Pub Date : 2015-05-13DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1037323
L. Larsen, Saskia Kohnen, L. Nickels, G. McArthur
Children who have difficulty learning to read are at increased risk for academic failure, poor self-esteem, anxiety and depression, and unemployment. To help reduce these risks, it is important to identify and treat weaknesses in a child's reading as early as possible. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable comprehensive standardized test of a key reading sub-skill called grapheme–phoneme correspondence (GPC) knowledge. In Phase 1 of the study, we selected a comprehensive evidence-based list of the most important GPC rules for learning to read in English. In Phase 2, we administered this list to a representative sample of Australian children to calculate age- and grade-based norms. In Phase 3, we established that the test had robust inter-rater and test–retest reliability, and appropriate criterion validity. We hope that this new test, which is called the Letter-Sound Test, proves useful to clinicians, teachers, and researcher as a comprehensive test of GPC knowledge.
{"title":"The Letter-Sound Test (LeST): a reliable and valid comprehensive measure of grapheme–phoneme knowledge","authors":"L. Larsen, Saskia Kohnen, L. Nickels, G. McArthur","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1037323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1037323","url":null,"abstract":"Children who have difficulty learning to read are at increased risk for academic failure, poor self-esteem, anxiety and depression, and unemployment. To help reduce these risks, it is important to identify and treat weaknesses in a child's reading as early as possible. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable comprehensive standardized test of a key reading sub-skill called grapheme–phoneme correspondence (GPC) knowledge. In Phase 1 of the study, we selected a comprehensive evidence-based list of the most important GPC rules for learning to read in English. In Phase 2, we administered this list to a representative sample of Australian children to calculate age- and grade-based norms. In Phase 3, we established that the test had robust inter-rater and test–retest reliability, and appropriate criterion validity. We hope that this new test, which is called the Letter-Sound Test, proves useful to clinicians, teachers, and researcher as a comprehensive test of GPC knowledge.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"129 - 142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1037323","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-04-07DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1023208
L. Hammond
Results of influential reports on early literacy have drawn attention to the need for early childhood educators to take up a more explicit, teacher-directed approach to beginning reading. Positive classroom results however are in part dependent upon teacher knowledge and this study investigated the relationship between early childhood educators’ linguistic knowledge, beliefs and enacted practice about teaching reading. Results indicate that while early childhood educators believe knowledge about teaching reading is ‘very important’ to their role, their understanding of literacy precursor skills was generally low. When observed teaching beginning reading, most participants demonstrated some capacity to plan and teach in an explicit way; however, their enacted practice was inconsistent with their teacher knowledge results. This suggests the ability to reflect on the sound structure of spoken words and apply this knowledge to learning to read is a different skill to planning instructional sequences to teach these literacy precursor skills explicitly.
{"title":"Early childhood educators’ perceived and actual metalinguistic knowledge, beliefs and enacted practice about teaching early reading","authors":"L. Hammond","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1023208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1023208","url":null,"abstract":"Results of influential reports on early literacy have drawn attention to the need for early childhood educators to take up a more explicit, teacher-directed approach to beginning reading. Positive classroom results however are in part dependent upon teacher knowledge and this study investigated the relationship between early childhood educators’ linguistic knowledge, beliefs and enacted practice about teaching reading. Results indicate that while early childhood educators believe knowledge about teaching reading is ‘very important’ to their role, their understanding of literacy precursor skills was generally low. When observed teaching beginning reading, most participants demonstrated some capacity to plan and teach in an explicit way; however, their enacted practice was inconsistent with their teacher knowledge results. This suggests the ability to reflect on the sound structure of spoken words and apply this knowledge to learning to read is a different skill to planning instructional sequences to teach these literacy precursor skills explicitly.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"113 - 128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1023208","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2014.921632
P. Westwood
This paper explores the question of whether the ability to spell depends mainly on visual perception and visual imagery, or on other equally important auditory, cognitive, and motor processes. The writer examines the evidence suggesting that accurate spelling draws on a combination of visual processing, visual memory, phonological awareness, phonic knowledge, handwriting, knowledge of morphemic principles, and strategic thinking. Implications for teaching and intervention are presented.
{"title":"Spelling: do the eyes have it?","authors":"P. Westwood","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2014.921632","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2014.921632","url":null,"abstract":"This paper explores the question of whether the ability to spell depends mainly on visual perception and visual imagery, or on other equally important auditory, cognitive, and motor processes. The writer examines the evidence suggesting that accurate spelling draws on a combination of visual processing, visual memory, phonological awareness, phonic knowledge, handwriting, knowledge of morphemic principles, and strategic thinking. Implications for teaching and intervention are presented.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"13 - 3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2014.921632","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1048259
K. Hempenstall
There has been concern about student literacy expressed in the community in recent years, following the results of national and international assessment. In spelling, there are insufficient hard data, but the perception is that our students are not receiving the exemplary spelling education they require. A number of possible reasons have been canvassed, including suboptimal teacher literacy and literacy knowledge, the inadequacy of teacher education, and a lack of attention to spelling instruction in the classroom. There is increasing evidence about the components of instruction that best aid students to become skilled spellers, though fewer well-designed evaluation studies to help consumers choose which programs are optimal. The three components that have received much research attention are: the phonemic, whole word, and morphological techniques. Spelling Mastery and Spelling through Morphographs are two programs that specifically emphasise these components and hence are worthy of investigation.
{"title":"Spelling Mastery and Spelling through Morphographs: Direct Instruction programs for beginning and low-progress spellers","authors":"K. Hempenstall","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1048259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1048259","url":null,"abstract":"There has been concern about student literacy expressed in the community in recent years, following the results of national and international assessment. In spelling, there are insufficient hard data, but the perception is that our students are not receiving the exemplary spelling education they require. A number of possible reasons have been canvassed, including suboptimal teacher literacy and literacy knowledge, the inadequacy of teacher education, and a lack of attention to spelling instruction in the classroom. There is increasing evidence about the components of instruction that best aid students to become skilled spellers, though fewer well-designed evaluation studies to help consumers choose which programs are optimal. The three components that have received much research attention are: the phonemic, whole word, and morphological techniques. Spelling Mastery and Spelling through Morphographs are two programs that specifically emphasise these components and hence are worthy of investigation.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"55 - 81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1048259","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1049189
T. Serry, A. Castles, F. Mensah, E. Bavin, P. Eadie, A. Pezic, M. Prior, L. Bretherton, S. Reilly
The paper reports on a study designed to develop a risk model that can best predict single-word spelling in seven-year-old children when they were aged 4 and 5. Test measures, personal characteristics and environmental influences were all considered as variables from a community sample of 971 children. Strong concurrent correlations were found between single-word spelling and single-word reading while expressive language and, to a lesser extent, receptive language were less strongly correlated. Predictors of single-word spelling at ages 4 and 5 were dominated by child-related factors such as letter knowledge, a history of speech impairment and expressive language along with maternal word reading ability. Based on the strength of the predictive factors identified at both age 4 and 5, our results provide initial support for using a targeted model for screening pre-schoolers at risk of not mastering spelling in a timely manner.
{"title":"Developing a comprehensive model of risk and protective factors that can predict spelling at age seven: findings from a community sample of Victorian children","authors":"T. Serry, A. Castles, F. Mensah, E. Bavin, P. Eadie, A. Pezic, M. Prior, L. Bretherton, S. Reilly","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1049189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1049189","url":null,"abstract":"The paper reports on a study designed to develop a risk model that can best predict single-word spelling in seven-year-old children when they were aged 4 and 5. Test measures, personal characteristics and environmental influences were all considered as variables from a community sample of 971 children. Strong concurrent correlations were found between single-word spelling and single-word reading while expressive language and, to a lesser extent, receptive language were less strongly correlated. Predictors of single-word spelling at ages 4 and 5 were dominated by child-related factors such as letter knowledge, a history of speech impairment and expressive language along with maternal word reading ability. Based on the strength of the predictive factors identified at both age 4 and 5, our results provide initial support for using a targeted model for screening pre-schoolers at risk of not mastering spelling in a timely manner.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"102 - 83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1049189","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-02DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1023209
Saskia Kohnen, D. Colenbrander, Trudy Krajenbrink, L. Nickels
The main aim of this study was to develop standardised tests that assess some of the most important spelling skills for children in primary school: sound-letter mappings (non-lexical spelling) and word spelling accuracy (lexical spelling). We present normative comparison data for children in Grades 1–7 as well as measures of validity and reliability for both tests. Another aim of this study was to assess the relative prevalence of spelling difficulties that only affect one skill selectively (only lexical or only non-lexical spelling) or both. We found that throughout Grades 1–7, children were as likely to have selective as they were to have mixed difficulties. This underscores the importance of measuring lexical and non-lexical skills separately. The tests presented in this paper provide teachers and clinicians with the necessary tools to do exactly that.
{"title":"Assessment of lexical and non-lexical spelling in students in Grades 1–7","authors":"Saskia Kohnen, D. Colenbrander, Trudy Krajenbrink, L. Nickels","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1023209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1023209","url":null,"abstract":"The main aim of this study was to develop standardised tests that assess some of the most important spelling skills for children in primary school: sound-letter mappings (non-lexical spelling) and word spelling accuracy (lexical spelling). We present normative comparison data for children in Grades 1–7 as well as measures of validity and reliability for both tests. Another aim of this study was to assess the relative prevalence of spelling difficulties that only affect one skill selectively (only lexical or only non-lexical spelling) or both. We found that throughout Grades 1–7, children were as likely to have selective as they were to have mixed difficulties. This underscores the importance of measuring lexical and non-lexical skills separately. The tests presented in this paper provide teachers and clinicians with the necessary tools to do exactly that.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"15 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1023209","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-01-01DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2015.1047871
Krystal L Werfel, Hannah Krimm
The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Spelling Sensitivity Score (SSS) beyond percentage correct scoring in analysing the spellings of children with specific language impairment (SLI). Participants were 31 children with SLI and 28 children with typical language in grades 2 through 4. Spellings of individual words were scored using two methods: (a) percentage correct and (b) SSS. Children with SLI scored lower than children with typical language when spelling was analysed with percentage correct scoring and with SSS scoring. Additionally, SSS scoring highlighted group differences in the nature of spelling errors. Children with SLI were more likely than children with typical language to omit elements and to represent elements with an illegal grapheme in words, whereas children with typical language were more likely than children with SLI to represent all elements with correct letters.
{"title":"Utility of the Spelling Sensitivity Score to Analyze Spellings of Children with Specific Language Impairment.","authors":"Krystal L Werfel, Hannah Krimm","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2015.1047871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2015.1047871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Spelling Sensitivity Score (SSS) beyond percentage correct scoring in analysing the spellings of children with specific language impairment (SLI). Participants were 31 children with SLI and 28 children with typical language in grades 2 through 4. Spellings of individual words were scored using two methods: (a) percentage correct and (b) SSS. Children with SLI scored lower than children with typical language when spelling was analysed with percentage correct scoring and with SSS scoring. Additionally, SSS scoring highlighted group differences in the nature of spelling errors. Children with SLI were more likely than children with typical language to omit elements and to represent elements with an illegal grapheme in words, whereas children with typical language were more likely than children with SLI to represent all elements with correct letters.</p>","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"20 1","pages":"39-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2015-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2015.1047871","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"34109233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-07-03DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2014.921631
K. Hempenstall
There is a nascent movement towards evidence-based practice in education in Australia, evident in Federal and State education documents, if not in classrooms. Such a classroom-level outcome would require a number of conditions to be met. One of the critical requirements is that teachers be provided with knowledge and training in practices that have an acceptable evidence base, in other words to know what works. Many reformers pin their hopes on systematic reviews to provide the information. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that this expectation may not be easily met, especially in the short term. This paper considers some of the recent issues that have muddied the waters.
{"title":"What works? Evidence-based practice in education is complex","authors":"K. Hempenstall","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2014.921631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2014.921631","url":null,"abstract":"There is a nascent movement towards evidence-based practice in education in Australia, evident in Federal and State education documents, if not in classrooms. Such a classroom-level outcome would require a number of conditions to be met. One of the critical requirements is that teachers be provided with knowledge and training in practices that have an acceptable evidence base, in other words to know what works. Many reformers pin their hopes on systematic reviews to provide the information. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that this expectation may not be easily met, especially in the short term. This paper considers some of the recent issues that have muddied the waters.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"11 1","pages":"113 - 127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2014-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2014.921631","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-07-03DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2014.922860
P. Westwood
{"title":"Visible learning and the science of how we learn","authors":"P. Westwood","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2014.922860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2014.922860","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"19 1","pages":"179 - 181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2014-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2014.922860","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-07-03DOI: 10.1080/19404158.2014.923478
Linda Rowan
This study considered the previous educational experiences, decision-making, and first-year experiences of four students who self-identified as learning with dyslexia within one university in New Zealand. The study showed that despite achieving the required standards for entrance to study at university, some students lacked the knowledge and self-advocacy skills necessary to access the learning support available to them at the university. Without good quality, relevant and focused course advice, students with dyslexia are at risk of being mismatched in academic programs, failing to complete their courses of study and incurring financial costs. With appropriate course advice, connecting to support services early, and applying proven study and time management strategies, these students are able to achieve grades higher than in compulsory education, suggesting that high school academic results should not be used as a predictor of their success at university. By understanding the learning experiences of successful students with dyslexia as they transition to university, we can improve how we encourage and support academically capable students who struggle with literacy in their compulsory and tertiary education.
{"title":"University transition experiences of four students with dyslexia in New Zealand","authors":"Linda Rowan","doi":"10.1080/19404158.2014.923478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/19404158.2014.923478","url":null,"abstract":"This study considered the previous educational experiences, decision-making, and first-year experiences of four students who self-identified as learning with dyslexia within one university in New Zealand. The study showed that despite achieving the required standards for entrance to study at university, some students lacked the knowledge and self-advocacy skills necessary to access the learning support available to them at the university. Without good quality, relevant and focused course advice, students with dyslexia are at risk of being mismatched in academic programs, failing to complete their courses of study and incurring financial costs. With appropriate course advice, connecting to support services early, and applying proven study and time management strategies, these students are able to achieve grades higher than in compulsory education, suggesting that high school academic results should not be used as a predictor of their success at university. By understanding the learning experiences of successful students with dyslexia as they transition to university, we can improve how we encourage and support academically capable students who struggle with literacy in their compulsory and tertiary education.","PeriodicalId":44419,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties","volume":"19 1","pages":"129 - 136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2014-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/19404158.2014.923478","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60128703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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