ABSTRACT
Based upon principles of teacher action research, this chapter describes and models beginning-of-the-year writing assessments that provide essential data necessary in planning for individualized writing goals and instruction for elementary students. Grown-up survey, student-writer survey, observation, and scored writing sample are described. Management, interpretation and use of data gathered from each assessment are modeled with authentic data from three Grade 3 students. Readers are provided models of synthesizing data as case studies for a kindergarten and a Grade 3 student. Readers are invited to practice synthesizing an additional case study using a Grade 5 data set. Chapter includes application questions and discussion prompts.
