Completion Dictation

A scaffolded dictation where learners fill in progressively more missing words across multiple copies of the same text, building up to writing the whole dictation.

Procedure

1. Prepare several printed copies of the same text for each learner. Copy 1 has a few words missing. Copy 2 has more words missing. Copy 3 has even more missing, and so on until the final version is a blank page.
2. Read the text aloud phrase by phrase. Learners fill in the missing words on Copy 1.
3. Read the text again. Learners fold their paper to hide Copy 1 and fill in the missing words on Copy 2 (which has more gaps).
4. Continue until learners are writing the whole dictation from scratch.

Tips

• Particularly suited to learners who struggle with dictation, especially those with difficulty in writing.
• The progressive removal of support builds confidence and provides repeated exposure to the text.
• Ensure learners fold their paper each time so they cannot see previously completed copies.
• Content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) are typically removed first, with function words removed in later copies.