Increasing spelling achievement: an analysis of treatment procedures utilizing an alternating treatments design.

The team ran two quick experiments in a regular classroom.

They pitted positive-practice overcorrection alone against the same overcorrection plus immediate praise and tokens.

Each child tried both methods on different spelling lists while the researchers counted correct words.

Every child hit 100% correct spelling when reinforcement was added.

Kids also finished faster and said they liked the reinforced condition best.

Hart et al. (1974), Clark et al. (1973), and Kirby et al. (1981) already showed that tokens or pennies alone lift word skills.

Huguenin et al. (1980) now shows you can keep that power and add brief overcorrection to wipe out errors completely.

Berler et al. (1982) later moved the same package to autism, proving the mix works for manual signs too.

Bailey et al. (2010) looks like a clash—they got gains with just a sounding-out prompt and no extra reinforcement.

The gap is size: their gains were small, H et al. got 100%, so reinforcement still carries the heavy load.

If a child keeps missing the same spelling words, tack on praise, points, or tokens right after the overcorrection.

You will likely see perfect sheets in one or two sessions, and the student will stay motivated.