The best way for you to evaluate your students’ performance is through the use of rubrics. A rubric is an evaluation tool designed to clearly describe to the student what is expected. A rubric spells out the criteria for the task, the expectations, and what must be done to satisfy the expectations. Points are awarded to projects based on the rubric. The number of points the student earns will determine his/her grade on the project. Each school district has a grading scale. Be sure to check your district's grading policy.
In her article Understanding Rubrics Heidi Goodrich Andrade states, “A rubric is a scoring tool that lists the criteria for a piece of work, or ‘what counts’ (for example, purpose, organization, details, voice, and mechanics are often what count in a piece of writing); it also articulates gradations of quality for each criterion, from excellent to poor.” As you read her full article you will develop a clear picture of how to develop, organize, and use rubrics effectively. Andrade, Heidi Goodrich (1997). Understanding Rubrics. Retrieved February 25, 2013, from http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/thinking/docs/rubricar.htm
Creating your own units with rubrics, and differentiating them to meet the needs of your students is extra work, but well worthwhile. Developing a lesson and giving the test from the book downplays the importance of the product. When you design your curriculum for your gifted students, you are looking for the product and process. This is what your rubrics will evaluate. As you watch the next video, you will see how authentic assessment comes in the form of a rubric.
An excellent web site for rubric design is Rubistar. This web site is free and enables you to select your subject and customize rubrics for any and everything! What is fabulous about this web site is that once you register, it will save the rubrics you create so you can reuse them at a later date or share them with a friend.
Click here to view an interactive self-assessment of your knowledge of rubrics.