What are running records? What are they utilized for? What information can the teacher gain from utilizing them as an assessment?

Answer 1

Running records are leveled passages of text. The teacher asks the child to read the text aloud without providing any background information or scaffolding, thus making it a "cold" read. As the child reads, the teacher makes a check mark for each word read correctly. If the child makes a substitution, omits a word, or reads the word incorrectly, the teacher utilizes the following chart to record the errors. The teacher also makes notations if the child reread to self-correct the word. The teacher then scores the assessment by utilizing the number of words in the text and the number of errors and self-corrections. The teacher also looks to see what types of errors the child is making such as visual, syntactical, or meaning changing errors.

Using the formula also provided below, the teacher scores the passage to ascertain if the text is independent level, instructional level, or frustration level. In this manner , the teacher can find "just right" texts for that particular child as well as gain valuable insight into his or her reading skills and strategies.

As it does not allow me to provide a document showing the symbols used in scoring the running record nor the way to calculate and determine the child's reading level, please email me and I would be happy to send you more information.