Heart Words Assessment & Tracker
Category: Education / Teacher Resources
Track 100 heart words for up to 30 students in Google Sheets or Excel, with automatic mastery, a class heatmap, reteach list, small groups and family reports.
Know exactly which heart words each child reads, which words to reteach tomorrow, and who belongs in which small group, without adding up a single score by hand.
This Heart Words Assessment & Tracker is a ready-made spreadsheet for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade teachers. Check each child three times a year, pick Not yet, Reads it or Spells it for every word, and the tracker does the rest: mastery percentages, a class heatmap, a Words to Reteach list, automatic small groups and a one-page report for families.
It uses the same 100 heart words in the same 10 sets of 10 as our Heart Words Flash Cards & Practice Book (https://www.etsy.com/listing/4585455377), and you can add up to 20 words of your own.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
• 1 ZIP download with 5 files:
• Quick Start Guide PDF (8 pages) with two make-a-copy links for Google Sheets: Blank + Example
• Excel file: Blank (.xlsx)
• Excel file: Example with a sample class (.xlsx)
• Assessment Sheets PDF, US Letter (20 pages)
• Assessment Sheets PDF, A4 (20 pages)
INSIDE THE TRACKER (9 TABS)
• Start Here: teacher, class, school year, three assessment dates, mastery goal and up to 30 students
• Word List: 100 heart words in 10 sets of 10, plus 20 rows for your own words
• Round 1, Round 2, Round 3: a dropdown for every student and word (Not yet / Reads it / Spells it). Reads % and Spells % fill in instantly
• Class Overview: every child's Reads % in all three rounds, growth, Spells % and next focus set; class mastery per set; a class trend chart
• Heatmap: every word coloured by how many students marked Not yet, plus an automatic Words to Reteach list with the names of the children who need each word
• Small Groups: each child is placed in the first set they have not mastered, with the exact words the group still needs; a mastery-by-set table for the whole class
• Student Report: pick a name and print one page for families with a progress chart across three rounds, mastery per set, words to practise at home and your note
PRINTABLE ASSESSMENT SHEETS
• Student word cards in large, clear letters, 2 sets per page, plus a My Words page
• Individual recording sheet: all 100 words with Read and Spell boxes for 3 rounds on one page
• Class recording sheets: one landscape page per set for up to 30 students
• Spelling check page with handwriting lines
WHY IT WORKS
• Three simple choices per word, nothing to calculate
• Red only marks Not yet and below goal, so what needs attention stands out
• Clean white and grey design that is easy to read and prints well
• Works the same in Google Sheets and Excel
• Example file shows a full sample class so you can see every tab working before you start
PERFECT FOR
• Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade teachers
• Reading specialists, interventionists and tutors
• Science of reading and structured literacy classrooms
• Homeschool families teaching early reading
• Data meetings, family conferences and report cards
HOW TO USE
1. Download the ZIP and open the Quick Start Guide.
2. Click Make a copy for Google Sheets, or open the Excel file.
3. Type your dates and student names on Start Here.
4. Print the word cards and check each child.
5. Record each round. Use the heatmap, reteach list and small groups to plan teaching, and print reports for families.
REQUIREMENTS
• Google Sheets: a free Google account (works in a browser; phone and tablet apps for viewing and light editing)
• Excel: Excel 2010 or newer, Microsoft 365, Excel for Mac or Excel on the web
• A PDF reader and a printer for the assessment sheets
PLEASE NOTE
• This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped.
• For use by one teacher or one family. Please do not resell or share the files or the copy links.
• The tracker summarises your own classroom checks. It is not a standardised or diagnostic test.
• Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC and Excel is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. This product is not affiliated with or endorsed by either company.
• This product was created with the help of AI tools.
Questions or need a custom word list? Send me a message and I will be happy to help.