Grading With
Writers Workshop

When I first began
using Writers' Workshop in the classroom I was overwhelmed with the
idea of GRADING work. I wasn't sure where to get grades from
and how and oh! It was crazy. Now I have developed a
method. I take a few different kinds of grades during the nine
week grading period. By the end of the nine weeks I have at least 4
or 5 writing grades plus grammar grades to average together.
Final Drafts
Prompt Writing
Writer's Notebook
Grammar
Rubrics for Specifics
Kinds of Writing
 

Final Drafts
Before students are able
to move to their final drafts they must peer edit with two friends.
I ask them to complete this
checklist to help.
I usually try to have
students finish 2 pieces of writing that they take all the way
through the writing process. I grade the writings using these
rubrics created by a fellow teacher. There are two rubrics, one for
the first and second nine weeks and another for the third and fourth
nine weeks. The rubrics get more difficult as the year goes
on. I also make a big point to talk to students and let them
know that I give them many strategies to use in their writings.
To make a higher grade, they must use these strategies in their
writing because it WILL make them better writers. Students
also know that I expect more as the year goes on.
Please click here to see
a copy of first and second nine weeks rubric
First and Second Nine Weeks Rubric in Word
First Nine Weeks Rubric
in PDF format
Please click here for a
copy of third and fourth nine weeks rubric
Third and Fourth Nine Weeks Rubric in Word
Third and
fourth Nine Weeks Rubric in PDF format
Prompt Writing
About once every nine
weeks I give students a prompt to write about. I am not a huge
fan of prompt writing, but here in Georgia students are given a
Writing Test in fifth grade where students are expected to be able
to write to a prompt. This is how I prepare them. I
usually give the students two days to complete the prompt. I grade
the prompt using the rubrics above, BUT I am a little more lenient
with grammar and spelling because it has not been edited or revised.
Writer's Notebooks
I do glance through the students
Writer's Notebooks every so I often. This grade is more of a
participation grade. I simply look through the notebook and
use the rubric to give a letter grade for the quality of work and
the effort put forth into the writing. I take one writer's
notebook grade per nine weeks. I use a sticky note to mark the last
entry I have read and students know not to remove it. This way
I know where to start reading the next time I grade the notebooks.
Click here to see the
rubric.
Grammar Grades
I average in grammar grade into the
writing grade. I do not weigh anything, I find it easier to
make all activities equal.
Rubrics for Specifics
Kinds of Writing
In fourth grade students are expected to be able to write a friendly
letter. We practice several times. We writer letters to
a friend, then we write the teacher or principal and for a final
activity we write our favorite sports team. This year we wrote
the Falcons and they sent a HUGE packet of stuff for my kids.
We will definitely do this activity again!
Rubric for
Friendly Letter
We also create how to
charts (how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, etc).
I read somewhere on the internet where a teacher read aloud the book
El piņatero/ The Piņata Maker which describes how a man makes a
piņata. I thought it would be a great book to read with this
activity- and maybe even have the students create their OWN piņatas
or make one according to the books "directions." I haven't
decided yet!
Rubric for How to Chart
All graphic on this page
are from

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