A classroom teacher needs good rules and routines to run a well-managed classroom. The children need to know what is expected of them and
what the consequences and rewards are. Just like those rules and routines, the students also need a set of rubrics--a guide to what is required to achieve the highest score possible on
their work. A clear set of guidelines not only tells a student what their goal is, it can also show the student how to do the project by listing all the requirements necessary to reach
that goal.
How do you go about creating a rubric for a subject area, or even a rubric for a specialized project? The first task is to decide what
you are trying to have the student accomplish. What do you want the final outcome to be? In this stage, you should consult the Standards’ books to see what standard setting work for
that subject is. You would list all the components required for that assignment, project, or subject, to receive a 4 (the highest score) which is interpreted to be above
standard setting work. From that point you work downward--what would be a 3 (meeting the standards)? You continue in this manner until you have gone to 2 (approaching
the standard) and 1 (below the standard).
Many teachers have a rubric posted in their classroom but don’t use it. For a rubric to be successful, it must be explained and shared
with the students. I recommend that general subject rubrics (writing, reading, etc) be handed out to students at the beginning of the year, explained at that time, and referred to as each
assignment is done. This familiarizes the student with the rubric format and lets the child know what he/she needs to do to accomplish his/her goal. More specialized rubrics, for example,
a social studies project, a science fair project, or a cooperative learning assignment, need an assignment specific rubric.
As a science cluster teacher, we do experiments, both in the classroom and at home. I have included in this article an example of a rubric
I made up for my students for a lab experiment. I thought of what standards I wanted my students’ experiments to include and specific areas that they had to have. I handed out the
rubrics with the assignment, and we went over them and discussed what they needed to do to achieve a 4 on the project. Here is the rubric I devised:
LAB EXPERIMENT RUBRIC
Science Lab- Mrs. B. Glasgold
4
3
2
1
Excellent lab report
Good lab report
Fair lab report
Unsatisfactory lab report
*The report includes all steps in the scientific process (Problem, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Observation,
and Conclusion), clearly and accurately.
*A variety of graphic representations (charts, graphs, pictures, and tables), are used.
*Conclusion drawn is clearly based on data collected.
*Work goes beyond what is expected.
* Presented neatly and without grammatical errors.
*The report includes good evidence of the scientific process.
*All steps are followed accurately.
*More than one graphic representation is used.
*Conclusion drawn is based on data collected.
*Work meets set expectations.
*Presented neatly and with few grammatical errors.
*Some evidence of the scientific process is shown.
*Most steps are followed accurately.
*One graphic representation is used.
*Conclusion drawn is somewhat incomplete, or not totally based on data collected.
*Work almost meets set expectations.
*Presented slightly sloppy, and with some grammatical errors.
*There is some evidence of the scientific process but missing major components.
*Components included are inaccurate or unclear.
*No graphic representation is used.
*Conclusion drawn is not based on any data collected.
*-Work does not meet set expectations.
*Work is sloppy and there are many grammatical errors.
There are many websites where you can create your own rubrics. Some of the ones that I use and like are listed here. The following websites
allow you to create your own rubric or use theirs. You can customize it for your particular needs.
Rubrics are a necessary part of the classroom. Students need clear cut guidelines so they are informed of what they need to do to achieve
standard setting work. Teachers can use rubrics for assessment in all subject areas. It is one of the tools of a well-managed classroom.
