Copy Tasks, Writing Skills and Children

Copying skills are important for both school and daily life because they let you write down something quickly and without mistakes. However, no one has studied these skills in children who learn easily and children who learn differently. A new study investigated this topic by looking at how well kids can complete copy tasks and how it relates to other writing tasks. This study participants were children with typical development (TD) and specific learning disabilities (SLD).

Improving copying skills is not only essential for academic success but also for daily life. Writing is an essential skill in almost all aspects of life, from filling out forms to writing emails. Children who struggle with copying skills may face difficulties in completing schoolwork and miss out on opportunities later in life. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the development of copying skills in all children, especially those with SLD.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY ON COPY TASKS, WRITING SKILLS AND CHILDREN

The study involved 674 children with TD and 65 children with SLD from grades 6 through 8. The participants were tested with a copy task and other writing assessment tasks measuring three aspects of writing: handwriting speed, spelling, and expressive writing.

The researchers wanted to answer the following questions:

• Do children also make spelling errors when copying a text?
• Does this occur more often in children with SLD?
• Can writing skills be divided into the following three main components: handwriting speed, spelling, and the richness of expressive writing?
• Can these three components predict copying ability?
• Are the writing skills that predict copying performance for children with SLD the same as for children with TD?

The tasks were from BVSCO-3 (a standardized test) that consists of the following:

• The copy task involves copying as many words as possible in 5 minutes.
• Handwriting speed tasks included three tests to measure the child’s graphomotor skills.
• Four dictation tasks
• Two expressive writing tasks

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Following data analysis the researchers determined the following:

• children with SLD performed worse on the copy task in terms of both speed and accuracy than children with TD.
• copy speed was predicted by grade level and all three major writing skills for children with TD
• copy speed was predicted only by handwriting speed and spelling for children with SLD.
• copy accuracy was predicted by gender and the three major writing skills for children with TD
• copy accuracy was predicted only by spelling for children with SLD.

The findings indicate that children with SLD struggle with text copying and do not gain as much advantage as children with TD from their additional writing abilities.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

These findings have significant implications for parents, educators, and children with SLD. It is essential to recognize the difficulties children with SLD face in copying text and provide them with tailored interventions to improve their copying skills. Moreover, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of handwriting speed and spelling in SLD children, as they are the most important predictors of copy speed.

The intervention should concentrate primarily on the skill of text copying itself, by aiding children in recognizing their challenges, and strengths. Focus on teaching them targeted techniques, similar to those that have been effectively implemented for other aspects of writing.

In conclusion, the study’s findings shed light on the importance of copying skills in children’s writing development, especially those with SLD. It is crucial to recognize the difficulties children with SLD face in copying text and provide them with tailored interventions to improve their copying skills. Parents and educators should emphasize the importance of handwriting speed and spelling in SLD children to improve their copy speed. By prioritizing the development of copying skills, we can help children succeed academically and in daily life.

REFERENCE

Re, A. M., De Vita, F., Cornoldi, C., & Schmidt, S. (2023). Copy Skills and Writing Abilities in Children With and Without Specific Learning Disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 00222194231157089.