Rubrics provide teachers and students with a framework for scoring and interpreting student performance. They contain criteria related to a curriculum benchmark and reflect at least three levels of performance: 1) is working on or approaching grade-level expectations; 2) meets grade-level expectations; 3) exceeds grade-level expectations. In this activity, you will develop a rubric for one of the grade-level benchmarks in your literacy program. Use the following steps to guide you in creating your rubric. When you have finished, save your written work to submit as an assignment.

1. Select a grade-level goal or benchmark for reading or writing (e.g., students will write with a clear focus and organization of ideas).
2. Assign a task that reflects this benchmark.
3. List characteristics of student performance at each of the three levels noted above.
4. Develop a grid that categorizes the criteria you have noted for each level of performance. You may want to assign a number to each level.
5. Use the rubric to assess samples of student performance on the benchmark.
6. Use the results of the rubric to plan instruction.

Here is a Sample Rubric (PDF) to assist you in developing your own.

Benchmark: Students will be able to identify and understand how and why a character changes in a piece of fiction, based on what the character does or says and on what others say about the character.

Assignment: After completing a book, students will write at least three paragraphs describing how a character changed from the beginning to the end of the story.

After completing your own rubric, answer these questions:

1. How did the rubric help you to assess student performance?
2. Was the rubric an accurate reflection of the selected benchmark?
3. What changes would you make to your rubric for future assessments?
4. How will you share the rubric with your students? How could you include students in the development of other rubrics?
5. What instruction will you plan as a result of using this rubric?