Imagine that you are a second-grade teacheryou have just received a new student in your classroom. What data would you collect to determine this student's level of spelling development? How would you apply what you have discovered from the data?

What will be an ideal response?

jojobee318 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The Developmental Spelling Test (DST) is used to assess a student's developmental level in spelling. Students are administered one of three spelling lists (primary, middle grades, and upper grades). The DST analyzes the student's misspelling of common spelling features. Misspelling of common features is more informative than actual number of correct words. Students in grades three through five generally fall into the structural spelling stage. Students in these grades assessed at the primary level generally fall into the phonemic spelling stage. These students are generally considered to be below grade level spelling expectations. All activities planned need to accommodate the learner's developmental level.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: A new student should be assessed as soon as possible. The teacher has many options for assessment; these include collecting and analyzing writing samples, administering a Developmental Spelling Test, and reviewing the student's records. These assessments provide the teacher with an analysis of the student's spelling development. Activities based upon the assessments ideally enable the student to develop spelling in a systematic manner.