Which spelling error would receive a 3 using the spelling rubric?

The spelling error of "Tardee" for "tardy" would receive a score of 3 because it demonstrates a close phonetic representation of the target word while maintaining a similar vowel sound and structure. The alteration in the ending – from "y" to "ee" – shows some understanding of the spelling patterns but is still incorrect. This indicates a decent grasp of how to manipulate sounds and spellings in words, which aligns with a performance level that reflects some proficiency but still contains errors.

In contrast, the other options represent deviations from the original word that reflect a lower level of understanding. "Spint" for "spring" alters both the initial consonant and the entire structure of the word, which shows a less clear understanding of the phonetic composition. "Teethe" for "teeth" shows an incorrect application of vowel spelling and alteration, indicating confusion about pluralization rules, while "Lenon" for "lemon" also significantly diverges from the correct word, with a misleading phonetic interpretation that does not effectively mirror the pronunciation of the original word. Thus, "Tardee" displays a level of spelling skill that merits a score of 3 on the rubric.