Nevada students are tested on writing in fifth grade; the prompt they write to is generally a narrative prompt.

Nevada fifth graders are scored using four analytic trait rubrics; the traits are idea development, organization, voice, and conventions. Although word choice does not have its own rubric, it is a skill that is analyzed using the voice rubric; similarly, sentece fluency skills are analyzed with the state's conventions rubric.

The eighth grade test has recently changed.

Nevada students are test again in the eighth grade. In January of 2011, our eighth graders' prompt will be expository for the first time; before 2011, the eighth graders were generally tested with a narrative prompt.

Beginning in 2011, the eighth grade will be assessed using a trait-inspired holistic rubric instead of the analytic rubrics used in 2010.

In order to graduate, Nevada students are tested once more in eleventh grade. The prompts our high school students write to can be expository or persuasive in nature.

Students who do not pass the test in eleventh grade can take the test again in twelfth grade.

Eleventh grade writing is assessed using a holistic, trait-inspired rubric.

Assessment Resources:

• idea development rubric (state test)
• organization rubric (state test)
• voice rubric (state test)
• conventions rubric (state test)

Assessment Resources:

• holistic rubric for expository (state test)
• student-friendly trait explanations (from the State Dept.)
• idea development analytic rubric*
• organization analytic rubric*
• voice & word choice analytic rubric*
• conventions & sentence fluency analytic rubric*

Assessment Resources:

• holistic rubric for persuasive (state test)

Fourth Grade Practice Prompt Recommendations and Materials:

We strongly believe that Nevada fourth graders should practice three times in the spring for their upcoming writing tests when they're fifth graders. In between these three practice prompts, there should be four to five weeks pause, where teachers assess their students' writing, students reflect on their scores and set goals, and corrective instruction happens. The resources you find in this section of this page are designed to help fourth grade teachers accomplish these important recommendations.

Resources for assigning scoring all three fourth grade practice prompts:

• Practice Prompt "Test Form" This form is a re-creation of the actual form students write their final drafts on when taking the test. The same amount of space and the same number of lines that students are given on the actual test day. If teacher scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores, we also feature this high-medium-low version of the test form, which might prove to be easier to use.
• Student Goal-Setting Worksheet When students are assessed by two different teacher scorers, they can use this sheet to do two things: a) record their scores for the four traits they're tested on and b) set goals for themselves for the next practice prompt. Page two of this document shows an example. If teacher-scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores to students' practice prompts, we also feature this high-medium-low version.
• Classroom at a Glance Chart This chart allows teachers to record and monitor students' strengths and weaknesses as they do the three practice prompts. This is an excellent chart to use when creating heterogeneous groupings for writing enrichment. This chart is designed to be printed on a legal-sized piece of paper, so be sure to load on in your printer's feeder tray when printing this.

Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Think of something you have done that brought you satisfaction, pleasure or a sense of accomplishment. Tell a story about this activity or event.

• Practice prompt #1 for the overhead projector -- use during the brainstorming session
• Practice prompt #1 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated fourth grade anchor papers for practice prompt #1 -- provided to help teachers score their own 4th grade samples and to be used an instructional tools before or after students write to this same prompt.
• Nevada fourth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful, student model-inspired instructional resources to be used while fourth graders write to practice prompt #1

Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #2: There are many amazing people, things, places, and events in our world. Tell a story about one of them.

• Practice prompt #2 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #2 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test
• Annotated fourth grade anchor papers for practice prompt #2 -- provided to help teachers score their own 4th grade samples and to be used an instructional tools before or after students write to this same prompt.
• Nevada fourth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt (coming soon!)

Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #3: If you could give a special gift or award to a deserving person, what would it be and why? Share reasons and details as you compose your answer.

• Practice prompt #3 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #3 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test
• Annotated fourth grade anchor papers for practice prompt #3 -- provided to help teachers score their own 4th grade samples and to be used an instructional tools before or after students write to this same prompt.
• Nevada fourth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt (coming soon!)

Fifth Grade Practice Prompt Recommendations and Materials:

We strongly believe that Nevada fifth graders should practice three times in the fall for their upcoming writing tests. In between these three practice prompts, there should be four to five weeks pause, where teachers assess their students' writing, students reflect on their scores and set goals, and corrective instruction happens. The resources you find in this section of this page are designed to help fifth grade teachers accomplish these important recommendations.

Resources for assigning scoring all three fifth grade practice prompts:

• Practice Prompt "Test Form" This form is a re-creation of the actual form students write their final drafts on when taking the test. The same amount of space and the same number of lines that students are given on the actual test day. If teacher scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores, we also feature this high-medium-low version of the test form, which might prove to be easier to use.
• Student Goal-Setting Worksheet When students are assessed by two different teacher scorers, they can use this sheet to do two things: a) record their scores for the four traits they're tested on and b) set goals for themselves for the next practice prompt. Page two of this document shows an example. If teacher-scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores to students' practice prompts, we also feature this high-medium-low version.
• Classroom at a Glance Chart This chart allows teachers to record and monitor students' strengths and weaknesses as they do the three practice prompts. This is an excellent chart to use when creating heterogeneous groupings for writing enrichment. This chart is designed to be printed on a legal-sized piece of paper, so be sure to load on in your printer's feeder tray when printing this.

Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Think about a time when something special or unusual happened at school. It could be a time when something unexpected happened in your classroom. Or it could be any event at school that you remember well. Write about what happened and why it was special or unusual.

• Practice prompt #1 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #1 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Seven annotated fifth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #1 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• Nevada fifth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while fifth graders write to practice prompt #1

Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #2: It's always a pleasure to give and receive gifts. Sometimes the gift is a present. Sometimes the gift is something someone does for you or someone else. What is the best gift you have ever given or received? Tell about a time you gave or received a gift and why that gift was important to you.

• Practice prompt #2 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #2 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Seven annotated fifth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #2 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• Nevada fifth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while fifth graders write to practice prompt #2

Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #3: Remember a time when you did something that made you feel proud of yourself. Think about what you did and how you felt about it. Try to remember the details clearly in your mind. Then write about what you did, including the sights and sounds of the moment.

• Practice prompt #3 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #3 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Seven annotated fifth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #3 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• Nevada fifth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while fifth graders write to practice prompt #3

The book Sparklers: High Scoring Essays and What they Teach Us by Gretchen Bernabei and Judy Reimer really inspired us here in Northern Nevada. It's a simple premise: show your writers actual student work that did well--or that "sparkled"--on an actual state test, have them analyze the writing, and challenge them to find elements in the student models that are "imitate-able."

Before we found the book, we'd been working exclusively to collect and annotate anonymous student samples for our designated practice prompts on this page. Discovering the book inspired us to search for some Nevada "sparklers" in addition to our annotations. Unlike our anonymously posted annotated samples, our "sparklers" are designed to be both personal and instructional. We love that our "sparklers" show off that there's a real kid behind the sparkling narratives and expository examples.

We have Nevada Sparklers! With each practice prompt on this page, we have included a variety of sparklers that we hope teachers will share and have their students discuss before, during, or after they write to the same practice prompts.

We're looking for more sparklers to go with our practice prompts. If you assign a practice prompt from this page and discover both a boy and a girl's sample that you believe "sparkle," contact us at publish@writingfix.com and maybe we'll get them posted at this page!

All our students feel some degree of anxiety upon discovering they will be taking a state or district assessment. How could they not? Having someone other than the teacher they're comfortable with score and assess them is a scary notion. Teachers should begin addressing test anxiety long before students sharpen their number two pencils for their summative exams, even more so if the teacher is planning to do test preparation like the practice prompts found on this page.

This page's theme is start preparing in meaningful ways long before students take the test so that test preparation doesn't feel like "drill and kill." With that said, might we suggest you discuss mandatory testing by sharing the picture books Testing Miss Malarkey and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!. Enjoy these books out loud long before you begin any test-specific preparation with your students. Come back to them often to build a less anxious environment among your writers.

Here's another great suggestion for lessening test stress, which comes from Barry Lane's awesome DVD and lesson package that's specifically designed to help students authentically prepare for a state writing exam--Hooked on Meaning: Have your students create cartoons or caricatures that represent the mysterious someone who might score their writing tests. If students can smile while sketching an unknown scorer, their stress levels change. You can find out more about Barry's DVD package at the bottom of this page.

Seventh Grade Practice Prompt Recommendations and Materials:

We strongly believe that Nevada seventh graders should practice three times in the spring for their upcoming writing tests before they're eighth graders. In between these three practice prompts, there should be four to five weeks pause, where teachers assess their students' writing, students reflect on their scores and set goals, and corrective instruction happens. The resources you find in this section of this webpage are designed to help seventh grade teachers accomplish these important recommendations.

Resources for assigning scoring all three seventh grade practice prompts:

• Practice Prompt "Test Form" This form is a re-creation of the actual form students write their final drafts on when taking the test. The same amount of space and the same number of lines that students are given on the actual test day. If teacher scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores, we also feature this high-medium-low version of the test form, which might prove to be easier to use.
• Student Goal-Setting Worksheet When students are assessed by two different teacher scorers, they can use this sheet to do two things: a) record their scores for the four traits they're tested on and b) set goals for themselves for the next practice prompt. Page two of this document shows an example. If teacher-scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores to students' practice prompts, we also feature this high-medium-low version.
• Classroom at a Glance Chart This chart allows teachers to record and monitor students' strengths and weaknesses as they do the three practice prompts. This is an excellent chart to use when creating heterogeneous groupings for writing enrichment. This chart is designed to be printed on a legal-sized piece of paper, so be sure to load on in your printer's feeder tray when printing this.

Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #1: We all experience stressful times in our lives.  Name three strategies you use to overcome stress and explain how they help you.

• Practice prompt #1 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #1 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated seventh-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #1 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers. COMING SOON!
• Nevada seventh grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while seventh graders write to practice prompt #1. COMING THIS FALL!

Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #2: Friendships are important to middle school students.  Write a definition of what your friends mean to you and be sure to include examples.

• Practice prompt #2 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #2 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated seventh-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #2 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers. COMING SOON!
• Nevada seventh grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while seventh graders write to practice prompt #2. COMING THIS FALL!

Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #3: A rainy day doesn't have to be bad.  Some people like rainy days. Explain how to turn a rainy day into a good day.

• Practice prompt #3 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #3 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated seventh-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #3 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers. COMING SOON!
• Nevada seventh grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while seventh graders write to practice prompt #3.

Eighth Grade Practice Prompt Recommendations and Materials:

We strongly believe that Nevada eighth graders should practice three times in the fall for their upcoming writing tests. In between these three practice prompts, there should be four to five weeks pause, where teachers assess their students' writing, students reflect on their scores and set goals, and corrective instruction happens. The resources you find in this section of this page are designed to help eighth grade teachers accomplish these important recommendations.

Resources for assigning scoring all three eighth grade practice prompts:

• Practice Prompt "Test Form" This form is a re-creation of the actual form students write their final drafts on when taking the test. The same amount of space and the same number of lines that students are given on the actual test day. If teacher scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores, we also feature this high-medium-low version of the test form, which might prove to be easier to use.
• Student Goal-Setting Worksheet When students are assessed by two different teacher scorers, they can use this sheet to do two things: a) record their scores for the four traits they're tested on and b) set goals for themselves for the next practice prompt. Page two of this document shows an example. If teacher-scorers don't feel comfortable assigning number scores to students' practice prompts, we also feature this high-medium-low version.
• Classroom at a Glance Chart This chart allows teachers to record and monitor students' strengths and weaknesses as they do the three practice prompts. This is an excellent chart to use when creating heterogeneous groupings for writing enrichment. This chart is designed to be printed on a legal-sized piece of paper, so be sure to load on in your printer's feeder tray when printing this.

Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Books, movies, and television can offer opportunities to learn valuable lessons. Write about a lesson learned from a book, movie, or television show that proved to be of value to you.

• Practice prompt #1 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #1 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated eighth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #1 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• A "Sparkler" (high-scoring essay) for this prompt-- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while eighth graders write to practice prompt #1

Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #2: Think about a game you enjoy. You have a friend who has never played the game but wants to learn. In a report to your friend, describe the game and explain how it is played. Be sure to explain the rules, the equipment, the number of players, and anything else your friend might need to know to play the game.

• Practice prompt #2 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #2 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated eighth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #2 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• Nevada eighth grade "Sparklers" for this practice prompt -- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while eighth graders write to practice prompt #1

Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #3: You know a lot about different things. Pick one thing on which you are an expert or know a lot about. For example, it could be an illness, a hobby, or a place. Write a paper that explains what you know a lot about. Be sure to organize your thoughts into paragraphs.

• Practice prompt #3 for the overhead projector
• Practice prompt #3 handout for students -- designed to resemble the student information sheet that is handed out with the actual test.
• Annotated eighth-grade anchor papers for practice prompt #3 -- provided to help teachers learn to score their own students' practice prompts and to be used to explain how scoring works to student writers.
• A "Sparkler" (high-scoring essay) for this prompt-- thoughtful instructional resources to be used while eighth graders write to practice prompt #1

Does your school use the NNWP's Trait Guide? It should.

The Northern Nevada Writing Project's teacher workbook--the Going Deep with 6 Trait Language Guide--generously shares lessons, resources, and discussion tools that help classrooms and schools discover anew the language of writing traits.  If your students' practice prompts show deficiencies in specific trait areas, this guide will help you zero in on trait-specific skills that might assist them.

Click here to find out how to order individual teacher copies.

Northern Nevada administrators:  We offer a discount rate (just $5.00 per copy) when ten or more of these workbooks are ordered by a principal for his/her school.  Contact Corbett Harrison (charrison@washoe.k12.nv.us) to take advantage of this discount.

"I stumbled upon your website by accident - I just love accidents like that. The book on Writing Traits is AMAZING! I absolutely love it."
 
           --Deepika Ahuja, Michigan teacher

Introduce WritingFix's 6-trait metaphor to make your test preparation more meaningful:

Click here to open and print our 7-page poster/handout set of this new Northern Nevada metaphor for the 6 traits.

6 Trait Songs for your Classroom:

In Nevada, students are scored on four of the six traits for their 5th and 8th grade state writing tests: idea development, organization, voice, and conventions. Students receive a score between 1 (low) and 5 (high) on all four traits, for a possible combined score of 20.

Northern Nevada Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Terry Stelle, has shared with us her original trait songs that she teaches her students to sing as they prepare to be tested. These songs mention both how scores are received and strategies for improving each of Nevada's tested traits in writing.

• The Idea Development Song
• The Organization Song
• The Voice Song
• The Conventions Song

Barry Lane's Hooked on Meaning

In both 2008 and 2009, author Barry Lane came to Reno to present materials from his "Hooked on Meaning" test preparation package. All participants left the conference with their own set of this unique collection of materials. We hope Barry will be coming back in the near future, because these are excellent materials to share with your 5th and 8th graders.

Quoted from Barry's Discover Writing Website:  "In this DVD, you will find 12 simple lessons teachers can show directly to students, grades 3-8, before the test. This material, and the entertaining way it's presented, will improve both the attitude toward the test and also teach aspects of the writers craft. Composed of short, entertaining three minute segments and simple exercises, and enhanced by a 120-page study guide filled with extra lessons, posters, and overhead-ready examples, Barry Lane's Hooked on Meaning is the perfect tool for incorporating prompted tests into a meaning-based writing program.  Show it directly to your class or use it as a professional development event for your faculty."

We try not to advertise on the WritingFix site, but we believe this to be a marvelous tool to have available at your school.  Consider talking to your principal about paying for a copy of these materials that your school can share.

Click here to find out more information from Barry Lane's "Hooked on Meaning."

If the computer you're using allows you to watch video clips from You-Tube, you will be able to preview two of the video lessons from Hooked on Meaning by using the links below. If you're using a computer that doesn't allow for these videos, you will see nothing below and we suggest you try looking at these from a home computer:

"What's at the End of the Rainbow?" Sample Clip:
 

A Gallery of Students' Cartoon Versions of State Scorers: