6 Tips to Successfully Score Student Writing Samples

December, 2012 E-Newsletter

Using Six Traits Rubrics to Score Student Writing Samples

WriteSteps Assisting in Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

A Promotion for a WriteSteps Team Member
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
~Anne Frank
Using Six Traits Rubrics to Score Student Writing Samples
This month we have a special guest contributor to The Inspired Writer. Devin Dusseau-Bates, a 3rd grade teacher for Britton Deerfield area schools, provides her tips on utilizing the six traits rubrics provided in the WriteSteps writing and grammar program. You may recognize her name from one of our popular guest writers, Denise Dusseau. Devin is Denise’s sister. Teaching is a family tradition in the Dusseau family!

Devin grew up playing “school” as a little girl with her younger brother and would never allow him to play the role of the teacher. For as long as she can remember it was always her dream to be a teacher. Her favorite part of teaching is the “ah-ha” moments her students have in the classroom. She says, “The moment when you can see the light bulb go off, and you know they’ve got it, is a great feeling! It’s amazing to be a part of that.”

Outside of teaching, Devin loves to spend time with her husband and four children. They enjoy attending sporting events, taking trips to the park, and spending time with extended family and friends. Many thanks go to Devin for contributing to The Inspired Writer this month. Devin has been using WriteSteps with her 3rd graders. Below she shares her tips on using the six traits rubrics in your classrooms.


Devin Dusseau-Bates, 3rd Grade Teacher for Britton Deerfield County Schools


6 Tips to Successfully Score Student Writing Samples
Scoring a student sample or grade-level appropriate writing with the WriteSteps’ rubrics is effective because it gives your students the opportunity to see how each of the six traits works separately and together to make a strong piece. Using the six traits rubrics helps students identify their own areas of strengths and weaknesses, which really boosts student confidence. For example, if a student recognizes that they have a strength, called a glow, in the area of organization, but a weakness, or grow, in word choice, then they have something very specific to focus on as a writer rather than just on writing as a whole.

The key to having success with the rubrics in my classroom was making sure my students were very familiar with the six traits. Once my students understood the traits, the rubrics were a great tool to improve my students’ writing.

Simplify!
The most helpful thing I did with my students this year was very simple. I divided the rubric in half by splitting 6-5-4 and 3-2-1. I discussed with the student how this helps them to accurately nail down a score for the traits. Dividing the upper and lower half of the rubric helped to simplify things. Then, all we had to do was specify the exact score.

Six is perfect!
Think of six as the absolute best you’ve ever seen. It’s perfect. This helps students understand that obtaining a six, while doable, takes a lot of hard work and effort, especially during the revision and editing stages of the writing process.

One is not an option!
Think of one as the absolute worst you’ve ever seen. I’ve always explained to my students that receiving a one on the rubric means that very little effort, really none at all, was put into that particular piece. I assure them that as long as they incorporate what they’re learning into their writing, revising and editing honestly, then they’ll never get a one.

Example of a six trait rubric scoring sheet


Don’t talk too much
As a teacher we want to explain, and explain. Let your students do the talking. When they suggest a score, ask THEM to back it up with examples and evidence from the piece.

Don’t score every trait in one session!
I never score an entire piece on one day. The great thing about WriteSteps’ rubric lessons is that they only focus on three traits in one session, then the remaining on the following day. This really allows for a deeper focus and understanding of the traits being scored that day. Each trait discussed and scored lends itself into a brief five minute mini lesson per trait.

Make scoring fun!
Get your students involved by allowing them to make signals for their score choices. For example, think like a baseball coach and ask students to touch their nose then the top of their head for a six! WriteSteps has Uno-Dos-Traits Cards which provide some great interaction too. The purpose of having your students score visually is so you can do a quick scan of who really knows what they’re looking for and who still needs more time understanding the traits.

Every Act of Kindness Makes a Difference
The moment all of us at WriteSteps saw the devastation Hurricane Sandy left in her wake, we felt the urge to help in any way we could. Our hearts broke hearing the stories of the thousands of families who lost everything, especially the children hurting who were unable to go to school and had to experience this tragedy at such a young age.

Until January 1, 2013, 5% of profits from every teacher-kit sold will be donated to the organization, Save the Children. This money will go towards providing basic necessities for young children including items such as baby blankets, nutritious food, clothing and hygiene supplies.

Seeing the devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy made me reflect upon how quickly life can change in one instant, how important it is to live each day to the fullest, and be thankful for everything you do have. Things many of us take for granted, such as food, shelter and warmth, were taken away suddenly for thousands of people. I would hope that if something like this ever happened to me or my loved ones, others would chip in and help out in any way they could. Whether it is a prayer, positive thoughts, a monetary donation, or personally assisting with the clean-up, every act of kindness helps and DOES make a difference.

WriteSteps is more than just a company that strives to help students succeed in life. I built the company with the vision that I would make as much of a difference in the community where and when I could. If you haven’t done so already, I hope this post will inspire you to take action and help out in a way that is feasible for you.



Dedicated to your writing success,
Suzanne Klein


Terry Gates Promoted to National Awareness Director!
Terry Gates has been promoted to a new position within the WriteSteps team as the National Awareness Director. Terry will be recruiting, training and supervising Awareness Ambassadors across the nation. With the debut of WriteSteps in the January issue of Learning Magazine as a recipient of the 2013 Teachers’ Choice Award, we are planning ahead and positioning ourselves to be the national leader for writing and grammar instruction. Terry joined the WriteSteps team as an Awareness Ambassador in April 2012 and has done such a great job in his position we felt he would be the perfect fit for the role as the National Awareness Director. Congratulations Terry!

“Besides being extremely involved with schools over the years, I also have considerable leadership experiences with church and community organizations,” said Terry. “One of the many projects I initiated in my local community was Reading is FUNdamental, where the Jaycees donated over 5,000 free books to area children.”

The Gates Family from left to right: Chris, Kim, Terry, and Bradley Gates


Terry says one of the main reasons he chose to work with WriteSteps is because writing is one of the most basic tools of communication and he sees an opportunity for tremendous growth for WriteSteps. “We are living in times of unprecedented communication growth, yet a majority of high school graduates across the country are not proficient in writing,” said Terry.

Sending warm wishes of peace and happiness to all of The Inspired Writer readers and their families this Holiday Season!
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
~Author Unknown

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