What are rubrics?
Rubrics are a important tool and a method for communicating expectations. A rubric describes exactly what is expected in completing a task or producing a product – including things such as writing a letter, making a bed, baking a cake, and so forth.
In school, rubrics are sometimes referred to as grading sheets, project guides, or cover pages. They tell students how they will be graded on an assignment, both what items will be graded and what level of quality is required to earn a particular grade. And because they define all this up front, rubrics make a teacher's job of grading assignments much easier. Plus, they give students the guidance they need as they complete the assignment.