Who: Writing assessments can be given to students of all ages.

 

What: Writing assessments, scored with Common Core State Standards Writing Continuums allow teachers/professionals to see how students record their thoughts in response to prompts or tasks.

 

When: Writing assessments can be used at any time, but preferably for initial screening purposes.

 

Why: Writing assessments are given to see what age level the student writes at based on the Common Core State Standards in structure, concept of writing, and language conventions. Writing assessments also allow teachers/ professionals to determine what stage of writing a child falls under.

 

How: Provide student with options of paper, and allow the student to take the materials from your hand and place them wherever he/she would like. When the student has the materials ready, guide the conversation towards a writing prompt. Based on the conversatoin, create a writing prompt that reflects narrative opinion, or informative writing. Be sure to specifically address one of the prompts by using key phrases. For narrative: write a story about, tell me about a time when, etc. For opinion: tell me why, tell me what you think about, etc. For informative: tell me all about, tell me everything you know about, etc. After allowing the students to complete the writing piece, score it using the CCSS writing continuum to determine the level they call at, any writing mini-lessons that need to occur, and what their strengths/weaknesses are as a writer.