Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the learning environment design, including the setting and age of children. The description is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Describes the learning environment design including the setting and age of children. The description is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially describes the learning environment design, including the setting and age of children. The description is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the learning environment design, including the setting and age of children; however, the description is not supported by scholarly sources and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The description of the learning environment design is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how the learning environment design supports physical development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Explains how the learning environment design supports physical development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains how the learning environment design supports physical development of the children. The explanation is minimally supported by scholarly sources, includes less than two specific examples, and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the learning environment design support physical development of the children; however, the explanation is not supported by scholarly sources, includes one or no specific examples, and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the learning environment supports physical development of the children is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how the learning environment design supports cognitive development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Explains how the learning environment design supports cognitive development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains how the learning environment design supports cognitive development of the children. The explanation is minimally supported by scholarly sources, includes less than two specific examples, and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the learning environment design supports cognitive development of the children; however, the explanation is not supported by scholarly sources, includes one or no specific examples, and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the learning environment supports cognitive development of the children is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how the learning environment design supports affective development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Explains how the learning environment design supports affective development of the children, including at least two specific examples. The explanation is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially explains how the learning environment design supports affective development of the children. The explanation is minimally supported by scholarly sources, includes less than two specific examples, and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the learning environment design supports affective development or the children; however, the explanation is not supported by scholarly sources, includes one or no specific examples, and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the learning environment supports affective development is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively discusses which developmental theories are represented in the created learning environment, including at least two specific examples. The discussion is well-supported by scholarly sources.

Proficient - Discusses which developmental theories are represented in the created learning environment, including at least two specific examples. The discussion is supported by scholarly sources but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially discusses which developmental theories are represented in the created learning environment. The discussion is minimally supported by scholarly sources, includes less than two specific examples, and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss which developmental theories are represented in the created learning environment; however, the discussion is not supported by scholarly sources, includes one or no specific examples, and it is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The discussion of developmental theories is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly summarizes the main points of the learning environment design and how it will support the developmental needs of students, including a screenshot of the design. The summary is well-supported by scholarly sources, and it is one paragraph in length.

Proficient - Summarizes the main points of the learning environment design and how it will support the developmental needs of students, including a screenshot of the design. The summary is one paragraph in length, it is supported by scholarly sources, but it is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially summarizes the main points of the learning environment design and how it will support the developmental needs of students, including a screenshot of the design. The summary is one paragraph in length, but it is minimally supported by scholarly sources and/or it is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the main points of the learning environment design and how it will support the developmental needs of students; however, the summary is not one paragraph in length and it is not supported by scholarly sources. The screen shot is not included and the summary is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The summary of main points is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.

Proficient - Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.

Basic - Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.

Below Expectations - Organization and presentation of content are extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Demonstrates consistent use of reliable, appropriate sources and/or evidence to support ideas that are situated within the discipline and genre of the writing.

Proficient - Demonstrates mostly consistent use of reliable sources that are appropriate to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer some support to the ideas in the writing. 

Basic - Demonstrates somewhat inconsistent use of sources that are mostly reliable to the discipline and genre of the writing. Sources offer little support to the ideas in the writing.

Below Expectations - Inconsistently utilizes sources and/or evidence that may be unrelated and offer little support to the ideas in the writing. 

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.