Grading in the Art Room

Grading... something we hate to have to do, but at the same time it gives some justification to our classes for people who don't understand what it is that we do. 

Being a middle school teacher, it is pretty difficult to grade students on their talent levels, or how aesthetically pleasing their artwork is to us. This is year 14 for me, and I have tried many different rubrics and ways to grade student art. I feel pretty comfortable with my current process. 

Students overall grade is broken down into three categories:

50% of a student’s grade is from their project grades.

25% of a student’s grade is from their daily participation and classwork.

25% of a student’s grade is from other graded assignments and preliminary work.

100% of a student’s grade is up to each student to perform to the best of their ability!

I have one rubric which grades students on four components: 

1. Following directions

2. Neatness

3. Work Habits/Work Ethic

4. Expectations

I spend a lot of time talking to students about the importance of paying attention and following directions. They know I do not repeat directions for students who are not listening. I will gladly clarify something for them if they do not understand, but will not repeat directions for non-listening students.

I have this rubric posted in my room poster size, so that if there is ever a question about whether or not an appropriate grade was given, I can justify my decisions with both parents and students. I am very transparent with my process, being that I do not grade on talent, I grade on effort, their effort is apparent in their finished work. 


When I actually sit down to grade their work, I use a sheet that looks like this (I'm a paper pencil kinda girl)

Name:	Total	20-100 19-95	Name:	Total
Grade Standard	Points	18-90	Grade Standard	Points
How well directions are followed		17-85	How well directions are followed
Neatness		16-80	Neatness
Work habits		15-75	Work habits
Expectations		14-70	Expectations

Name:	Total	13-65	Name:	Total
Grade Standard	Points	12-60	Grade Standard	Points
How well directions are followed		11-55	How well directions are followed
Neatness		10-50	Neatness
Work habits		9-45	Work habits
Expectations		8-40	Expectations

Name:	Total	7-35	Name:	Total
Grade Standard	Points	6-30	Grade Standard	Points
How well directions are followed		5-25	How well directions are followed
Neatness		4-20	Neatness
Work habits		3-15	Work habits
Expectations		2-10	Expectations

Their name goes at the top (I usually type names in at the beginning of the semester and print a new sheet for each project) 

They get 0-5 points for each category. 

EX:

Carly J. 

Directions: 4 (student followed most directions)

Neatness: 5 (Students work was very neat)

Work Habits: 4 (student worked most of the class period with few reminders to stay on task) 

Expectations: 4 (students work was mostly in line with my knowledge of their ability) 

Carly received 17 out of a possible 20 points 17/20 gives her an 85 on the project. 

Jenny F.

Directions: 4 (Jenny followed most directions)

Neatness: 4 (artwork was mostly neat) 

Work Habits: 3 (Jenny needed several reminders to stay on task)

Expectations 3 (Jenny met some of the expectations of her ability) 

Jenny received 13 points out of a possible 20- 14/20 which gives her a 70 on her project. 

I have been using this process for the last two years and it has worked really well for me. I used to create a new rubric for each project, but quickly (after 12 years, ha!) I realized I was simply reinventing the wheel over and over again. When I found, and tweaked this rubric, I discovered it worked for all I needed. 

I hope this can work for you too!