Developmental Characteristics of Spelling Ability according to the Types of Linguistic Units (Word/Sentence) for Lower Grade Elementary School Children

Abstract

This work is based on the master's thesis of the first author. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of spelling and types of errors through grade-level word and sentence dictation tasks for general children in lower grade elementary school (grades 1-3). Methods: The subjects of this study were 60 TD children in grades 1 to 3 (20 students in each grade) from elementary schools. The spelling test was constructed to include words implemented in word-level tasks at the sentence level based on textbooks revised in 2017 and 2018 that were being used in grades 1 to 3 used in actual school sites. Results: First, The spelling accuracy at the word level was significantly lower than the whole word segment accuracy at the sentence level. There was no significant difference between task types in the accuracy at the word level and the target word for the sentence level. Second, All grades showed orthographic errors, morphological errors, and phonological errors. When analyzed according to task types, the error level was similar at the word and sentence level in the order of orthographic errors, morphological errors, and phonological errors. Conclusion: Spelling ability is active in the lower grade of elementary school, confirming that it is an important ability to develop during this period. Therefore, if writing grade characteristics are considered in the evaluation and setting of intervention goals for children who have difficulty spelling, this suggests that a positive writing instruction is achieved.