Specific Tool for Assessing Literacy: Running Record
Running Records- Developed by Marie Clay as part of the Reading Recovery Program, running records provide the teacher with a quick way to assess a child's fluency.
Steps:
1. Choose a book or selection (or have the child choose). The sample should have 100 words.
2. Sit beside the child in a place where you will not be disturbed for a few minutes. Use a piece of paper or a form like the one the next page.
3. Record the child's name, date, and the name of the selection and page number.
4. Resist your natural inclination to teach as you take a runing record. If the child simply balks at an unknown word and refuses to go on, tell him or her the word and mark it T.
5. As the child reads, keep track of accuracy line by line, writing a check mark for each word read correctly. Record the starting and stopping times for the reading.
6. When the child makes a mistake (miscue) or leaves a word out, record the type of error using this coding system:
Each check mark means the child read the word correctly.
SC means the reader self-corrected a mistake.
Word written on line is in text; word above is what the child said.
Circle word indicates a word was omitted.
T means the teacher pronounced the word.
7. Caluclate the percentage of words correct by dividing the total number of words read correctly by the number of words in the sample and multiplying by 100.
To view a video of a running record being administered, click here or here.