The District uses a "0-4" scale for the Reading Lions Assessments. Therefore, the papers
graded in my classroom will reflect scores on a "0-4" scale as well for consistency.

Below are the rubrics, followed by a "1" through "4" sample for each trait.

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IDEAS

4)
• You can tell exactly what I mean!
• I am an EXPERT on my topic.
• Get ready to learn TONS of new information!
• This paper is so interesting that you won’t want to put it down!
• You’ve never heard it told like this before!

3)
• You can tell what my main idea or story is.
• I know a lot about my topic.
• I use many interesting details.
• You will learn some new things while reading this.
• SOME of my details could be things you know.
• I had a creative way of writing the paper.

2)
• I think you can figure out what I’m trying to say.
• I need more information to make this less confusing.
• Mostly, I told things people already know.
• I’m still trying to figure out what I want to say.
• I only have a few details.  I need to say more.
• I wrote this the way many other people have.

1)
• This is confusing!
• Well, I made some notes. Now what?
• I don’t know what I want to say yet.
• What should my topic be? I’m not sure.
• I’m not ready to write. I don’t have a plan!

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ORGANIZATION

4)
• This is SO easy to follow that it’s like having a road map.
• Every detail is in JUST the right place.
• My main idea really stands out.
• My lead and ending are both WOW!

3)
• You will not feel lost reading this.
• Most of the details are in order.
• Main ideas stand out.
• I could move some things around to make it even better.
• My lead is OK.  It gets your attention.
• My ending is OK. The paper doesn’t just stop.

2)
• My information is not always in order.
• It’s not easy to follow what’s happening.
• Where am I going?  I forgot to stick to the main idea.
• I have an opening, but it’s not exciting.
• I have an ending, but it just repeats things I’ve already said.

1)
• This is VERY hard to follow. Even I feel lost.
• This is just a bunch of ideas tossed together.
• Nothing goes with anything else.
• Oops - I forgot to put in a lead.  It just starts.
• Double Oops - I also forgot an ending. It just stops.

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WORD CHOICE

4)
• Every word I chose helps make my meaning clear.
• I LOVE the words in this piece of writing.
• My VERBS are strong and lively!
• All of your senses come alive when you read this paper.
• My word choices are different - you will not read these same 
  words in someone else’s paper.

3)
• Most of my words are clear and used correctly.
• Many of them paint pictures in your mind.
• Most verbs are strong (not many: is, are, was, were, said)
• I found some new ways of saying things.
• I repeated very few things.

2)
• I didn’t always use words correctly.
• I had one or two good moments, though!
• My verbs are not that strong or lively.
• I did not try to be original. I used the first words that came to my mind or that I could spell easily.
• Most of my words are ordinary.They could be in anyone’s paper.
• I didn’t ALWAYS try to say things in a new way. It’s too much work!

1)
• When I read this over, it doesn’t make any sense.
• I use the same words over and over and over.
• I think most of my words are words that everyone uses.
• I need different words to make this paper clear. The reader can’t picture anything I’m trying to say!
• My words are confusing. I do NOT know what some of them mean.

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FLUENCY

4)
• You can read my paper with LOTS of expression.
• Almost every sentence begins differently.
• Some sentences are long and stretchy. Some are short and snappy. 
• I use a lot of variety!
• The words actually dance over the pages!
• My paper is easy and fun to read a lot.  Try it!

3)
• You can read this paper aloud, and it’s pretty smooth.
• Many sentences begin in different ways.
• Some sentences are longer or shorter than others.
• It would be even smoother with more variety.

2)
• To read this aloud, you will need to practice first.
• It doesn’t sound natural like the way people talk or think 
  about things.
• MOST of my sentences begin the same way.
• Most of my sentences are the same length, too.
• Sometimes, I went on and on to make one huge sentence instead 
  of making it into two.
• Other parts were choppy and sounded more like a grocery list.

1)
• This is HARD to read aloud. WOW! I can’t even do it.
• These “sentences” do not make sense, even to me.
• I have to fill in missing words or combine sentences better.

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VOICE

4)
• This is me. You can tell I’m talking.
• I think you will want to share this paper aloud.
• I LOVE my topic, and you can tell.
• I am writing just for YOU, my reader.

3)
• My voice is pretty clear, and I think it sounds like me.
• It’s a good paper, and I would share it.
• I like this topic, so I wanted to make it interesting 
  for my readers.

2)
• Does this paper sound like ME? Maybe. A little.
• It’s an OK paper, but I’m not sure I would read it aloud to anyone.
• My audience? Well, I didn’t think about them too much.
• This wasn’t my favorite topic. It was just OK.
• This sounds like an encyclopedia, not me!
• It doesn’t have much personality. It’s like pizza without toppings.

1)
• I do not hear ANY voice in this writing.
• I did NOT like this topic. It’s boring.
• I guess my paper sounds kind of boring, too.
• I didn’t think about WHO would read this.
• I don’t really care if anyone reads this.
• I just want to be done with it.

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CONVENTIONS

4)
• You have to be really PICKY to find mistakes in my paper.
• I edited this. I really looked HARD for mistakes.
• I asked others to help me look, too!
• My spelling and grammar are ALL excellent.
• I think my paper looks SPECTACULAR, and I’m very PROUD to put 
  it up on the wall.

3)
• I made a some small errors. Nothing BIG though.
• I DID edit this. I just didn’t catch everything.
• My spelling, punctuation, and grammar are good though.
• My paper looks pretty sharp on the page.

2)
• I have quite a few mistakes.
• I did a LITTLE editing, but I think I hurried too much.
• No one else proofed my paper.
• My spelling, punctuation, and grammar are so-so.
• My paper looks fine, I think. The lay-out is OK.
• Readers will notice my mistakes, I’m sure of that.
• I don’t think it looks as good as it should, either.

1)
• I have SO many mistakes that I can hardly read this.
• I need to go over it word by word.
• I need A LOT of help with my editing. I never asked anyone.
• Lay-out? Does it really matter if I turned in my rough draft?