title: [Evaluation of the Marburg Spelling Training (MRT) in 2nd- and 3rd-grade students with spelling difficulties].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with severe dyslexia are substantially impaired because reading and writing are key competencies necessary for a successful academic and occupational career.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this evaluation study, a cohort of 2nd- and 3rd-grade students from a variety of Hamburg primary schools was trained with the Marburger Rechtschreibtraining (MRT) by supervised university graduates. The research questions focused on the feasibility of the MRT as a within-school training, the improvement of spelling and reading skills of the participants, subjective assessments of success, as well as potential predictors. Besides established performance tests, we also considered the subjective appraisals of parents, teachers, and coaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrate that standardized spelling training methods like the MRT can be consistently used during morning hours at schools. Within a year of starting MRT exercises, mean effect sizes in writing and reading were observed in performance tests using test norms. However, parent, teacher, and coach reports failed to replicate these improvements. Changes in writing performance were mainly associated with school class level; improvements in reading ability were dependent on initial writing performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide starting points for optimizing current training practices in elementary schools and for posing questions regarding the effectiveness of the MRT, as well as for training programs in general.
authors.affiliation: AG Epidemiologie und Evaluation, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, -psychotherapie und -psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. barkmann@uke.de
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barkmann
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenboom
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wessolowski
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulte-Markwort
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011932:Reading; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014956:Writing