Struggling with Differentiation? Rubrics Can Help!

Let’s be honest – meeting the needs of every student in your class is extremely challenging! Fortunately, rubrics are an excellent tool that can be used to meet the needs of diverse learners in the classroom.

What is Differentiation?

So, what exactly is differentiation? It is an approach to teaching that recognizes that students have different needs, abilities, and learning styles.

Differentiation aims to provide multiple ways to learn the same material, which allows each student to learn in a way that best suits them. Now, let’s look at key reasons rubrics can be used to support differentiation in the classroom.

Reason #1: Rubrics Create Expectations

Provide Clear Expectations for All Students Rubrics provide clear expectations for all students, regardless of their learning needs or abilities. When students understand what is expected of them, they can focus their efforts and work towards achieving the desired outcome.

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Reason #2: Rubrics Outline Learning Goals

Identify Specific Learning Goals for Each Student By creating rubrics that outline specific learning goals, teachers can differentiate instruction based on the individual needs of each student. For example, a rubric can be used to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses, and the teacher can provide targeted support to help them develop the necessary skills.

Reason #3: Rubrics Provide Options & Alternative Learning

Offer Multiple Ways to Demonstrate Learning Rubrics can be used to offer multiple ways for students to demonstrate their learning. For example, a rubric can be used to assess a presentation, a written assignment, or an oral exam. By offering different ways for students to demonstrate their understanding, teachers can ensure that all students are challenged and engaged.

Reason #4: Rubrics Empower students with Self-Assessment

Support Student Self-Assessment and Reflection Rubrics can be used to promote student self-assessment and reflection. By using a rubric to evaluate their own work, students can develop a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and can set goals for future improvement.

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Reason #5: Rubrics are Relevant and Give Recent Feedback

Provide Timely and Meaningful Feedback Rubrics can help teachers provide timely and meaningful feedback to students. When students know how they will be graded, they can work to meet those expectations, and the teacher can provide feedback that is focused on specific criteria.

Conclusion

Using rubrics and differentiation together can help teachers meet the needs of diverse learners in the classroom. By providing clear expectations, identifying specific learning goals, offering multiple ways to demonstrate learning, supporting self-assessment and reflection, and providing timely feedback, teachers can ensure that all students are challenged and supported to meet their individual learning needs.

Next time you are creating a rubric for your class, remember to consider how you can use it to differentiate instruction and support all of your students. 

Keen on using rubrics? Try out our rubric builder today!