Establish expected learning outcomes or learning criteria for your students. Ask yourself, "What key elements do I want students to include or achieve in completion of the project?" Criteria may include objectives for behavior, interaction with peers or academic benchmarks. Given criteria need to be clear and concise. Keep in mind reading levels of students you will be grading. Younger students benefit from picture models of expectations attached to the rubric.
Decide what level or amount of detail you want included in the assignment. Start with the highest achievement levels (at or above grade level) and slowly eliminate tasks and details.
For example, you want students to make a repeating pattern using three shapes with different colors. Your learning outcomes include appropriate use of shapes, color and repetition (listed down the left hand column). Students at or above grade level use three different shapes, each using a different color and repeat in the same manner. List these high performance levels immediately to the right of each learning outcome. As you progress across each row (left to right), student success or performance decreases. List each change under a new column below its correlating score.
Establish your grading system by considering student grade level. Ensure that scoring makes sense to your students. If students are kindergartners with pre-primer reading skills, picture grades and colors may be helpful. Picture grades include stars, smiley faces or plus/minus signs; color in reference to a stoplight includes red -- poor; orange -- okay; and green -- good to go. If students are early readers, keep any words simple and numbers easy to add.
Explain the rubric and allow students an opportunity to provide feedback prior to beginning the assignment. Rubrics only help students when given prior to an assignment and reviewed for understanding. Allow students the opportunity to ask questions and clarify learning outcomes. Provide students examples of work produced at each level. Ask students for feedback and allow for changes.