The Developmental Writing Scale (Sturm et al 2012) is a key part of this. This scale is so useful as it allows us to track a student's writing progress from emergent to conventional with a 14 point scale. Most importantly it also has accommodations listed for students who use alternative pencils - which is important for most of the students I work with.
The Developmental Writing Scale
As I said earlier, the Developmental Writing Scale is a 14 point scale that goes from emergent to conventional and then through the early stages on conventional writing - in the
Australian Curriculum the highest level on the scale is at a grade 4 and 5 writing level. We use the level descriptors to decide what level each piece of writing is at - and then those level descriptors help us to work out what skills we need to teach them to move to the next level.
And now, to demonstrate how this process works, let's look at each level on the scale along with examples.
Level 1
Drawing - lines and curves that appear to represent objects. Accommodations: Selection of a picture by a [student] who cannot hold a traditional pencil or marker.
If we go back to my blog post called
Emergent Writing: Focus on Function, this is how we would rate Mathilda's first "writing sample" - which I have also put below. This is the stage at which an individual doesn't recognise the difference between writing and pictures - and this is the point at which we (the adults) do lots and lots of attributing meaning and assuming competence to teach them them that they are a writer. Then we continue to use those same two adult superpowers to teach them that print has meaning and that everything they say they can write. Frequent writing practice with adults attributing meaning and assuming competence is how individuals move to the next point on the scale.
Level 1 Sample, Drawing
Level 1 Sample, generated with a flip chart - student selected the picture when we did the extra task as explained below
The accommodations part of this scale is REALLY important for any student using a keyboard or flip chart. A sample collected with these alternative pencils, and which is scored at level 1, needs to be accompanied by an extra task with the student. Basically, we provide the student with some writing and a picture. The easiest way to do this is to use a children's picture book. I prefer to use one which has writing on one side and a picture on the other. I then ask them to "show me the writing". If they select the picture, then they are rated as a level 1. The reason for this task being so important will become apparent as we get to level 3 on the scale.
Level 2
Scribbling - Continuous vertical, circular or wavy lines arranged linearly across the page, which may include letter-like forms, but with the majority of shapes not recognizable as letters. Accommodations: if an [individual] uses a keyboard [or flip chart], this level would not be used.
For individuals with good fine motor skills, this is where they start to demonstrate that they have had enough experiences with text to know that there is a difference between print and picture - and then this starts to show up in their writing. Below is a perfect example of this stage. This is an old sample that my friend Dianne sent me - a letter from her nephew to his grandmother.
Level 2 Sample Handwriting
Again, the accommodation part of the scale for level 2 is really important - and this is basically that if the student is using an alternative pencil, then we don't see level 2 in their writing development - they jump straight from level 1 to level 3.
Level 3
Letter Strings (no groups) - Handwritten or typed strings of letter but not grouped into words. Accommodations: alphabet display (e.g. paper copy) and standard or electronic keyboard access (e.g. on screen keyboard or AAC system)
For a student holding a pen or a pencil, this is where they show us that they've learned enough about text to know that it is composed of letters - and so we start to see those letters in their writing. For students who are using a keyboard or a flip chart, we've already been seeing letter strings because their alternative pencil is setup for them to write with letters. BUT remember the accommodation from level 1. If we do that separate "show me the writing" task with them and they select the picture, then we would rate their sample as level 1. If they show us the writing, then we rate their sample as a level 3. And the accommodation from this level is a lot easier - it's just suggested alternative pencils that writers can use. Just remember no matter what level you are at you need to have access to all the letters of the alphabet.
Level 3 Sample, generated with an alternative pencil (keyboard in Proloquo2Go)
Level 3 Sample, handwriting
Level 4
Letter Strings Grouped in Words - Strings of letters grouped into "words" (ie with spaces between at least two groups of letters) but with no intelligible words. Accommodations: Alphabet display (eg paper copy) and standard or electronic keyboard access (e.g. on screen keyboard or AAC system)
This is the level where a developing writer shows us that they have learned one more thing about writing - which is that they know that as well as letters there are also spaces. It should look very similar no matter what pencil is being used!
Level 4 Sample, generated with a flip chart (full stop added by adult who was transcribing the letters).
Level 5
Strings of letters grouped into "words" with only one possible real word (ie two or more letters in length) set apart, written repeatedly or embedded in a string of letters. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
And now developing writers have paid enough attention to text, that they incorporate one real word into their own writing. The real word has to be two or more letters - so you can't count "I" or "a" . Sometimes we find that the one real word is a high frequency word, and sometimes it's a high interest word. Oh - and you might also see spaces disappear again at this point.
Level 5 Sample, typed on a computer
Level 5 Sample, generated using the keyboard in Proloquo2Go (I have blanked out the student's name)
Level 6
Two or three different intelligible words - Two or three different intelligible words embedded in strings, separated by spaces, or in a list format. Single letter words such as "I" and "a" must be separated by spaces to count as an intelligible word. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
At this level, most writers are now spelling words phonetically. We also get some writers who meet all the criteria for this level who spell their two or three words perfectly as they develop more and more sight words. For a sample to be rated Level 6 there are also a couple of rules about spaces. The first Level 6 space rule is that spaces don't have to be there! The main example within the scale is : IYTKTOSMNTHETR (I like to swim under water). There isn't a single space - and that's fine. The second rule of spaces is that if you want to count I or a you need it to be separated by a space from any surrounding words - otherwise it's too easy to do them by chance.
Level 6 Sample, handwriting. "Jax is bin monitor"
cat eat fla.
Level 6 Sample. typing. "cat eat fly"
Level 7
Three or more different intelligible words in a list - Three or more related words. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
This is often one of the easiest levels to identify. There are usually a lot of nouns in the sample and there are no "little words". The two rules about spaces from Level 6 are also still in force.
Level 7 Sample, generated using the keyboard in Proloquo2Go "water, swimming, goggles, evie"
Level 8
Partial sentence of more than three words - More than three different intelligible words, with at least two of them in a partially formed sentence (ie gramatically related parts of a phrase, clause or sentence). Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
The description says it all! It's also worth knowing that spaces are still optional at this stage.
Philip and Jayden playing you no
Level 8 Sample, typing "Philip and Jayden playing Uno"
Atthpiooltogoswimmig shaun taz
Level 8 Sample, typing "At the pool to go swimming shaun taz"
Level 9
One to two complete sentences - Sentences have a subject phrase and a verb phrase. End punctuation is not necessary. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
Follow the level description - and remember spelling doesn't have to perfect, it just needs to be at a level where the intended audience can read the piece of writing. This is also the first level where spaces are needed between words - and they need to be used for the future levels too.
Level 9 Sample. typed on the keyboard in Proloquo2Go and inserted into the message window
Level 10
Three or more unrelated sentences (neither coherent nor cohesive) - Sentences have no coherent topic (ie sentences are not related). Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
For this level, we want to see end punctuation. We also need to remember that spelling still doesn't have to be perfect - just at a level where the intended audience can read it. And this rule also applies to the last four levels. Always remember that we teach spelling and words in the working with words block - not within writing.
Level 10 Sample, written on iPad (app used not recorded) "I am reading a book I like reading. I have a watch. I have a bike."
Level 11
Three or more related sentences (coherent but limited cohesive) - Organized writing with three or more sentences on a coherent topic but with limited cohesion between sentences (ie sentences can be reordered without changing meaning). Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
Level 11 Sample, handwriting
Level 12
Three or more related sentences that cannot be reordered (coherent and cohesive) - Organised writing with a coherent topic (ie on a consistent theme) and use of cohesive devices (eg pronoun or synonym replacement, logical connectors, subordinating conjunctions, conclusions that refer to prior content) across three or more sentences so that sentences cannot be reordered without meaning. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
On Thursday 2nd or August I went to the basketball carnval at Pdsadena high school. on the Photo I am sitting with my mate. I am happy. We one six games and lost one game. I scored somes three ponters. I would love too join a basketball team.
Level 12 Sample, typing
Level 13
Two coherent paragraphs of at least three cohesive sentences each - organised writing with a coherent main topic and two cohesive subsections (subtopics or story parts) with at least two sentences elaborating the meaning of each. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
Level 13 Sample, typing
Level 14
Three or more coherent paragraphs of at least three cohesive sentences each - organised writing with a coherent main topic and at least three cohesive subsections (subtopics or story parts), with at least [three] sentences elaborating the meaning of each. Accommodations: Word bank or word prediction software.
My long weekend
On Friday, I watched the two spare garbage trucks. One was doing the garbage, the other was doing the recycling. They were both white ones. They met together on my street. The recycling came before the garbage. It was good. I also went out with mum and dad for a drive. I saw a few buses which were 769, 791, 773, 776, 755, 1755, 1471, 1210, 2456, 2554, 2515, and 1810. It was a good day.
On Saturday I went shopping with mum and got stuff from coles before Showdown 45. The power lost to the crows. The power should have won.
On Sunday I went for a drive with mum and dad. We drove past Pasadena High School where I went for the Basketball carnival. It was a good drive.
I had a great weekend.
Level 14 Sample, typing
And that's the whole scale! Hopefully those explanations and examples have helped you in your students' writing.
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