Word Writing Task Assessment
Purpose: To observe the child’s word writing fluency
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Refer to materials sheet
Directions:
• Model how to write all the words you know by talking about your thinking as you write:
o Say: Put your name on the top of the paper. Today you are going to write all the words you know.
Watch me. I am going to show you what words I would write.
o On the white board or chart paper, write your own name.
o Say: “The first word I would write is my own name.”
o “Now I write the names of people in my family or names of one of my friends.” Write another name.
o Say: “If I know how to write my mother’s name or my father’s name, or the words mom or dad, I would
write that.” Write mom.
o Say: “I would write the name of my pet or other words I know like dog or cat.” Write another name.
Write cat.
o Say: “I can use words I know to make new words. If I take the C off cat, I can make the word at.” Write
at.
o Say: “I also know how to write the word no.” Write no.
o Say: “You will have ten minutes to write all the words you know.”
• Erase the board or remove the chart paper.
• Do not assist the children. Prompt, if necessary, by again suggesting the child’s name, names of family
members, pets, friends, family words, pet words, food words, color words, and words likely to be known such as
yes and no, a, is, I, to, or sight words from the DMA cards.
• Prompts the student to use words he or she knows to make new words.
• Allow only 10 minutes
• Gather student papers
Tips for Scoring:
• Count and record the number of words spelled conventionally
• If you noticed the child copied some words ask the child to read the word back to you. If the child can read it
give credit if not make a note that it was copied.
• Notice any patterns, confusion, invented spelling using letter name knowledge
• Note if the child can write new words from a known word or from word families
• Note vowel patterns (short and long)
• Note reversals
February 2015
McGill- Franzen, Anne (2006). Kindergarten Literacy, Matching Assessment and Instruction in Kindergarten. Pages 95-97.
Scholastic, Teaching Resources.
Word Writing
Name:______________________________
Date:____________________
McGill- Franzen, Anne (2006). Kindergarten Literacy, Matching Assessment and Instruction in Kindergarten. Pages 95-97.
Scholastic, Teaching Resources.
First Quarter
Child’s Name
Assess
Date
# of
words
Second Quarter
Notes
Assess
Date
# of
words
Notes
McGill- Franzen, Anne (2006). Kindergarten Literacy, Matching Assessment and Instruction in Kindergarten. Pages 95-97.
Scholastic, Teaching Resources.
Third Quarter
Child’s Name
Assess
Date
# of
words
Fourth Quarter
Notes
Assess
Date
# of
words
Notes
McGill- Franzen, Anne (2006). Kindergarten Literacy, Matching Assessment and Instruction in Kindergarten. Pages 95-97.
Scholastic, Teaching Resources.