Design your rubric for your students' assessment. A rubric can be used for any open-ended assignment, such as reports, speeches, presentations and projects. There are several online resources to assist you in creating a rubric, including Teacher Planet (rubrics4teachers.com) and RubiStar (rubistar.4teachers.org).
Fill in each section of the rubric to measure a different aspect of the assignment. For example, if the assignment is to write a letter, your sections might be grammar and spelling, format, neatness, content and addressing the envelope.
Structure your rubric by points. For example, the section on grammar may offer four points for a completely error-free letter, three points for one or two mistakes, two points for three or four mistakes and one point for five or more mistakes.
Display a grading key on your rubric. In the letter-writing example, there are five sections. If the maximum number of points a student can score in each section is four, the maximum overall score would be 20. If your class grades with letters, the key may state that 18 to 20 points would equal an A, 15 to 17 points would equal a B, 13 to 14 points would equal a C, 10 to 12 points would equal a D and nine points and below would be failing.
Distribute the rubric when you give the assignment.
Read over each section of the rubric with your students. Give them an opportunity to ask questions to ensure they understand each section.
Provide an opportunity for your students to evaluate each other's work using the rubric as a guideline. This peer review helps students become more cognizant of their own work.
Refer to the rubric as you grade the assignments.
Point to specific parts of the rubric to inform your students where they excelled and where they left room for improvement.