Teacher Tips for Administering Benchmark Quick Checks

There are a number of ways to administer this Quick Check comprehension assessment with Reading A-Z Benchmark books. Use whatever way will work best for your classroom.

How

Meet with one student each day, and sit with him or her until he or she has completed the entire assessment. Or, do the Running Record portion with one student and have him or her continue reading the rest of the passage independently while you conduct another Running Record with someone else. Then have the first student come back to answer the comprehension questions. Continue this procedure on a rotating cycle.

When

Do what works best for you, but some suggestions might be: first thing in the morning while other students complete morning work; during your reading workshop; administer an assessment instead of meeting with one of your leveled reading groups (always rotating which group you skip for a day); during independent reading time; while other students are out of the room. Sometimes reading teachers, aides, and special education teachers might be able to help.

Why

The use of three types of questions will enable you to note patterns of responses that will give you evidence of strengths and weaknesses. Many students will be able to answer the text-based questions. Other students, especially verbally proficient ones, will be able to respond to text-based and critical response items, but may have difficulty with inferential items that require them to draw logical conclusions. Look for patterns of response in comprehension and through analyzing the Running Record. Together these patterns of responses will enable you to develop plans of instruction that are specifically tailored to meet students' needs.