RON MCDERMOTT spoke of SPELLING "RESEARCH" to DAN TRIPLETT on 10-15-96
RM>DT>The purpose of this study was to document the development of
RM>DT>spelling knowledge in a class of first grade students over an
RM>DT>eight month period. 
RM>Ok...
RM>DT>Of special interest was to determine if spelling, particularly
RM>DT>invented  spelling, was predictive of word recognition at the end
RM>DT>of the year.
RM>So the goal was not proper spelling, apparently?
I don't want to dissect this study....the goal was to document "spelling 
knowledge."  Of special interest was to determine if invented spelling 
was predictive of word recognition.  It was a strong predictor.  I think 
that in some way this must acknowledge approximated spelling in some 
positive way.  It certainly does not speak against it.  
RM>DT>Conventional spelling was measured with the Writing Vocabulary
RM>DT>Test  (Clay, 1985, 1993); the score was the number of
RM>DT>self-generated  conventionally spelled words in list format. An
RM>DT>analysis form and  scoring system, based on Gentry's stages of
RM>DT>invented spelling, was devised to analyze the invented spelling
RM>DT>which was obtained from naturalistic writing samples.
RM>Whoa... Two different measuring "devices" to COMPARE the
RM>results?!  Or did both groups take both devices?  What,
RM>exactly, does the Gentry scoring system "measure"? 
The measurement was The Writing Vocabulary Test.....the scoring device 
(one was needed you know) was devised by the researcher based on 
Gentry's stages of invented spelling.  I am not familiar with Gentry's 
work.
RM>I'm also not disputing that there are things which can be 
RM>learned from such invented spelling; benefits that may
RM>accrue.  What I DO dispute is that SPELLING is taught as 
RM>well through invented spelling in a literature-based program 
RM>as it is in the conventional methodology.
No one claims that spelling is "taught" through invented spelling.  
Invented (approximated) spelling is a natural occurance as children 
develop in their spelling skills toward conventional spelling.  
Since you seem so swayed by empirical research data, perhaps you'd like 
to support your last statement.  Provide us with some replicated studies 
that clearly show the conventional spelling method is superior to whole 
language or any other approach.
Dan
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