The Effects of Motivational/Reward System and a Spelling Racetrack on Spelling Performance in General Education: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study employ and evaluate the use of a spelling racetrack with a single general education student with low performance in spelling. Our participant was a 7-year-old-student having difficulty spelling words from the general education curriculum. The study was conducted in a general education classroom in a large urban school in eastern Washington. The two dependent variables were the number of correct and error words from his spelling tests each day. The effects of the spelling racetracks procedure and its addition within an ongoing motivational system in the classroom were evaluated using an ABAB single case replication design. When the spelling racetrack was being employed the participant’s number of correct words spelled increased while his errors declined. This was replicated each time it was in effect. We also found a statistically significant increased for correct words and a significant decline in errors. The benefits of employing a racetrack procedure that could be modified for spelling was both effective and motivating for the participant are presented. The limitations of the present case report are also outlined.