5 Star Writing is an easy way to help students gain accountability and independence for their writing. Teaching young writers to take ownership of their work can feel like a challenge, but with the 5 Star Writing Rubric, students gain clear expectations and simple steps to improve their writing. This rubric builds upon the familiar Big 3 Writing Rubric—using capitals, spaces, and end marks—but increases accountability by adding two essential elements: writing neatly and using classroom anchors to support spelling.

By introducing the 5 Star Writing Rubric through songs, anchor charts, and examples, we help students internalize strong writing habits. This approach empowers young writers to check their own work, develop confidence, and create pieces that are easy to read and understand.

introducing the 5 star rubric

To make the rubric stick, introduce it in engaging, multi-sensory ways:

• Sing It! There is a simple song for each star (to the tune of Frere Jacques) and sing it each day during the introduction to writing instruction.
• Show Examples! Use modeled writing to highlight 5-star and almost-there work, discussing what makes a piece meet expectations.
• Use Anchor Charts! Each star should have a clear, student-friendly visual in the classroom. Reference my previous post on anchor chart best practices for tips on creating effective, interactive charts that evolve with student learning.

• Teach Each Star! Each star needs explicit instruction and practice. Examples of each lesson are listed below.

5 Star Writing: Capitals

Every sentence begins with a capital letter! This is an easy-to-spot rule that sets the tone for correct writing structure. You can always talk about CRAZY CAPITALS! Crazy capitals are what we call students who write random capitals in the middle of words and sentences without any reason. When teaching students to recognize where to use capitals, consider

Here are three engaging ideas to help first graders use capital letters appropriately when writing:

Highlight & Fix It! (Editing Practice)

• Provide students with short sentences where capital letters are missing.
• Have them highlight or circle where a capital is needed and rewrite the sentence correctly.
• Use colored markers to make it interactive!

Capital Detective

• Write a few sentences with and without capital letters on a chart or board.
• Challenge students to be detectives and find the mistakes.
• Use magnifying glasses for fun and have them “fix” the sentence by rewriting it correctly.

Hand Motions for Capital Rules

• Raise both hands up high = Start of a sentence
• Point to self = Names
• Draw a rectangle for a pretend calendar = Days and months
• Make a book by opening two hands beside each other = Titles of books

5 star writing: punctuation

Sentences need stopping points! Whether it’s a period, question mark, or exclamation point, punctuation provides clarity and expression. Students need instruction in end marks to help with prosody and making sure to practice what ending punctuation means to a sentence. Check out another post about The Importance of Punctuation.

Hand Motions

• Period = Hit a fisted hand into a flat hand for a “full stop.”
• Question Mark = Shrug shoulders and raise hands.
• Exclamation Mark = Throw hands in the air like you are thankful or are doing “raise the roof” motion.

Say It, Write It, Act It!

• Write one simple sentence without an end mark (e.g., Look at the cat).
• Say it three different ways:
  • Calmly (Look at the cat.)
  • Curiously (Look at the cat?)
  • Excitedly (Look at the cat!)
• Then, let them act out each version!

5 Star Writing: Use spacers

Students should leave clear spaces between words so their writing is readable.

Modeling in whole group with a teacher-made spacer (paint stirrer with magnets) and providing students with spacers (tongue depressors with mini-eraser accents), using a spaceman tool, or teach a one- or two-finger spacing to reinforce this habit.

By demonstrating the use of the spacer during whole group writing, students can develop a routine.

Also using sentence segmentation and counting the words in the sentence, students can count the spaces between their fingers to see how many spaces they will need in their writing.

5 Star Writing: write neatly

Neat handwriting is critical for both readability and confidence Neat handwriting isn’t just about making work look nice—it directly impacts learning.. Writing research shows “that automatized handwriting significantly improves not just the quantity of students writing but also it’s quality” (Van Cleave, 2019).

Research supports that legible handwriting improves literacy skills and overall academic success. Research shows that students who develop clear, legible handwriting demonstrate stronger reading and writing skills. Encouraging proper letter formation, consistent sizing, and careful spacing helps students develop this skill.

When writing is messy, students struggle to read their own work, limiting their ability to edit and revise. Additionally, poor handwriting can lead to frustration and disengagement.

Teaching neat writing early and consistently sets students up for long-term success.

5 star writing: use classroom anchors

Students should use the resources around them—word walls, anchor charts, sound charts, interactive writing, and modeled writing—to spell words correctly. Teaching students to reference these supports builds independence and reinforces spelling patterns. Anchor charts are powerful tools for reinforcing writing expectations. Here are a few quick tips for making the most of them:

• Teach Expectations with Anchor Charts
• Create charts with students so they feel ownership and understand the content.
• Keep them accessible—place charts where students can easily reference them.

• Hold students accountable for using anchor charts by teaching them HOW to use them. Model using anchor charts when whole group interactive writing supports it.
• Review and update charts to reflect new learning and encourage continued engagement.

By embedding the 5 Star Writing Rubric into daily routines, students develop stronger writing habits and take pride in their work. With consistent practice, engaging visuals, and clear.

If you’d like the 5 Star Writing Mechanics Rubric, check out the link above and with the picture.

The set includes everything you need to support your students with this rubric.

• Anchor Chart Stars (B&W with color directions)
• Anchor Chart Stars and Songs ((B&W with color directions)
• Anchor Chart Small Stars for Student-Made Anchor Charts
• Placards (10 on a page, 3 on a page, star strips)
• Bookmarks (3 to a page; Color and B&W)
• Writing Papers (3 Options Portrait)

I love talking about writing and supporting our youngest students with their developing writing skills. Check out some other products to support writing.