You Want to Make a Rubric but Don't Know Where to Start

Creating a rubric can be one of the most time-saving and transparent processes for you and students when it comes to grading work. They are a great tool

BUT...they can be a headache when making them!!

If this is the situation you find yourself in when creating a rubric, you are definitely not alone. One of the keys to successful rubric creation can be found in the standards you are addressing with your assignment. Think about the verbs present in the standards. What tasks are associated with the standards? Consider these as a starting point, as you are probably mirroring some of the language in the standards with the language in the assignment that the rubric has been created for.

Once you consider that, I would suggest looking over page one and page two of this document on rubric creation from Balanced Assessment from Formative to Summative by Kay Burke. It provides a road map and self-assessment for teachers as they prepare rubrics and helps keep the focus on what it is the teacher is assessing.

Another section of Burke's book details moving into using weighted rubrics. The key to weighted rubrics is really deciding how to distinguish the different levels of performance within the area of concentration. Check out this example from the book. Also, this page gives a blank worksheet for teachers to use when planning out the criteria they are looking for and how to weight the various categories. This also gives students a chance to see the ways they can earn the best score possible, making the process even more transparent.

Rubrics can certainly be frustrating to construct, but once you have them made, they are a handy tool to have at your fingertips. Feel free to ask for assistance if you find yourself struggling to create one. Ask your colleagues and PLC for any rubrics they might use, and see how it might influence and shape the creation of your own!