First Grade Writing Rubrics

First grade writing rubrics allow you to evaluate your student's writing and chart progress over the months of 1st grade.

first grade writing rubric
FREE Writing Rubric Download BELOW

Using the First Grade Writing Rubric

Writing Sentences
Expect the ability to write longer and more complex sentences to slowly progress over the 1st grade year. Realistic goals will include: Above Expectation: 5 or more sentences
Expectation: 3 to 4 sentences complete sentences by the last month of first grade
Below Expectation: 1 or 2 sentences
Fails Criteria: Cannot write a complete sentence

Capitals at the beginning of sentences
Above Expectation: Starts all sentences with capitals
Meets Expectation: Starts most sentences with capitals
Below Expectation: Needs frequent reminders to use capitals
Fails Criteria: Does not use capitalization

Punctuation
Above Expectation: Uses periods, question marks and exclamation mark correctly
Meets Expectations: Most sentences ended with a period
Below Expectations: Frequent reminders are needed to use end punctuation.
Fails Punctuation: No periods are present.

Spelling
Above Expectation: Uses periods, question marks and exclamation mark correctly
Meets Expectations: Most sentences ended with a period
Below Expectations: Frequent reminders are needed to use end punctuation
Fails No periods are present.

Legibility
Above Expecation: Correct letter formation and spacing
Meets Expectation: A few reversals and irregular spaced words
Below Expectation: Difficult to read
Fails Criteria: Illegible

Use of Nouns
First grade writing rubrics score students on the use of nouns and verbs. Only the upper three levels are included. Above Expectation: Uses plurals correctly. Pronouns and proper nouns present.
Meets Expectations: Misses difficult plural nouns. Does not always capitalize proper nouns.
Below Expectation: Does not use plurals or proper nouns

Use of Verbs
Above Expectation: Uses correct verb tenses and “ing” and “ed” correctly
Meets Expectation: Uses different verb tenses with some errors
Below Expectation: Does not use verb tenses

Communication of Topic
Above Expectation: Logical communication of a topic
Meets Expectataion: All sentences are about the same topic.
Below Expectation: Ideas are random without single topic.
Fails: Ideas are unclear.

Other Ideas for 1st Grade Writing Rubrics

You may also want to consider the six traits writing rubric for use with advanced first graders. It scores students on the use of the seven traits of six (plus one) writing.

Print the First Grade Writing Rubric

First Grade Writing Rubric homeschool curriculum arrow

Print the 1st Grade Writing Rubric

Make Writing A Blast!

K through 2nd

Live It Up, Write It Down

Kindergarten through second grade students will get a bang out of this curriculum. First they do a hands-on activity; then they write about it.

This first writing book teaches how to write using hands-on projects, writing with literature, writing a first diary, and incorporating writing with other subjects.