What Does A Running Record Tell You?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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​A Running Record is an assessment tool which provides an insight into a student's reading as it is happening (Clay, 1993). A Running Record provides information on the following: …

an analysis of a reader's errors and self-corrections

.

an analysis of the reading strategies used

.

What does a running record focus on?

The goal of a running record is

to capture a student's activity as it happens

, gauging both their performance and behavior in any given task. Objectivity is crucial here, as an observer must write down exactly what is happening. To do so takes focus and some practice.

What do running records tell us?

What Are Running Records? Running records are

assessment tools to evaluate reading behaviors

. They can be used to determine a child's instructional reading level as well as to identify error patterns and show a student's use of (or failure to use) specific reading strategies and cueing systems.

What do running records include?

A running record

captures both how well a student reads (the number of words they read correctly) and their reading behaviors (what they say and do as they read)

. At the start of the year, or when you start working with a student, a running record can help match the student with books that are right for them.

Why is it important to do running records?

The importance of Running Records

Gathering information from a Running Record, which gives

a reliable and valid assessment of text reading

, and adding this information to other enables a teacher to gain a richer and more comprehensive assessment of a student's reading ability.

How often should I do Running Records?

A running record can keep you informed on their progress and reveal the effectiveness of intervention strategies you may be using. Early readers can be assessed every 3 to 5 weeks.

Transitional readers should be assessed every 4 to 6 weeks

.

What are the cons of Running Records?

Disadvantages Running Records are: •

Time consuming • Make subject feel watched

• take the adult out of the classroom • requires intense observation • focused attention • Ongoing assessments and should be administered early in the year–and repeated often throughout the year– to monitor reading progress.

What do you do after a running record?

A running record may reveal issues you can address quickly, through direct instruction that takes place immediately after the assessment concludes. After the student finishes the oral reading, give them

encouragement

and a “pat-on-the-back!” Affirm them for areas of strength the assessment revealed.

How do you implement a running record?

To take a Running Record,

sit beside a child as he or she reads a selected portion of the text aloud in a natural and relaxed environment

. It is necessary to select a time when you can hear the child read without interruptions, such as when children are engaged in quiet reading or on independent literacy activities.

How do I run a running record remotely?

Running Records

Online, you can administer running records in a

one-on-one online meeting

. Just schedule a Google Meet or Zoom session with each of your students. Pull up the passage you want the student to read on your computer, and share your screen.

Are running records valid?

Running records are used for assessing reading progress and have

proven to be reliable

when utilized with a minimum of three passages ( Fawson, et al, 2006 ).

When would you use a running record?

Running Records allow you to assess reading behavior as students read from developmentally appropriate texts. They are used most often at the

earlier stages of reading

to monitor reading behavior and progress.

What is a running records in education?

Running records are

a formative assessment

and are one way to document teacher observations of reading behaviors. The process of conducting a running record includes the teacher taking notes on the student's errors and corrections when he or she is orally reading a leveled text.

What counts as errors on a running record?

Errors are tallied during the reading whenever a child does any of the following:

Substitutes another word for a word in the text

.

Omits a word

.

Inserts a word

.

Is Dibels a running record?

Running Records are

administered regularly by the classroom teacher

. … DIBELS and AIMSweb are sorting tools that provide teachers with numbers.

Are Running Records formal or informal?

For example, running records are

informal assessments

because they indicate how well a student is reading a specific book. Scores such as 10 correct out of 15, percent of words read correctly, and most rubric scores are given from this type of assessment. The assessment used needs to match the purpose of assessing.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.