The District uses a "0-4" scale for the Reading Lions Assessments. Therefore, the papers graded in the 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.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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!

_________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________

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.

______________________________________

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.

_____________________________________

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?