Writing Rubric: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

Name: _______________________________
 
Stage 1: Role Play
Stage 2: Emergent
Stage 3: Developing
Stage 4: Beginning
Stage 5: Expanding
Spelling Scribbles and uses writing-like behavior. Uses scribbles, letters, and numerals to mimic words - no phonetic association. Begins to write initial consonants of words. Begins to match letter sounds heard in words. Each syllable is represented by a letter. Understands left to right organization of print. Uses invented spelling with initial and final consonants and some vowels. Writes many sight words correctly. Decodes words for spelling but also uses resources to self-correct. Edits for content, punctuation, and spelling during and after composing.
Penmanship Learns to hold a pencil correctly. Traces upper and lowercase letters. Begins to write on a line. Mixes upper and lowercase letters in writing. Distinguishes upper and lowercase letters in writing. Has a sense of sentence but may only be able to deal with one or two elements of writing at one time (e.g., spelling but not punctuation). May vary control of structure, punctuation and spelling according to the complexity of the writing task.
Print / Mechanics Concepts Demonstrates an awareness of environmental print. Uses letters to make words and stories. Attempts to write name and random letters. Shows evidence of directional knowledge and one-to-one correspondence of written word to spoken word. Starts to write word patterns. Writes about topics that are personally significant. Organizes thoughts and ideas. Uses a wide range of words that clearly and precisely convey meaning.
Content Draws pictures only. Uses some scribble writing. Copies a word or letters. Uses a pattern sentence. Uses temporary spelling. Uses simple complete sentences. Uses complete sentences. Organizes ideas into paragraphs. Writes in a variety of formats: poetry, stories, reports, etc.

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