Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Education Specialist (EdS)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Dr. Linda Dorn
Abstract
Historically, spelling instruction in many classrooms has consisted of the rote memorization of words and rules with little connection to the application of these items in reading and writing. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of the Rook Fourth Grade Word Study Curriculum on students' improvement in word knowledge, usage, and the application of those skills to writing. Data collection included student pretest and posttest assessments of spelling and writing. In addition, teacher perceptions regarding the influence of an interactive word study curriculum on student achievement and instructional practices were investigated by means of open-ended questionnaires and surveys. The findings revealed a statistical significance in the improvement of both spelling and writing for the students in classrooms that implemented the Rook Fourth Grade Word Study Curriculum in comparison to students who were in classrooms that used a traditional basal approach to spelling instruction. An implication for schools is to implement an interactive approach to word study in order to assist students in gaining a deeper understanding of how words work and promote a greater ability on the part of students to assimilate word knowledge and usage into their writing.
Recommended Citation
Rook, Rhonda, "Effects of an Interactive Approach to Word Study Versus a Traditional Spelling Approach" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 75.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/75
