Running records

Running Records are one of the main assessment tools Australian teachers use to monitor the reading progress of early readers. It gives a snapshot of which level best fits the reader.

Sounds like a race across a 400m track, doesn’t it?

Teachers are especially trained to look out for a stack of tiny nuances when kids are reading aloud. Check out the quick summary below for more details.

Quick Summary.

  • Purpose.

    A Running Record aims to monitor both how well a student reads (their accuracy) & their reading behaviours (their ability to self-correct mistakes & use strategies to work out unknown words).

  • Method.

    A teacher sits one-on-one with a student who reads aloud a text they have never seen before. The text level is chosen by the teacher who takes notes (very quickly!) as the student reads.

  • Progress.

    The completed Running Record gives the teacher stacks of information about areas for improvement (e.g. missed errors, use of reading strategies etc.). It also informs the teacher whether the text level is too hard, too easy, or just right.

"Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere."

— Mary Schmich