Rating scales are based on averages. To design a scale for kindergarten, it's imperative that you know and understand what is average for a kindergartner. What reading level are they on? How many numbers do they recognize? How many can tie their shoes or button their coats? What is normal when it comes to 5-year-olds? Without this knowledge, you will be unable to create a fair scale. If you haven't spent a lot of time around kindergartners, do some research or make an effort to pay attention to children in that age range.
Rating scales are used to assess a variety of skills and behaviors, so before you begin your work, you will need to determine which factors you'll be observing. Some popular topics are social and behavioral skills, written and verbal expression, cognitive and general knowledge, and the student's approach toward learning. Some rating scales are even geared toward assessing a child's level of “giftedness.”
Once you've decided on your main factors, it's necessary to break those factors down into individual, observable assessments. What are you looking for in each area? For example, in the category of written expression, you could have the following checklist: imitates writing, attempts to read, writes own name, uses both upper- and lowercase letters, writes from left to right, keeps letters within identified space and writes letters without reversing. This is a tedious process, but it's also a vital part of understanding and assessing the students' strengths and weaknesses.
Rating scales can be numerical, using numbers to indicate a student's level of mastery on each point. Typically, the number 1 indicates a total lack of comprehension and 10 (or 5, if you choose to use a tighter scale) indicates complete mastery. Rating scales can also use letters and words to record observations. In some cases, these factors include “P=poor,” “NI=needs improvement,” “S=satisfactory,” “G=good” and “E=excellent.” Whichever method you decide to use, be sure to present a key so that all participants will know how to interpret the information.
Rating scales can be used by teachers, parents and even school counselors. It's up to you to determine who will perform the observation. In some situations, it may be advantageous to create two completely different rating scales -- one to be completed by the teacher and one to be completed by the parents. This will give a more well-rounded assessment of the child's development and potential.