WHY RUBRICS?
adapted from Re: Learning New Mexico

• Promote unanxious expectations

• Make grading criteria known to students

• Drive curriculum and pedagogy

• Reduce teacher subjectivity

• Ensure accountability

• Maintain focus on content and performance standards and student work

BUILDING A RUBRIC

• Review the content standards that the unit is meant to address.

• Review the criteria that will be used to judge the student's product or performance and make sure they match the standards.

• Make a frame by deciding on the major categories and sub-categories the rubric will address.

• Describe the four different levels of performance that match each criterion. Choose words or phrases that capture the actual differences among the levels of performance.

• Test the rubric with students to see that it is understandable. (Once students gain experience with rubrics, they can help construct them.)

• Keep track of the strengths and shortcomings of the rubric when you use it to judge student work. 
  Revise the rubric as necessary.