Kid Writing Rubric
Sentences
Capitalization of first
word
Punctuation
Spacing
Words
Vowels
Sight Words
Illustration
4
3
2
1
*8 Advanced
*7 Conventional
*6 Transitional
*5 Phonetic
*4 Semi-Phonetic
*3 Precommunicative
*2 Pictorial
*1 Emerging
Writes 3 or more
sentences on topic
Capitalizes the first
word and the pronoun
I consistently
End punctuation is
used correctly and
consistently
Writes 3 sentences on
topic
Capitalizes the first
word and the pronoun
I consistently
End punctuation is
used correctly and
consistently
Spacing is correct
Words are spelled
phonetically
(advanced and CVC
words)
Uses vowels correctly
and consistently
Spells sight words
correctly
Spacing is correct
Words are spelled
phonetically (CVC
words)
Uses vowels correctly
and consistently
Spells sight words
correctly
Uses some vowels
correctly
Spells some sight
words correctly
Illustration matches
text
Illustration matches
text
Illustration matches
text
Writes 1 or more
sentences on topic
Capitalizes first word
inconsistently
End punctuation is
used sometimes
incorrectly and
inconsistently
Spacing is inconsistent
Writes some words
phonetically
Writes or draws to
convey a message
Often does not
capitalize the first
word of the sentence
Does not use end
punctuation
No spacing
Uses letter-like forms
or random letter
strings
Little or no use of
vowels
Little or no sight
words are spelled
correctly
Illustration does not
match text, but draws
a somewhat
recognizable picture
*Aligns with the Conventions of Writing Developmental Scale from the Kid Writing Manual by Eileen Feldgus Ed.D.