Reading & Writing · Unit 1 · Weeks 1–6 · 45–55 min (fine to split over two sittings)

Scoring Guide: Stories, Evidence & Text Features

43 points total

Part 1: Reading: A Fable

15 points

Read the story. Then answer the questions. You can look back at the story as often as you like.

1.
Who are the three characters? Where does the story take place?
(2 pts)
Answer: Badger, Beaver and Otter (1). At a stream in Green Hollow, in the forest (1).
2.
What problem does Badger have at the very beginning of the story?
(1 pt)
Answer: He has to swim across the stream to reach the berries, and he does not like getting wet.
3.
Badger says, "I can do it alone." What trait does Badger show here? Copy words from the story that prove it.
(2 pts)
Answer: Proud, stubborn or bossy (1). Evidence (1), any one: "puffing out his chest"; "I don't need stones"; "he turned his back"; "it will be the finest bridge in the forest."
4.
Number these events 1, 2, 3 in the order they happen. ___ A hard rain washes the first bridge away. ___ Badger says no to help from Beaver and Otter. ___ Badger asks Beaver and Otter to help him.
(2 pts)
Answer: 2, 1, 3 (Badger says no to help; the rain washes the bridge away; Badger asks for help).
5.
Read this sentence: "Badger strutted across it, proud as a king." What does strutted mean?
(1 pt)
Answer: Walked in a proud, showy way (with his chest out). Accept: walked proudly.
6.
How does Badger change from the beginning of the story to the end? What makes him change?
(2 pts)
Answer: At first he wants to work alone and says no to help; at the end he asks for help and works with his friends (1). He changes because his bridge washes away in the rain (1).
7.
The story has two parts: building the first bridge and building the second bridge. How does the second part build on the first part?
(2 pts)
Answer: Answers vary. Look for: in the second part Badger uses what he learned from the first part (he asks for help), and this time the bridge holds in the storm (1 for each idea).
8.
What is the central message of this fable? Write one detail from the story that shows it.
(2 pts)
Answer: Message (1): working together makes things stronger, or it is smart to accept help. Detail (1): the bridge built by three friends stayed up in the storm, but the bridge Badger built alone floated away; or Badger says, "A bridge built by many paws is stronger than a bridge built by one."
9.
Look at the picture. What does it show about Badger that helps you understand the story?
(1 pt)
Answer: Answers vary. Look for: Badger looks proud or stubborn (arms crossed, nose in the air) and is working alone while the others wait on the bank.

Scoring: 2-point items: 2 for a complete answer, 1 for one of the two parts (for example, a trait with no evidence, or a change with no cause). The order item: 2 if all three numbers are right, 1 if one event is in the right place, 0 otherwise. 1-point items: 1 if correct, 0 if not. Accept answers in the child's own words if they match the story.

Reteach if needed: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5. Week 1 Days 2–3 (characters, setting, retelling in order); Week 2 Days 1–3 (traits, evidence, character change); Week 3 Days 2–3 (answering with exact words); Week 4 Days 2–5 and Week 5 Day 1 (fables and the central message); Week 1 Day 2 and Week 4 Day 1 (what pictures add).

Part 2: Text Features

5 points

Read the page from a book about dragonflies. Then use the text features to answer.

10.
Under which heading would you read about where young dragonflies live?
(1 pt)
Answer: Life in the Water
11.
What does reed mean? Which text feature told you?
(2 pts)
Answer: A tall grass that grows in wet places (1). The glossary (1).
12.
Use the index. On which pages can you read about what dragonflies eat?
(1 pt)
Answer: Pages 5 and 8
13.
Look at the photo and read its caption. What does the photo show you about how a dragonfly rests?
(1 pt)
Answer: It rests on a reed (a tall grass) with its four wings spread out flat.

Scoring: 1-point items: 1 if correct. The 2-point item: 1 for the meaning and 1 for naming the glossary. For the photo item, accept either detail: it sits on a reed, or its wings are spread out flat.

Reteach if needed: Week 6. Week 6 Days 2–4 (headings, captions, bold words, diagrams, glossary and index).

Part 3: Language

10 points

Read each item by yourself. Follow the directions.

14.
Write this book title with the right capital letters. the fox and the old bridge
(1 pt)
Answer: The Fox and the Old Bridge
15.
Write each verb in the past tense. Today Otter swims. Yesterday Otter ____. Today Badger digs. Yesterday Badger ____.
(2 pts)
Answer: swam (1); dug (1)
16.
Read the sentence: Brave Otter swam quickly. Which word is the adjective? Which word is the adverb?
(2 pts)
Answer: Adjective: Brave (1). Adverb: quickly (1).
17.
Rewrite the sentence using 's to show who owns the tail. The tail of the beaver was flat.
(1 pt)
Answer: The beaver's tail was flat.
18.
Circle the right word. Of the three friends, Beaver was the (busier / busiest) worker.
(1 pt)
Answer: busiest
19.
Copy the sentence. Add a comma and quotation marks. Otter called Wait for me!
(2 pts)
Answer: Otter called, "Wait for me!" (1 for the comma, 1 for both quotation marks with the ! inside)
20.
Which word names something you cannot see or touch?
(1 pt)
Answer: patience

Scoring: Items with two parts get 1 point for each part. Choice items and 1-point items: 1 if correct, 0 if not. On the title item, all capitals must be right for the point.

Reteach if needed: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 5. Week 1 Day 1 (capitals in titles); Week 1 Day 3 (past-tense verbs); Week 2 Days 1–2 (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, possessives with 's); Week 2 Day 4 (-er and -est); Week 3 Day 3 (commas and quotation marks); Week 5 Day 1 (abstract nouns).

Part 4: Word Study

9 points

Read each word by yourself. Follow the directions.

21.
Circle the word that has a silent-e syllable.
(1 pt)
Answer: stripe
22.
Write ai or ay to finish each word. The horse ate h___. Please w___t for me.
(2 pts)
Answer: hay (1); wait (1)
23.
Circle the two words where r changes the vowel sound. shirt ship porch pouch
(2 pts)
Answer: shirt (1); porch (1). Take off 1 point for each extra word circled.
24.
Draw a line to divide each word into syllables. noble pebble
(2 pts)
Answer: no|ble (1); peb|ble (1)
25.
Write the syllable type for each word: closed, silent e, vowel team, r-controlled or consonant-le. cheek thorn
(2 pts)
Answer: cheek: vowel team (1); thorn: r-controlled (1)

Scoring: Each part is worth 1 point. The choice item: 1 if correct. Note which pattern each missed item checks: closed and silent-e syllables (Week 1), vowel teams (Week 2), r-controlled vowels (Week 3), consonant-le (Week 4), syllable types review (Weeks 5–6).

Reteach if needed: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6. Week 1 (closed and silent-e syllables); Week 2 (vowel teams); Week 3 (r-controlled vowels); Week 4 (consonant-le); Weeks 5–6 (sorting all five syllable types).

Part 5: Writing: Reading Response

4 points

Write a paragraph in your own words. Look back at the story to find evidence.

26.
Choose Beaver or Otter. Write a paragraph that names one trait your character shows. Give two details from the story as evidence. Copy at least one detail as an exact quote with quotation marks.
(4 pts)
Answer: Rubric (4 points): 4 = names a trait that fits (for example, helpful, kind, forgiving or smart about logs), gives two details from the story that show it, copies at least one exact quote with quotation marks, and uses complete sentences with capitals and end marks; 3 = a fitting trait and two details, but the quote is missing or not marked, or there are several errors in sentences; 2 = a fitting trait with only one detail; 1 = a trait with no evidence, or evidence that does not match the story; 0 = no response or off topic.

Scoring: Score the writing with the 4-point rubric in the answer. Score what is on the page, not neatness. Spelling of words not yet taught does not lower the score. A quote is any exact words copied from the story, such as "May I help?"

Reteach if needed: Week 2, Week 3, Week 5. Week 2 Days 1–2 (naming a trait and proving it); Week 3 Days 2–3 (quoting exact words); Week 5 Day 2 (proving a trait with evidence).

Score box

Part	Points earned	Possible
1. Reading: A Fable		15
2. Text Features		5
3. Language		10
4. Word Study		9
5. Writing: Reading Response		4
Total		43

Level: Enter points to see the level.

D · Developing: 0–21
A · Approaching: 22–30
P · Proficient: 31–38
E · Exceeding: 39–43