The document provides guidance for teachers on administering the optional Writing About Reading component of the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System for levels 1 and 2. It recommends that writing take place immediately after the comprehension conversation, with students responding in their own words while being able to look back at the text. Scoring guidelines include allowing pictures/drawings and scribing responses if needed. Recommended maximum writing times range from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the text level. A 4-point rubric is then used to score student understanding as reflected in their writing.

2. Writing About Reading can further demonstrate additional evidence of the student’s understanding of a text.

3. Writing About Reading should take place immediately following the comprehension conversation.

4. Students can look back in the text but must be told to respond in their own words.

5. “You can look back at the book to check your ideas, but you need to tell your thinking in your own words.”

6. Students can be encouraged to draw a picture (representation) that may assist them, this may help them to have a chance to think and reflect on the text.

7. All writing responses do include the option for the student to sketch or draw.

8. If a student only sketches a picture, you may want them to tell you more about it and you scribe their responses/ideas.

9. Students may reveal more through writing than through the comprehension conversation.

10. Students do not need to sit with you as they respond to the text through writing, but they should be near.

11. Teachers need to know the text selections well in order to assess the writing component. This ensures the teacher is looking responses of key understandings.

12. Writing can reveal what students may not have revealed in their comprehension conversation.

13. Read the directions to the students and answer any question he may have.

14. Recommended Writing About Reading time.

15. Ensure that the correct time is given for the correlating assessment system, notice the overlap in levels and time.