How to Assess Primary Writing and Help Kids Set Goals

It's Sunday afternoon. There's a stack of 24 writing journals on your kitchen table and a red pen in your hand.

You spend hours writing comments. On Monday, you hand the journals back. Kids look at the sticker, flip the page, and start writing again.

All that feedback, and nobody reads it.

There's a better way. Action D on the Writing Teacher's Roadmap is about quick, informal assessment that kids actually use. When students check their own work and set their own goals, they start to own their growth.

What Is Informal Writing Assessment?

Informal assessment is a quick, low pressure check that shows what a child does well and what to work on next. It guides your teaching instead of giving a grade.

There are three kinds, and they work best together:

• Self assessment. Students look at their own writing.

• Peer assessment. Students look at a partner's writing.

• Teacher assessment. You look at the writing, often with the child beside you.

Each one gives you a different view. Together they show you where each writer is and where they need to go.

How Do Self and Peer Assessment Work With Young Writers? How Do They Assess Primary Writing?

Kids check their writing against 2 or 3 simple points, like a capital, a period, and a detail. Peers use the same points and share kind, helpful words.

Keep the checklist short. Young writers can handle a few points at a time. Use the skills you've already taught in Action A.

Self check ideas

• Kids touch each capital and each period with their finger.

• Kids underline their describing words with a coloured pencil.

• Kids use an editing bookmark to go down a short list.

Peer check idea: two stars and a wish

Partners read each other's writing. Then they share two things they liked (the stars) and one thing to try next time (the wish).

Practise this with the whole class first. Model kind, specific comments, like "I liked how you described the dog's fluffy tail."

What Should a Primary Writing Rubric Include?

Keep it to 3 or 4 points, with pictures and kid friendly words. Match each point to a skill you've already taught. Simple rubrics are a great way to assess primary writing.

Here's a simple sample:

What I Check	Not Yet	Getting There	Got It!
My writing has a clear idea.
I added details.
I used capitals and periods.
Others can read my writing.

Kids colour in or check a box for each row. You use the same rubric, so you can compare notes.

For bigger projects, a rubric made for that type of writing helps. My Animal Report Writing resources include rubrics built for primary students.

"This was a wonderful help in setting new goals after the new year. With 1st graders, it is a tough concept, but this little unit made it so much easier." - Alison B. Writing Goal Setting For Students, TpT review

How Can Teacher Checks Take Less Time?

Focus on one skill per piece, and meet with students for short conferences. You don't need to mark every error.

A writing conference can take just two minutes. Sit beside the child and read their piece together. Then share:

• One glow. Something they did well.

• One grow. One thing to work on next.

That's it. One clear next step is more useful than ten corrections.

You won't meet with every child every day. Aim for four or five conferences a day during writing time. You'll see everyone within a week.

How Do Grade 1 to 3 Students Set Writing Goals?

After a check, each child picks one thing to work on. Write the goal on a sticky note in their journal and revisit it every week or two.

Good primary writing goals are short and clear.

Here are some examples:

• "I will put a period at the end of every sentence."

• "I will add a describing word to my sentences."

• "I will write three sentences about my topic."

• "I will use a capital for names."

Let kids choose their goal from their glow and grow, or from a short list you post. When kids choose, they care more.

How Do Students Reflect on Their Writing Goals?

Every week or two, kids look at their goal and ask: "Did I do it? Can I show you where?" Then they keep the goal or set a new one.

Use the power of 3 here too. When a child meets their goal in three pieces of writing in a row, it's time for a new goal.

Celebrate each goal met. A goal chart, a sticker, or a quick share with the class shows kids their hard work paid off.

Your Next Stop on the Roadmap

Assessment doesn't have to mean weekend marking. Use short self, peer, and teacher checks. Keep rubrics simple. Help each child set one goal and check on it often.

Your next stop is Action E: Writing Supports That Help Many Students at Once.

New to the roadmap? Start with the full Writing Teacher's Roadmap.

Not sure where your class is on the roadmap? Take the free Writing Roadmap Quiz. You'll find your starting point and get the Writing Teacher's Roadmap Get Started Guide.