Transcript Writing Instruction in Kindergarten

Instructions
•
Young writers can be described in terms of writing behaviors they
exhibit. Children go through distinct stages of development as they
learn to write. The stages are characterized by common, observable
writing behaviors.
•
The following stages A-D reflect the characteristics of young emerging
writers.
•
Cobb County Kindergarten students are assessed in their
development of the writing process every nine weeks.
•
When the student has successfully moved through the four emergent
stages, he/she would then be assessed using the Cobb County
Kindergarten Writing Rubric. The rubric should be used as the
student gains competency in the writing process.
Cobb County Kindergarten Writing Stages
Child’s name_________________________________________
Stage
A
Date _____________________
Pictorial Writer
 Writing is drawing or manipulating objects.
 The Alphabet awareness/letters may be known but are not applied.
 The “story” can be told with the child’s oral-language.
Stage B
The Squiggler/Verbal StoryTeller
 Writing is represented in scribbles or patterns
 Letters may be written randomly.
 Oral stories and pictures may become more elaborate.
 A connection is beginning to be understood between written symbols and the
idea of writing a “story”.
 There is an attempt to record letters and numbers as familiarity with them is
developed.
Stage C
The Letter Shaker/Copier
 Random letters and child’s name are often incorporated into the “story.”
 Letters and words posted in the environment are often copied.
 The oral/pictorial “story” often incorporates random letters or copied words.
 Distinguishing between letters and words may not exist.
Stage
D
The Sound Maker/Labeler
 There is evidence of beginning understanding of letter/sound connections.
 Parts of the picture “story” may be labeled in writing and referenced in the oral
story.
 The concept of story is beginning to be developed.
 Simple “stories” are conceived and told.
 Writing begins to reflect the separation of words by using spaces.
Kindergarten Writing Rubric
This rubric reflects only the GPS for Kindergarten. Further evaluation guidance by genre is
available on the Kindergarten Proficiency Chart.
K Standard: The student begins to understand the principles of writing
Components of the
Standard
3
2
1
Consistent and successful
progress towards meeting the
standard
Progressing toward meeting
the standard
Limited or minimum
progress toward meeting the
standard.
Uses drawings, letters, and
phonetically spelled words
to describe familiar persons,
places objects, or
experiences.
Writes sentences using
phonetically spelled words to
describe familiar persons,
places, objects, or experiences.
Experiments with writing
sentences, using beginning
letter sounds and phonetically
spelled words.
Draws a picture and writes
letters to describe familiar
persons, places, objects or
experiences.
Accurately prints name, all
uppercase and lowercase
letters of the alphabet, and
teacher-selected words.
Accurately prints name, all
upper and lowercase letters of
the alphabet and teacher
selected words.
Accurately prints most of the
upper and lower case letters
introduced and most teacher
selected words.
Prints some upper and lower
case letters and some teacher
selected words.
Uses left to right pattern of
writing.
Consistently uses left to right
pattern of writing.
Some progress toward using
left to right pattern of writing.
Limited or minimum progress
toward using left to right
pattern of writing.
Begins to use capitalization
at the beginning of sentences
and punctuation (periods and
question marks) at the end of
sentences.
Uses capitalization at the
beginning of sentences and
punctuation (periods and
question marks) at the end of
sentences.
Some progress when using
capitalization at the
beginning or sentences and
punctuation (periods and
question marks) at the end of
sentences
Limited or minimum progress
toward using capitalization at
the beginning or sentences and
punctuation (periods and
question mark) at the end of
sentences.
Kindergarten Writing
Sample Teacher Commentary
Kindergarten Writing Task
Commentary for
the Student
Commentary for
the Student
Celebrations:
Next Step:
You used capitalization
at the beginning of
your sentences and
punctuation at the end.
You also used the left
to right pattern of
writing.
Can you write more
to describe your
experiences with
watermelon?