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Writing Assessments Young Writer's Markets Writing Help Resources for Homeschooling Families
and internet safety
Writing Assessments: General info, Rubrics, Scoring Guides
The following assessments are valued by many schools around the country.
College Board - SAT
The scoring rubric is available at the official College Board site.
ACT Optional Writing Section
A thirty minute argumentative essay that asks students to take a stance on relevant issues.
6+1 Trait Rubric
NWERL website. From the classroom level to the state level, the 6-trait writing model is widely used. The six traits include content, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and voice. Some teachers add a seventh trait, presentation (which includes handwriting).
Universities Using Portfolio-based Writing Assessment
Assessments By State
Alaska
Writing assessed at grades 3-10.
Alabama
Arizona AIMS
Writing assessed at grades 3-8, again at high school level. NWERL 6-trait writing model.
California
Florida
Narrative and expository writing assessed at grade 4, expository and persuasive at grades 8, 10.
Georgia
Teacher evaluation/writing portfolio at grade 3, formal assessment at grades 5, 8, and 11.
Idaho
Narrative writing assessed at grade 5, expository at grades 7 and 9. Holistic scoring.
Illinois
Writing assessed at grades 3, 5 ,6 , 8, and 11.
Kansas
Writing assessed at 5th grade, 8th grade, and higschool. Scoring based on 6-trait model.
Kentucky (portfolio-based)
Maine
Minnesota
Nebraska
Narrative essay at grade 4, descriptive essay at grade 8, persuasive essay at grade 11.
New Hampshire
Part of the New England Common Assessment program.
North Carolina
Narrative writing assessed at grade 4, argumentative at grade 7, informational at grade 10.
Oregon
Rhode Island
Part of the New England Common Assessment Program
South Dakota
Tennessee
Narrative writing assessed at grade 5, expository essay at grade 8, persuasive essay at grade 11
Vermont
Part of the New England Common Assessment Project. Writing assessed at grades 5, 8, and 11.
Wyoming
6-trait writing model, assesssed at grades 3-8, highschool
Washington Information on the new tests: MSP (grades 3-8) and HSPE (high school).The writing portion (Grades 4,7, and 10) will still take place over 2 days. Math and reading subtests have been shortened and no longer contain extended-response essay questions.
Writing Markets (and Info) for Young Writers: Back to Top
Internet Safety for Young Writers
Avoiding Kids' Writing Scams
Children's Online Privacy Act
The Write Source The Write Source Publishing Guidelines
The Write Source publishes samples of exemplary writing, grades 1-12!
Apricot Pie
Online lit journal by homeschoolers and homeschooling graduates (teenagers and young adults)
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Homeschooling Suite's Guide to Getting Kids' Work Published
Homeschool Writers' Contest Deadlines
This amazing site was created by a twelve-year-old homeschooler and her family!
Kids on the Net Creative Writing Showcase
Stone Soup's Guide to "Breaking into Print"
Information on submitting work to Stone Soup and other kid's magazines
Student Writing Contests
Annual competitions in poetry, narrative, and expository writing
Meddybemps Writers Showcase
Story starters and a chance to win an author's T-shirt
Writing Help
The Writing Process
5 paragraph essay
Writing Prompts
Blowing Away State Writing Assessments (book)
An article on basic paragraph structure
The basics for secondary students, from About.com
Second Language Learning
Study Abroad London
Experience the world in an exciting new way with a study abroad experience in London.
Resources For Homeschooling Families (Nationwide): Back to Top
State Laws Regarding Homeschooling
The Comprehension Toolkit`
Literature-based resource kit for teaching the strategies of proficient readers
The Children's Poetry Archive
Listen to poetry online
Teach Art at Home
Get a free art lesson each month
Homeschool Curriculum and Support
Developed by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. A wealth of easily accessible resources.
Lesson Tutor
Free articles, lesson plans, and more. Find articles on learning abilities/disabilities and homeschooling.
Read, Write, Think
Lesson plans and resources from the International Reading Association
Zen Home School
Peace education
For Homeschooling Families (Washington State):
Washington State Homeschooling Law
Description of 4 options available to homeschooling familes
Washington OSPI assessment/testing
Seattle Public Schools Homeschool Resource
Concurrent enrollment option for those in Seattle district
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