Effectiveness of Spelling Intervention for English Notable Application (SIENA) in Improving the Spelling Ability of Grade Six Learners

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Spelling is important in written communication. Yet too many students do not know how to spell. The use of correct spelling brings good communication between the writers and readers. Wrong spelling makes communication breakdown between the writers and the readers (Moats, 2000). This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Spelling Intervention for English Notable Application (SIENA), in improving the spelling ability of the Grade Six learners of Rotonda Elementary School.

METHODS

Quasi-experimental research design was employed in this study. Forty-two Grade Six learners of Rotonda Elementary School served as the subjectsof the study who were identified through testing and were randomly grouped to control and experimental groups. The experimental group underwent SIENA while the control group engaged in the traditional way of teaching spelling. Both groups took the spelling pretest and posttest to determine their spelling ability before and after the experiment. The data collected were treated through t-test with 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS

The results of the study showed that the Grade Six learners have Poor spelling ability at the start of the study wherein the pretest scores of both groups showed no significant difference. It was found in this study that there was a significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group or the group which underwent the intervention SIENA. A significant difference was also noted in the pretest and posttest scores of the control group or the group which were taught the traditional way of teaching spelling. Finally, this study yielded a significant difference in the mean gain scores of both groups and concluded that the use of SIENA is better than the traditional one.

DISCUSSIONS

The results of the study confirmed that the traditional way of teaching spelling, such as parroting and reading aloud, and theuse of Spelling Intervention of English Notable Application (SIENA), which utilized ICT and cooperative learning activities, were both effective in improving the spelling ability of the Grade Six learners. However, the study further showed that learners developed better spelling ability when taught using SIENA. Hence, spelling interventions in schools should venture on utilizing available technology and creative ways of groups activities to better uplift learners' spelling ability.