This SBAC writing test prep practice set gives 3rd grade students authentic Smarter Balanced performance task experience using high-interest informational sources!

The SBA test prep performance tasks are built around two engaging articles — one about life on cold islands and one about exploring tropical islands — and guide students through all three writing modes with built-in support tools for revising, editing, and self-assessment.

Each of the three performance tasks follows the two-part structure students will encounter on the actual Smarter Balanced Assessment, with scaffolded research questions in Part 1 and a full writing assignment in Part 2. Students read, take notes, think critically about sources, and produce multi-paragraph writing — exactly the skills tested on the SBA.

✏️ This resource includes:

• 2 informational reading sources (Life on Cold Islands & Exploring Tropical Islands)
• 3 complete performance tasks — Narrative, Opinion, and Informational
• Research questions for each task (Part 1)
• Student-friendly directions for each writing mode (Part 2)
• Notes pages with graphic organizer options for each task
• Drafting paper in two line formats (standard and primary)
• Standards-Based Student Writing Checklists for all 3 modes (Ideas & Conventions)
• Standards-Based CCSS Grading Rubrics for all 3 modes (4-point scale, aligned to W.3.1–W.3.3, L.3.1–L.3.2)

💜 Why Teachers Love This Resource:

• Mirrors the exact format of the SBAC/SBA writing performance task
• Covers all 3 CCSS writing modes: narrative, opinion, and informational
• Revising and editing checklists are powerful student self-assessment tools
• CCSS-aligned rubrics make grading fast and transparent
• Students can use the same two sources across all three tasks
• Flexible — use all three tasks or choose just one writing mode

👩🏻‍🏫 Perfect for:

• SBAC / SBA test prep
• Writing assessment or culminating task
• Writing workshop or independent practice
• Small groups, whole class, or individual work

This resource takes the stress out of performance task prep and gives your 3rd graders the practice, structure, and confidence they need to shine on test day.

☑️ Standards Alignment: All three sets of writing checklists and rubrics are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Grade 3, and are designed to support meaningful, standards based grading rubrics that reflect true grade-level expectations.

Questions? Contact me at BethThomas@time4change.blog.

💜 Happy Teaching!

~Beth