Writing Assessment

Writing Assessments in Kindergarten. This blog post contains student writing samples that I used to assess students writing progress across the writing continuum. It compares October kindergarten writing samples with December kindergarten writing samples. These samples were collected during our kindergarten writers workshop time.

Kindergarten Writing Assessments

This week we gave our district’s writing assessment. Each kindergarten class performs the same assessment in the same manner.

Our prompt was, “Write about something you like to do in the snow”. Teachers do not confer with students during this assessment and we do not give a writing mini-lesson before the assessment. This is an independent task. Students are permitted to use classroom resources like our word walls or the writing center.

The October sample was also an assessment (same hands-off rules applied).

As a district, we will score our student’s work together during a PD day. However, I included what I anticipate their score to be. 

NOTE: These images are small, but if you click on them, you will get a bigger image and you will be able to read the kid’s handwriting.

Analysis of  Writing Sample 1

This writing sample was determined to be proficient.

• Uses spaces between words most of the time
• Uses rereading strategy with 1-to-1 correspondence
• Writes a simple message (a sentence) that communicates the writer’s purpose
• Writes most letters using correct formation, may include capital letters (reversals accepted)
• Hears and records some consonant letter sounds but not necessarily in sequential order
• Writes 2-3 simple high-frequency words (excluding I, a)
• Draws and writes about the prompt

Analysis of  Writing Sample 2

This writing sample was determined to be basic.

• Writes words: may or may not use spaces
• Uses rereading strategy with 1-to-1 correspondence
• Writes a simple message (a sentence) that communicates the writer’s purpose
• Writes some letters using correct formation, may include capital letters (reversals accepted)
• Hears and records some consonant letter sounds but not necessarily in sequential order
• Writes less than 2 simple high-frequency words (excluding I, a)
• Draws and writes about the prompt

Analysis of  Writing Sample 3

This writing sample was determined to be advanced.

• Uses spaces between words consistently
• Uses rereading strategy with 1-to-1 correspondence
• Writes a simple message (two or more sentences) that communicates the writer’s purpose
• Writes all letters with the correct formation (excluding reversals)
• Hears and records some consonant letter sounds in sequential order and some easy to hear vowels may appear in sequential order
• Writes 2-3 simple high-frequency words (excluding I, a)
• Draws and writes about the prompt. Writing is supported by details

Analysis of  Writing Sample 4

This writing sample was determined to be advanced.

• Uses spaces between words consistently
• Uses rereading strategy and shows signs of editing
• Writes a simple message (two or more sentences) that communicates the writer’s purpose
• Writes all letters with the correct formation (excluding reversals)
• Hears and records some consonant letter sounds in sequential order and some easy to hear vowels may appear in sequential order
• Writes 4 or more simple high-frequency words (excluding I, a)
• Draws and writes about the prompt. Writing is supported by details

Classroom Sample

I think these samples are pretty indicative of my class population. I am not convinced our scoring guide for 2011 was rigorous enough. As a district, we are committed to not making any changes.  Because this was a district scoring guide, I am not permitted to share it.  

Anchor Chart for Book Making

On another note, during writer’s workshop we co-created this anchor chart that was very helpful with our book writing.  This helps students self-monitor and check when they they think they are done.

UPDATE since 2011!

WANTING MORE ON WRITING?

Since I LOVE talking about writing, I have a few (dozen) blog posts about writing.   

• Writing Folder Organization FREE file!
• 5 Things You Need to Know About Writing
• Writers Workshop: Second Week of Kindergarten
• Writers Workshop-The Anatomy of my workshop and some conferring
• Or HERE to read them all

LOOKING FOR PRINT AND TEACH WRITING LESSONS?

Deanna Jump and I have created simple, yet powerful daily lesson plans to teach writers workshop.  We have taken the guesswork out of your instruction.

Each unit is carefully planned out.

And it walks you through each day’s lesson.

You can shop our writing curriculum below:

• Writing Writers Workshop:  Writing Through the Year K-1 Bundle
• Writing Writers Workshop:  Writing Through the Year 2nd Grade Units