Submitted by Lynda A. Pearson, Alexandria, Virginia

Idea posted April 12, 2002

In our system, all specials (art, pe, and music) give two grades; one in effort and one in achievement. Several of the music teachers created a rubric for daily grades. Here's what we use... Hope it helps.

Effort

  • The student is on task.
  • The student is cooperative.
  • The student is a good listener.
  • The student participates positively.
  • The student follows directions.
  • The student completes assignments to the best of his/her ability.
K-5 receive a number in effort:
  • 5 (Excellent) - Always
  • 4 (Good) - Almost Always
  • 3 (Satisfactory) - Usually
  • 2 (Needs Improvement) - Sometimes
  • 1 (Unsatisfactory) - Almost Never

Achievement

  • The student sings in tune with good quality and blend.
  • The student learns tune, words, and rhythms quickly.
  • The student maintains good posture.
  • The student demonstrates excellent skills in: Rhythm, Form, and Melody.
  • The student demonstrates excellent retention of knowledge learned about Music History, Connection, and Music Theory.
1st & 2nd Grades:
  • E (Excellent) - Always
  • G (Good) - Almost Always
  • S (Satisfactory) - Usually
  • N (Needs Improvement) - Sometimes
  • U (Unsatisfactory) - Almost Never
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades:
  • A - Always
  • B - Almost Always
  • C - Usually
  • D - Sometimes
  • F - Almost Never