Writing Lesson Plans Rubric
Teacher’s Name: ______Grade Level and Subject: Date of Evaluation: ______
All Subjects / Advanced / Proficient / Working Towards / Needs ImprovementAssessment /
- Lesson plan directly links assessment questions to objectives
- 100% of the in-class assessments/work products meet or exceed the level of rigor on the STAAR/EOC or state assessment.
- Lesson plan links most assessment questions to objectives
- 90% of the assessment activities meet or exceed the level of rigor on the STAAR/EOC or state assessment
- Lesson plan lists all assessment questions, but not all of them are directly linked to objectives
- 70% of the assessment activities meet the level of rigor on the STAAR/EOC or state assessment
- Lesson plan does not list all assessment questions OR does not link assessment questions and objectives
- Few assessment activities meet the rigor on the STAAR/EOC or state assessment
Objectives /
- 100% of the objectives student-centered, attainable and a balance of lower-order and higher-order thinking
- 100% of the objectives are written in student friendly language.
- 100% of the ELPS are written in student friendly language.
- ELPS support the content objective.
- 90% of the objectives student-centered, attainable and a balance of lower-order and higher-order thinking
- 90% of the objectives are written in student friendly language.
- 90% of the ELPS are written in student friendly language.
- ELPS support the content objective.
- 70% of the objectives student-centered, attainable and a balance of lower-order and higher-order thinking
- The objectives are written using the TEKS number.
- The ELPS are written using the TEKS number.
- ELPS does not support the content objective.
- Less than 70% of objectives are mastery objectives
- No attempt is made to state objective.
- No attempt is made to state the ELPS.
Scope /
- 100% of the year’s objectives are accounted for in the curriculum plan
- 90% of the year’s objectives are accounted for in the curriculum plan
- 70% of the year’s objectives are accounted for in the curriculum plan
- Less than 70% of the year’s objectives are accounted for in the curriculum plan
Anchor Activities /
- Lesson plan is an extremely detailed roadmap of the year, with multiple anchor activities outlined for each week.
- Activities are highly engaging, rigorous, and aligned to all assessments
- Thinking Maps are included at least 2 times a week
- Provide daily writing opportunities that support analytical, persuasive, and expository writing in addition to literary writing
- Lesson plan is detailed roadmap of the year, with 1 anchor activity outlined for each week
- Activities are mostly engaging, rigorous, and aligned to all assessments
- Thinking Maps are included at least once a week
- Provide writing opportunities that support analytical, persuasive, and expository writing in addition to literary writing
- Lesson plan is a roadmap of the year, but lacks detail or does not outline activities for week
- Activities are inconsistently engaging, rigorous, and aligned to all assessments
- Thinking Maps are attempted
- Students write once a week with no specific direction
- Lesson plan is incomplete and does not serve as a roadmap for the entire year
- Activities are not engaging, rigorous, or aligned to assessments
- Thinking Maps are not utilized
- Students are not required to write in class
Subject Specific Requirements
Mathematics /
- Lesson plan clearly describes the path to conceptual understanding of key ideas
- Anchor lessons, use of manipulatives, clickers, or other support tools are described in detail
- Lesson plan describes the path to conceptual understanding of key ideas
- Anchor lessons, use of manipulatives, clickers, or other support tools are described
- Lesson plan is inconsistent in describing the path to conceptual understanding of key ideas
- Anchor lessons, use of manipulatives, clickers, or other support tools are not always described
- Curriculum does not describe the path to conceptual understanding of key ideas
- Anchor lessons, use of manipulatives, clickers, or other support tools are missing
Science /
- Lesson plan includes high-quality, rigorous essential questions for each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes detailed description of inquiry lessons, including three laboratory experiments and demonstrations linked to objectives/assessments
- Lesson plan identifies key vocabulary for each unit of study
- Lesson plan identifies non-fiction text (both textbook and supplemental material) in each unit of study by title
- Lesson plan includes high-quality, rigorous essential questions for each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes description of inquiry lessons, including one laboratory experiments and demonstrations linked to objectives/assessments
- Lesson plan identifies key vocabulary for each unit of study
- Lesson plan identifies non-fiction text (textbook) in each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes essential questions for each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes description of inquiry lessons, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations, but lessons are not always aligned to objectives/assessments
- Lesson plan identifies key vocabulary for each unit of study, but list is incomplete or not rigorous
- Lesson plan identifies non-fiction text (textbook) in most units of study
- Lesson plan does not identify all essential questions
- Lesson plan does not include description of inquiry lessons, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations OR such lessons are activity-driven
- Lesson plan fails to identify key vocabulary
- Lesson plan does not identify non-fiction texts
History /
- Lesson plan includes high-quality, rigorous essential questions for every unit.
- Lesson plan identifies key vocabulary for each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes all primary and secondary source materials that will be used
- Lesson plan includes a detailed description of all writing, projects, research or oral presentation assignments completely aligned to objectives
- Lesson plan includes high-quality, rigorous essential questions for every unit.
- Lesson plan identifies key vocabulary for each unit of study
- Lesson plan includes most primary and secondary source materials that will be used
- Lesson plan includes all writing, projects, research or oral presentation assignments mostly aligned to objectives
- Lesson plan includes essential questions for each unit of study
- Lesson plan identifies vocabulary for each unit of study, but list is incomplete or not rigorous
- Lesson plan includes some primary and secondary source materials that will be used
- Lesson plan includes some writing, projects, research or oral presentation assignments but they are not all aligned to objectives and/or are activity-driven
- Lesson plan does not identify all essential questions
- Lesson plan fails to identify key vocabulary
- Lesson plan includes a very limited list of primary and secondary source materials that will be used
- Lesson plan includes a very limited list of writing, projects, research or oral presentation assignments
English/Literature /
- Pre-reading activities intentionally build schema for the literature selection in a variety of engaging ways
- Key teaching points for each literature selection are always objective/assessment aligned
- Partner texts from a variety of genres are listed for each unit, including title, author, and page numbers
- Literature selections contain rigorous questions with scripted answers which reflect a variety of reading skills and strategies
- Major writing assignments are aligned to skills and objectives
- Pre-reading activities intentionally build schema for the literature selection in engaging ways
- Key teaching points for each literature selection are usually objective/assessment aligned
- Partner texts from a few different genres are listed for each unit, including title
- Literature selections contain rigorous questions with some scripted answers which reflect a variety of reading skills and strategies
- Major writing assignments are aligned to skills and objectives
- Pre-reading activities attempt to build schema for the literature selection, but many are not engaging
- Key teaching points for each literature selections are incomplete OR only somewhat objective/assessment aligned
- A limited list of partner texts is listed for each unit
- Literature selections contain questions with some scripted answers, but questions lack rigor, do not include scripted answers, or do not reflect a variety of reading skills and strategies
- Major writing assignments are sometimes aligned to skills and objectives
- Pre-reading activities do not build appropriate schema and/or are not engaging
- Key teaching points for each literature selection are incomplete or missing
- Partner texts are not mentioned by title
- Literature selections only contain limited questions, and anticipated student answers are not scripted
- Major writing assignments are missing or not aligned to skills and objectives
Language Arts /
- Units clearly identify a detailed, logical sequence of composition skills
- Grammar skills are listed in a logical sequence
- Each assessment question is listed next to the corresponding objective(s)
- Artfully-worded writing prompts are listed in detail in each unit plan and are rigorous in topic and number
- Units clearly identify a logical sequence of composition skills
- Grammar skills are listed in a logical sequence
- Each assessment question is listed next to the corresponding objective(s)
- Writing prompts are listed in detail each unit plan and are rigorous in topic and number
- Units identify a sequence of composition skills, but it may lack detail or not be in a logical sequence
- Grammar skills are listed, but may be incomplete or not in a logical sequence
- Some assessment questions are listed next to corresponding skills
- Writing prompts are listed in each unit plan but are only roughly sketched out
- Composition skills are incomplete or missing
- Grammar skills are incomplete or missing
- Most assessment questions are not listed on the plan
- Writing prompts are missing, or lack rigor in topic and/or number
Spanish /
- Lesson plan clearly identifies the most important vocabulary, grammar, ideas, and concepts to master the objectives
- Lesson plan clearly includes projects for every unit.
- Lesson plan identifies important steps important vocabulary, grammar, ideas and concepts to master the objectives
- Lesson plan includes projects for most units.
- The connection between concept, ideas and objectives is not always clear and comprehensive in the curriculum plan
- Lesson plan includes projects for some units.
- There is no correlation between the ideas, and concepts listed and the objectives listed in the curriculum plan
- Lesson plan does not include projects.
Arts /
- Lesson plan clearly identifies the most important steps, ideas, and concepts to master the objectives
- Lesson plan clearly identifies key activities/experiences that students will participate in for every unit.
- Lesson plan identifies important steps, ideas and concepts to master the objectives
- Lesson plan identifies key activities/experiences that students will participate in for every unit.
- The connection between concept, ideas and objectives is not always clear and comprehensive in the curriculum plan
- Lesson plan identifies key activities/experiences that students will participate in for some units.
- There is no correlation between the ideas, and concepts listed and the objectives listed in the curriculum plan
- Lesson plan does not identify activities/experiences that students will participate.