Outstanding Review
DISKoveries Column
October 2002
By Joan Tanenhaus
Closing the Gap
SPELL: Spelling Performance Evaluation for Language and Literacy (Learning By
Design: 847-328-8390, www.learningbydesign.com ) This is an outstanding
software assessment tool for Macintosh and Windows that analyzes student's
patterns of misspelling and provides customized learning objectives for
spelling instruction.
During the test which is given to individual students
at the computer, the computer speaks the word to be spelled, gives a sentence
with the word and then repeats the word again. The student responds by
entering the word via the keyboard. The program administers and analyzes
preliminary test items to determine the appropriate level of assessment to
administer. The spelling sample is administered and analyzed. Additional
test modules are given if necessary. The main test modules and other modules test
for common consonant spelling patterns, digraphs, short vowels, common
long-vowel patterns, within-word doubling, consonant clusters, silent
consonants, conditioning and non -conditioning silent e, and vowel and r and
vowel and l spelling patterns, inflected words, unstressed schwa vowels, and
derived words in single and multi syllable words. Additional modules gather
information about phoneme and syllable segmentation, phoneme discrimination,
base-word spelling and morphological knowledge skills. The software has
animations and reward sequences that are optional. Completion of Main Test
Module usually takes between 30-60 minutes but depends on the students pace
and level. Additional modules may take 10-15 minutes each. Several sessions
are recommended on different days. When completed, customized learning
objectives for spelling instruction are recommended. The reporting module
lets you print the results, presents customized learning objectives for
spelling instructions and has letters to parents and teachers.
The excellent
manual and website provide in-depth information about the spelling processes
and how to approach remediation. This is a thorough and excellent way to
approach Spelling skills for children (grade 2 and up) and adults of all
learning levels who are having difficulty mastering spelling skills. (FYI:
One of the authors of this program, Dr. Jan Wasowicz, was the person who
originally conceived, designed and developed the Earobics software which has
since become a mainstay for all Speech-Language pathologists using the
computer to assist language and literacy skills).
Dr. Jan Wasowicz is the inventor of the original, award-winning Earobics®
software products. Earobics® is a registered trademark of Cognitive
Concepts, Inc. and is not affiliated with Learning By Design, Inc.
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