Example Mastery Check Rubrics

These are rubrics that Modern Classroom teachers have developed as a means of effectively and
efficiently assessing student work. You can use them strictly as teacher assessments, or have
students self-assess first. (Self-assessment is recommended where possible.) Note that these
rubrics are generally more applicable to regular mastery checks than they are to more formal
end-of-unit assessments -- for those assessments, we recommend that separate rubrics be
created and used.

Example #1: Grace’s Writing Checklist

Example #2: Rob’s Math Rubrics

Example #3: Narrative Writing Rubrics

Example #4: IB Writing Rubric

Example #5: Elementary Math Rubric

Example #6: Elementary Phonics Rubric

Example #1: Grace’s Writing Checklist
*** Teacher’s explanation: During an English Unit, students are often asked to write full paragraphs based
on work they have done in class. These paragraphs ultimately serve as draft pieces of each unit’s final essay.
This rubric is used to assess a student’s draft paragraphs; a student must reach the 80% line to move on to
the next lesson, but is encouraged to reach the 100% line to produce a draft that is as strong as possible .***

Mastery Checklist for Writing Tasks

❏ Correct capital letters, periods, conjunctions, and commas
❏ Topic sentence
❏ Evidence
❏ Analysis/paraphrase
--------80% Line--------------------------
❏ Transition Words
❏ Vocab Words
❏ Style
--------100% Line------------------------

Example #2: Rob’s Math Rubrics

*** Teacher’s explanation: When a student completes a math lesson, I give them 1-2 problems as a mastery
check. I print the rubric below at the bottom of each mastery check, and ask students to self-assess before
giving their work to me. I then review and score the student’s work - during a brief conversation with the
student where possible. If the work scores 3 or above on all three dimensions, the student can advance or
reassess (to get a 4); if not, the student must revise and reassess (to get a 3 or 4). I then enter the score of 3
or 4 into my gradebook.***

Student-Facing Directions: Once you have completed your work for any lesson, and before presenting
your work to a teacher, complete the self-evaluation below. Don’t forget explanations. Remember that
if you have any score of 3 or less, you will need to revise your work! Once ready, review your work and
this rubric with a teacher. Your teacher will discuss your work and give you a final score accordingly.

Mastery Check Rubric

4 (A) 3 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D)

Understanding I understand ALL of I understand MOST of I understand SOME of I understand LITTLE of

of Content this lesson’s content. this lesson’s content. this lesson’s content. this lesson’s content.

Application of I applied ALL of what I I applied MOST of what I applied SOME of I applied LITTLE of what
Knowledge learned. I learned. what I learned. I learned.
 Quality of I expressed ALL of my I expressed MOST of my I expressed SOME of I expressed LITTLE of
Communication work clearly. work clearly. my work clearly. my work clearly.

Example #3: Narrative Writing Rubric

*** Teacher’s explanation: This teacher uses a four-point rubric to assess mastery checks and communicate
next steps with her students. The next steps at the bottom of the rubric support clear procedures for all
learners.***
Example #4: IB Writing Rubric
*** Teacher’s explanation: This example is from a teacher in an International Baccalaureate school, thus the
0-8 scale. You’ll notice that this teacher worked in Must Do, Should Do, and Aspire to Do into their rubric.
This allows students to see what work they will need to do in each classification. ***

Example #5: Elementary Math Rubric

*** Teacher’s explanation: This rubric is one that could be used across many lessons/units in math which
will help students to be familiar with expectations and have a set routine. Students who receive a 3 go on to
the next assignment, students who receive a 2 meet with the teacher to quickly clarify any misconceptions,
and students that receive a score of a 1 redo the lesson and then retake the mastery check.***
Example #6: Elementary Phonics Rubric
*** Teacher’s explanation: This example is from a Kindergarten teacher and is used within a sequence of
lessons that covers teaching letter sounds. This teacher will be using the colors to help share feedback with
students but also has a written explanation that is helpful for caregivers and other stakeholders. On the
right, the teacher explicitly states the expectations for how many problems the student will need to get
correct to show they have mastered the content.***