Offering more constructive feedback on your ESL learners' performance rather than assigning a number to their work might help them achieve learning goals faster than you think.
What is a single-point rubric?
Single-point rubrics contain the success criteria of a certain task, and they allow teachers to highlight which elements of a student’s performance have surpassed expectations and which ones still need improvement. Instead of focusing on the grade, educators encourage learners to reflect on their performance based on the feedback received. In a nutshell, single-point rubrics promote the use of constructive comments instead of assigning scores or grades that learners may consider final.
Why use single-point rubrics in the ESL class?
Single-point rubrics are perfect as formal assessment tools to help students achieve learning goals (mastery of speaking, reading, and writing skills).
By using single-point rubrics, both teachers and learners focus on the degree of development of competencies/skills instead of giving importance to scores or grades.
The teacher’s feedback helps learners become aware of which skills they already master and which they still need to improve.
They assist students in understanding their performance instead of leaving them puzzled trying to figure out why they received a certain grade they do not fully comprehend.
They encourage students to reflect on their performance, so they engage in their learning more meaningfully.
They support learning and the development of skills/competencies.
They leave room for improvement.
Overall, single-point rubrics are assessment tools that are perfect for providing comments on students’ performance to help them improve and take more risks. If you would like to use single-point rubrics in your secondary ESL class, I have a ready-made set in my TpT store that you might like: Single-Point ESL Rubrics.
Happy teaching!
Kynga C.
