Rubric Mini-Lesson Mishap

Jen Caruso (literacy coach at Hatfield Elementary in Mitchell, IN) was conducting a mini-lesson model on how to build a rubric with second graders. The lesson included defining writing quality based on rubric levels.

With the lesson about over, the final step was to have the students help name each level (e.g., high, middle, low). One student suggested "Fast Writing" as the label for the weakest level. His rationale was that your writing isn't very good if you rush and hurry to be done quickly. Therefore, the students agreed to label the lowest level as "Fast Writing." Of course that quickly led to the students labeling the highest level as "Slow Writing" (writing done carefully and with lots of thought).

With only the middle level to label, one student raised his hand and with great confidence announced "Half Fast." (Editor's Note: Say those two words aloud quickly to reveal a similar sounding swear word.) Thinking she'd just heard profanity from this eight-year-old, a stunned Jen had the student clarify what he'd said. "You know, like you didn't do it fast, but kind of fast. Half fast." Needless to say all the observing teachers in the back of the room were cracking up during this mini-lesson model. Too funny, Jen! Thanks for sharing.