Scribbles: How you gonna try 'n grade my creative self?!

*Includes links to downloadable, classroom-ready rubrics for non-readers and middle years*

by Elizabeth Van Allen for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

I made this visual rubric as a
self-assessment tool for
my middle school students.

Let's face it, grading art can be downright confusing. When two student have similar projects, how is it that one may earn an A while the other earns a B? There are many different schools of thought on how, and if, artwork should be graded. This is the story of why my philosophy on the subject was formed and a guide to grading art in a fair and transparent way.

While I was in grad school, I once observed a "master" teacher line up student artwork from neatest to messiest and grade them against each other. I couldn't understand how those grades could be justified or how grading in this way could help progress student learning. I was stuck- how could this method encourage any student's creative growth, and where would it leave our budding Basquiats and van Goghs? When I worked up the nerve to ask this teacher why she didn't use a rubric (grading chart), she shook her head and said: "when you've been doing this as long as I have you don't need a rubric. You just know what the grade should be." That didn't sit too well with me, but before I put my own grade in jeopardy I shut my mouth tight and resolved never to become that type of teacher.

This rubric includes visual examples
and smiley faces showing what type
of quality you should be striving for.
http://cometotheartside.blogspot.com/2013/
09/how-do-you-grade-in-art-room.html

That experience drove me to find a grading method that is as fair and transparent as humanly possible. Everyone has different strengths to be developed and weaknesses that can be worked on in other subjects, so why would art be any different? It seems more fair and balanced for all involved to grade each piece individually based on the level and progress of the student. That's why teachers use a graphic organizer called a rubric to explain and/or justify their grading process. (see picture above and/or links at the end)

Hop into the closest Delorian or Tardis and jump forward in time to the beginning of my first full school year as an art teacher.

To ensure clarity, I post
our grading criteria
and what they mean
on the art room wall.
I also send home an
explanation of how art is
graded in my welcome
letter every September.

Picture this: I am going over the classroom rules and grading policy when a student tries to call me out. "This is art," she says. "How you gonna grade me in art?! I am a very creative person. You think you can grade my creativity? I'd like to see you try. I deserve an A just for being my own creative self." Seriously, that's how it happened, no exaggeration. I smiled, took a deep breath, and said "How in the world would I grade your creativity as a person? That would just be ridiculous (smile). I grade the creativity that you show in your interpretation of our project assignment." This scene played out with different students almost every year with only slight variations in phrasing until I made the whole scenario a regular part of my first-day-of-class speech. My students seem to find the whole scenario quite amusing.

How does an art teacher grade their students' work? We don't line it up from neatest to messiest, that's for sure! All you need is a little bit of extra preparation and a more open mind. This process will guide you to a completely justifiable grade that makes sense, can be explained, and is easy to defend if challenged.

My project grades can be broken down into five

This poster is one of as set of five
that hang on our classroom wall.

equally-weighted criteria:

1. Following directions
2. Showing a working understanding of the concepts I taught
3. Design creativity and originality
4. Craftsmanship
5. Work ethic

So, you may be asking yourself, what does all of that actually mean? Why I'm so glad you asked! This is how I explain it to my students: if you're not sure whether or not you earned the highest grade possible, you can always ask yourself these questions...

Following Directions: Did you follow the project directions? Is everything accounted for that is required for the project to be complete?

This poster is a great visual
example of what good
craftsmanship looks like!
from http://primarilyartwithmrsdepp.blogspot
.com/2014/10/my-temporary-art-room.html

Understanding Concepts: Did you demonstrate a working understanding of the concepts and/or techniques that were taught?

Design Creativity and Originality: Is your project a copy of the example or did you come up with new and original ideas in your project? Does your artwork look just like everyone else's or is it special or different in some way?

Craftsmanship: Did you do your work with care? Did you demonstrate any required techniques correctly?

Work Ethic: Did you have to be reminded to stay on task? How was your behavior? Were you a distraction to others? Was your attitude positive or was it negative?

That sounds great, but how do you actually use it? Since a full project grade is worth 100 points, a student can earn up to 20 points in each category. Here's how it works:
Student A
Has never taken an art class before, but wants to learn and do well.
+20 points (followed directions)
+20 points (showed that they "got" the concept)
+18 points (used some ideas that were different from the example)
+19 points (put time and energy into it)
+20 points (tried hard and stayed on task)
=97%, or an A.

Student B
Has natural ability, assumes they'll get an A because they always have.
+15 points (made a pretty picture, but didn't follow directions)
+15 points (didn't show that they could do what was taught)
+17 points (copied the teacher's example with a few small changes)
+16 points (did the project quickly without much effort or care)
+12 points (couldn't stay out of other people's business)

Self-inking DIY address stamps
work beautifully for grade clarification!

=75%, or a C.

It's easier for students to understand their project grades if you use a DIY address stamp to break it down for them. Just enter your criteria instead of an address, then fill in the earned number of points for each category as you grade. Be sure to shop around, their price fluctuates by about $20 US for similar quality products!

This method of grading levels the playing field, so to speak. In my classroom those who don't have a strong background in art can earn an A, and those who are "talented" are not guaranteed one. All aspects of a well-rounded student are taken into account when grading in this way. This is also one reason why very few of the grades earned in my class have ever been questioned. Each and every student truly earns their grade.

What other grading methods
have you seen or used that
are truly fair and balanced?

See more great examples of grading practices that I've collected on this pinterest board.