According to Reutzel and Cooter (2009), “Highly effective reading teachers begin reading instruction by first assessing to find out what students already know and can do.” A running record, developed by Marie Clay, is a way to assess the student’s reading skills with fluency and the amount of errors they have in their reading. It is a good way for teachers to see what reading level their students are on. When conducting a running record of a student, “…the teacher notes everything the student says while reading a selected passage, including all words read correctly as well as all miscues” (Reutzel and Cooter, 2009, p. 38,42).
As a teacher, I will use a running record because it is an easy way to see the reading level my students are on. I will be able to see the strategies they use when reading, as well as their pattern of miscues. I will do a running record with every child in my classroom at the beginning of the year, and several times a month after that. This will allow me to see where they are and keep up with their progress throughout the year.
Assessments are tools the teacher uses to see the strengths and weaknesses of the students. They can then alter their instruction to fit the needs of the students (Reutzel and Cooter, 2009, p. 16). I will assess reading concepts because it will improve my teaching, as well as find out what the children can do, communicate student progress to parents and school authority, and evaluate my teaching strategies. Overall, assessment will benefit me as a teacher, and show me how I can tailor my teaching to meet the students needs.
