Spelling Assessment Tools
Spelling Curriculum-Based Measurement (S-CBM)
Reliable and valid Spelling CBM tools for universal screening and progress monitoring of students in Grades 1–8.
What Is S-CBM?
Curriculum-Based Measurement for Spelling
Spelling seems to be the neglected area of language arts with implications for both reading and written expression. With respect to reading, spelling serves as the basis for encoding. Poor readers are poor spellers. Poor spellers are typically poor readers. To me, when asked what measure I would add to R-CBM, aka ORF, it would be Spelling Curriculum-Based Measurement (S-CBM). Simple, psychometrically sound, and once you collect spelling data this way, you'll never go back. I've used Perplexity AI to generate multiple S-CBM list for use in Universal Screen, Universal Progress Monitoring, and more frequent progress monitoring for Tiers 2, 3, and IEP goals across Grades 1–8. I've also created S-CBM lists distilled from the my Highly Decodable (HD) passages to get a clearer picture of encoding for beginning readers.In addition to the easy score of Words Spelled Correctly (WSC), each list has the Correct Letter Sequence (CLS) count for each word and cumulatively to enable easy scoring. Scoring with CLS was developed by Precision Teaching (PT) researchers for a more sensitive way to score. See, poor spellers often get the word wrong, but are getting parts of the word correct.
CLS measures success, not failure, providing students more positive feedback and teachers more sensitive metrics for progress as well as information about what spelling rules are in place and what are missing. As part of a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework, S-CBM data supports Tier 1 universal screening, Tier 2 and Tier 3 progress monitoring, and special education eligibility decisions under IDEA.
Key Features
What Makes S-CBM Different
Reliable & Valid
Research on S-CBM demonstrates high reliability and concurrent validity. Scores are reliable across administrations and raters.
Grades 1–8
Passage sets designed for use across the full elementary and middle school range, with multiple forms available for screening and frequent progress monitoring. Of special interest is the set of S-CBM lists from the Highly Decodable Passages.
Correct Letter Sequences Scoring
Scoring is based on correct letter sequences (CLS), a sensitive metric that captures partial spelling knowledge and detects growth even in students with significant deficits. Correctly spelled words (WSC) are also counted.
MTSS-Ready
Designed for use within a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework. Understand students' spelling skills provides useful information for Tier 1 universal screening, serving as a second screener when multiple gating reading, Tier 2 progress monitoring, and Tier 3 and IEP goals and frequent progress monitoring.
Easy to Administer
Standard CBM administration — brief, group-administered format or for testing individual students. Minimal training required. Scoring is straightforward with clear decision rules.
Science of Reading Aligned
Fully compatible with Science of Reading-based instructional and assessment practices.. Spelling assessment reflects phonics and orthographic knowledge aligned to systematic instruction.
How Schools Use S-CBM
Four Ways Schools Put S-CBM to Work
Universal Screening or Second Gate
Administer to students in Grades 1–8 two to three times per year to identify students at risk for spelling and/or reading difficulties and as a second gate when multiple gating to identify students who may need a more appropriately intensive intervention.
Progress Monitoring
Use weekly or bi-weekly with students receiving Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention or to supplement Reading IEP goals progress monitoring to ensure spelling instruction is producing meaningful growth and closing the gap.
Special Education Eligibility
Provide objective, standardized data on performance and progress discrepancies to supplement information on the Performance Discrepancy to support or rule out Specific Learning Disability (SLD) identification under IDEA.
Goal Setting
Write IEP goals and Tier 2/3 intervention targets grounded in reliable spelling data that reduce the gap between a student's performance and grade-level expectations.
How to Order
Get the S-CBM Materials
To learn more about the Spelling CBM materials, contact Dr. Shinn directly. Pricing is available for individual schools, districts, and state agencies.
S-CBM Spelling Lists from HD Passages
$19.00
- Aligned to HD Passages phonics sequence
- Universal screening & progress monitoring
- Correct letter sequences scoring
- Digital download — immediate access
S-CBM Spelling Lists Grades 1–3
$19.00
- Developed using Perplexity AI to derive words from commonly used graded spelling words for Grades 1, 2, and 3
- Universal screening & progress monitoring
- Supports Correct Letter Sequences (CLS) scoring in addition to Words Spelled Correctly (WSC)
- Digital download — immediate access
S-CBM Spelling Lists Grades 4–8
$19.00
- Developed using Perplexity AI to derive words from commonly used graded spelling words for Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
- Universal screening & progress monitoring
- Supports Correct Letter Sequences (CLS) scoring in addition to Words Spelled Correctly (WSC)
- Digital download — immediate access
Curriculum-Based Measurement Written Expression (WE-CBM)
$19
- Valid and reliable written expression assessment
- Universal screening & progress monitoring
- Supports MTSS Tier 1, 2, and 3 decision-making
- Digital download — immediate access
Volume pricing available for districts & state agencies. Contact Dr. Shinn
Questions About S-CBM or MTSS Implementation?
Dr. Shinn offers bespoke webinars and consultation on MTSS screening, progress monitoring, spelling assessment, and more.