Evaluation of a Spelling Intervention Program for Third Graders at Risk for Learning Disabilities

Abstract The development of spelling skill is an intricate process for children with or at risk of Specific Learning Disabilities and requires targeted interventions. This problem exacerbates in the Greek orthographic system owning to its high complexity. The current study presents a novel spelling intervention program for Greek 3rd graders at risk of Specific Learning Disabilities, which was founded upon the principles of Direct Instruction and encompassed evidence-based practices. The effectiveness of the proposed 16-h intervention program was investigated via its implementation in Greek resource rooms by the corresponding teachers. The children were randomly assigned into the intervention (n = 39) and the comparison group (n = 34). Standardized tests were used for children’s assessment during pretests, post-tests I, and post-tests II. Importantly, the results obtained via ANOVA demonstrated that the children of the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in spelling contrary to the comparison group. Additionally, the impact of the intervention program on children’s decoding and fluency skills was examined, yielding enhanced, yet, no statistically significant outcomes. The educational implications of the related findings are also discussed. Overall, the proposed study provides tangible evidence that spelling can be taught effectively to SLD children.