Assessment

Oh no! It's the big A word. ASSESSMENT! While it can be scary and intimidating to create numeric grades for an entire student body, there are simple tools that I use to make my job a little easier. I do not believe in grading an elementary student based on how well they can draw. That's so.... subjective!

For the past several years, I have been a member of an elementary art PLC (professional learning community). Last year, we met once a month to discuss teaching strategies, assessment, evaluation, and a slew of other fun topics. During one meeting, we decided to design a basic rubric that could be used across the board in an elementary art room. Here is the result.
Now, I know that this a VERY simple rubric. However, I have had a beneficial time using this skeleton to create worthwhile assessment of student work. The rubric basically scores being on task, craftsmanship/ creativity, and following directions and meeting goals.

When it is time to assess student work, I will review the objectives for the lesson and write the goals on the board. Students are required to self assess as to whether or not they completed all the goals. In essence, we create a checklist. For instance...

Did you...
*Create an animal with shapes and textures
*Fill the space with a habitat for your animal
*Show foreground, middleground, and background



Using a 10 point system makes grading simple and easy. I post the rubric and the grading scale in a highly visible place in my room, so as to familiarize students with the process from the beginning of the year. It also enables me to remain transparent when discussing my grading practices with colleagues and parents. I want everyone to understand that my class is a standards based class, with true numerical grades and assessments.


12 comments:

  1. This is also awesome. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I love your rubric. I keep trying to make a rubric that I can use for many projects. With so many students/projects in elementary, I feel overwhelmed with making a new rubric for each project, but didn't like my previous one.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this!!

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  4. Thanks --this was sort of what I was thinking of doing also -- glad to know we all are thinking along the same lines- ha!

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  5. Thank you for showing me how to assess what is critical at this age level. I want to promote creativity while following the goals/criteria. This is going up in my classroom!

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  6. What is the "Wow" for at the bottom for 1 point?

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  7. Thank you for posting! My smart goal for next school year was to create a rubric for my students to make it easier for them to understand what they need to do. i made a small change to mine, instead of the "wow" one point, I will give that point for neat and clean presentation and taking pride in their work. I always post the objectives and steps for each art project on the wall, however this is a great addition and will fit all my grades from 4-8, AND parents if they want to know why and how!
    Thanks again, Eva

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  8. Do you grade every piece of art from each student in every grade at the elementary level? This seems impossible!

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  9. Thank you for sharing! I am a new art teacher and have been wondering how I am going to grade my students. What do the E-S-N stand for under Grades K-2 column and the U under the Grades 3-5 column stand for? Thanks.

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  10. I plan to make a big poster for a rubric that could apply to all lessons. Thanks!

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  11. What does the A, B, C, D, U stand for?

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  12. I also at teach K-5 Visual Art Classes at an Elementary Magnet School and I use a generic rubric very similar to this one. We do not get numerical grade to the K-1 students, so I use "E" for Excellent Work, "S" for Satisfactory Work, and "U" for Unfinished Work. Students in grades 2-5 receives numeric grades. I would use "U" for Unfinished Work when a student does not complete an assignment/project.

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