If you’ve ever said, “Add more detail” or “Fix your sentences” only to get a blank stare, you’re not alone. Teachers everywhere know the frustration of giving feedback that just doesn’t land.
Here’s the thing: our students often don’t actually know what success looks like in writing. That’s where a Writing Bump It Up Wall swoops in to save the day (and your sanity).
In this post, I’ll show you how to use Bump It Up Walls in K–1 and 2–3 classrooms to make writing goals crystal clear, support visible learning, and boost your students’ independence. We’ll also dive into how this connects to student success pedagogy—because visible learning is more than just sticking up a learning intention and success criteria.
Let’s get into it!
What is a Writing Bump It Up Wall?
A Writing Bump It Up Wall is a classroom display that shows leveled writing samples, student-friendly success criteria, and visual rubrics so students can see:
- Where their current writing sits
- What the next step looks like
- How they can “bump up” their work to get there
Think of it like Google Maps for writing: students know their starting point, their destination, and the steps to get there.
And the best part? It saves you from hearing “Mrs Scott, is this good?” a hundred times a day.
Why Visible Learning Matters in Writing
Visible learning in writing is about making the process transparent. Students shouldn’t be left guessing what a “good” narrative, recount, or paragraph looks like—they should be able to see it, understand it, and do it themselves.
When we use Writing Bump It Up Walls:
- Students learn to self-assess instead of waiting for teacher feedback.
- Learning intentions become more than words—they’re backed by clear exemplars.
- Success criteria are not just boxes to tick, but action steps students can follow.
Beyond Learning Intentions & Success Criteria
Here’s a truth bomb: posting a learning intention and success criteria on the board isn’t enough.
Yes, they’re important (clarity is king 👑), but students also need:
- Visual writing samples to anchor their understanding
- Step-by-step growth levels so they see progress, not just perfection
- Student agency → giving them the power to track their own writing growth
This is why a Writing Bump It Up Wall works so beautifully—it blends clarity with ownership.
Using a Bump It Up Wall in K–1
Little writers are just starting their journey, so the wall needs to be simple, visual, and fun.
Tips for K–1 Success:
- Use visuals + icons → pair writing levels with pictures or emojis that signal progress.
- Model writing together → show students how to move a sample from Level 1 to Level 2.
- Leverage oral rehearsal → use sentence stems before writing, then connect back to the wall.
- Celebrate growth → even moving one step up is a big deal at this stage!
👉 My K–1 Writing Bump It Up Wall includes leveled writing samples, child-friendly success criteria, and editable displays that make success crystal clear—even for your youngest learners.
Using a Bump It Up Wall in Grades 2–3
By Grades 2 and 3, students are ready for deeper writing goals: strong sentences, paragraphs, and structured texts.
Tips for 2–3 Success:
- Introduce full success criteria → use “I can” statements that break skills into steps.
- Encourage peer feedback → let students compare writing to the wall and give targeted feedback.
- Student goal-setting → have students highlight or clip their current level and choose a next-step goal.
- Scaffold paragraphs → link the wall to planning tools like graphic organizers.
👉 My brand-new Grades 2–3 Writing Bump It Up Wall has editable rubrics, exemplars, and goal-setting tools so students can independently track and improve their writing.
Connecting to Student Success Pedagogy
My approach is grounded in Student Success Pedagogy—a six-step framework that helps boost achievement. Bump It Up Walls align perfectly with three of the key steps:
- Step 1: The Power of Clear Learning Goals → students know exactly what to do and how to do it
- Step 5: The Power of Feedback → visible growth builds motivation
- Step 6: Embracing Revision and Growth → students own their learning journey
This shifts your classroom from teacher-directed feedback to student-driven growth.
Real-Life Classroom Wins
Teachers tell me all the time how much calmer their writing lessons feel after introducing a Writing Bump It Up Wall.
Instead of hovering at your desk asking “Is this good enough?”, students can look at the wall, compare, and make adjustments independently.
One teacher told me her students even race to bump up their work, cheering each other on as they climb the wall. Writing growth doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth—it can actually be joyful.
Getting Started With Your Bump It Up Wall
Here’s how to set yours up without stress:
- Print & Display → choose the levels and exemplars that suit your class.
- Teach with It → explicitly model how to use the wall to check writing.
- Involve Students → let them help decide where samples fit.
- Start Small → trial it with one genre, then expand to others.
Remember: it doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. The value is in how your students use it, not how pretty it looks.
Final Thoughts
Visible learning in writing is more than just posting a learning intention—it’s about showing students the roadmap to success.
A Writing Bump It Up Wall gives your students:
- Clarity on expectations
- Ownership of their progress
- Confidence as they see themselves improve
Whether you’re working with emergent writers in K–1 or developing confident paragraph writers in Grades 2–3, these resources take the mystery out of writing and replace it with independence, motivation, and success.
