(Vol. 1, No. 2 - Spring 1997)
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A "Problem of the Week" Rubric
Karen Maine, a 7th grade mathematics teacher at Cubberly School, provides
a rubric to guide her students in completing a math "problem of the
week." It's a word problem that requires students to pick out important
information and use a variety of math skills to find the solution.
The rubric explains what students must do to earn a top score in three areas:
problem, strategy, and solution. Students can earn a maximum of six points.
The rubric emphasizes the importance of understanding the math-solving process,
not just getting the correct answer. To make sure students study the guidelines
closely, Maine requires them to grade their own work and to ask an adult
at home to grade it as well.
Problem (2 points)
(2 pts.) Problem is restated in your own words, with enough information
so that someone who has not seen the problem could solve it from the restatement.
All necessary information is included.
(1 pt.) Problem is restated, but may have some information missing, or it
is not restated in you own words.
(0 pts.) Problem is unsolvable because of missing information
Strategy (3 points)
(3 pts.) Explanation of how the problem was solved is clear. At least three
problem-solving strategies were used, and a full detailed explanation of
each one is included. You may include strategies that did not work if they
are fully explained, and the reasons they did not work are explained. Included
in this section should be charts, lists, graphs, pictures or other necessary
diagrams.
(2 pts.) Explanation of what you did to solve the problem is good but you
may have only explained one strategy. You may have included diagrams, charts,
lists or graphs, however, they may be incomplete or unlabeled. You may not
have explained enough detail to satisfy the requirement.
(1 pt.) Explanation is weak. Strategy used may be unexplained. Little effort
is shown.
(0 pts.) Explanation is poor. Little or no effort is shown.
Solution (1 point)
(1 pt.) The solution is appropriate, and all mathematical work is shown.
Your reasons that you feel the solution is correct are carefully explained.
(There is more than one correct solution on this P.O.W.)
(0 pts.) The solution may be correct or incorrect, however, you do not give
reasons you believe it is correct, or your solution is incorrect and unsupported.
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Read student opinions about rubrics.