About Running Records
The Running Records that accompany the Benchmark Passages are one of three parts in the process designed to accurately assess students' reading behavior and comprehension.
Three-Part Process
1 Students read Benchmark Passages, and you capture their reading behavior on Running Records.
2 Students retell the text, and you use Retelling Rubrics to score their comprehension.
3 Students take an oral or written Comprehension Quick Check Quiz, and each question's answer tells what skill it assessed to help you identify comprehension skills for additional practice.
How to Use Running Records
The beginning of the school year is an opportune time to use this three-part assessment process. It will provide you with information on your students' reading abilities and help you determine where to start each student. Continue to use the process at regular intervals (such as those provided in the chart below) to monitor students' progress throughout the year.- Each Benchmark Passage and Spanish Benchmark Passage (Pasajes estándar) comes with a customized printable Running Record.
- Use a
running records on text other than those provided.
Note Students can be assigned only one assessment at a time.
Assessment Schedule
| Developmental Level | Learning A-Z Level | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Readers | Levels aa-C | every 2 to 4 weeks |
| Developing Readers | Levels D-J | every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Effective Readers | Levels K-P | every 6 to 8 weeks |
| Automatic Readers | Levels Q-Z | every 8 to 10 weeks |
Note Students who are not progressing at the expected rate should be assessed more frequently than the Assessment Schedule suggests.
How to Score Running Records
Administering a running record takes practice. To learn more about how to administer, mark, and score printed running records, click on the links below.
Taking a Running RecordMarking a Running Record
Scoring and Analyzing a Running Record
Place and Move Up Students
Using the information gathered from the Running Record, you can measure students' progress and decide their appropriate level. The chart below provides guidelines on when to move a student up or down a level.
Scores
| Running Record Accuracy Rate | Quick Check Comprehension Quiz | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 95% + | 100% | Advance Student a Level |
| 95% + | 80% | Instruct at this Level |
| 95% + | <80% | Lower a Level, Assess Again |
| 90-94% | 80-100% | Instruct at this Level |
| 90-94% | <80% | Lower a Level, Assess Again |
| <90%* | N/A | Lower a Level, Assess Again |
* Some teachers may choose to instruct students at a level in which they have scored lower than 90 percent, but generally will not instruct using texts in which students score below 85 percent.
How to Choose an Assessment Text
While we suggest that students should be assessed using cold reads (texts they have never seen before) to provide a more accurate measure of ability, some may prefer to use familiar texts. If you do prefer familiar texts, you can use another book or passage on a similar topic.
How Do I Reward Students' Reading Progress?
Reward students' progress with Benchmark WOWzers.