Writing Pathways lays out a structure for writing performance assessments. We suggest that before, or early in, a unit of study, students are given the opportunity to write an 'on-demand' piece in narrative, opinion/argument, or information writing, and that they do so again at the end of the unit. At both points, students use checklists to self-assess and set goals, as well as see their own growth. Meanwhile, teachers quickly learn a lot about their writers' strengths and needs in each type of writing, and can adapt their teaching of the unit to be as responsive as possible.
On this page, you will find the writing prompt and student-facing checklist tools. For more tools, such as student exemplars and grade-level rubrics, please turn to Writing Pathways, available at Heinemann.