Running Records: Why We Should Be Doing Them

Teaching Tips

I’ve just started a new coaching cycle with a Kindergarten teacher who is interested in building his understandings of guided reading. We’ve planned to work with a group of A/B level readers and will be using running records throughout the next six weeks to ensure that our work is supporting students progress as readers.

During my first few years in the classroom I rarely, if ever, gave running records outside of the required district reading assessments. With everything else I was trying to keep up with, these just seemed like one more thing “to do.” However, now after having done countless running records, I can confidently say that they provide reliable, relevant data.

Running records are an assessment given to guide teaching, assess text difficulty, and capture progress. The procedure is simple and straightforward. When analyzing what is recorded, you’re really challenged to think with greater clarity about the progress of your beginning or struggling readers. As a result, you adjust your instruction as needed and then guess what…your readers get moving! Running records make sense and are well worth your time.

To support my coachee with giving and analyzing these assessments, I created a running record form and progress tracker to use alongside of it. The running record form is user friendly with a space on the bottom for recording notes on student’s comprehension of a text. You can either type your notes directly into the document or record as you go on a blank form. The progress tracker form will help you visually capture a student’s progress over a period of time. The one featured below reflects the K-5 Fountas and Pinnell Levels. You can easily delete any unnecessary rows for the particular grade level you are working with. I have also included an example of what a completed progress tracker form might look like.

Download Running Record Form Here

Download Progress Tracker Here

If you’d like to know about running records in more detail, Marie Clay’s book “Running Records for Classroom Teachers” is a great resource.

I’m also happy to answer any questions. Just send them my way!

Visual Agendas

Instructional Coaching, Teaching Tips

Sharing learning targets and the agenda with staff is always a first step in our Thursday PD sessions. I used to post the agenda in a standard list format on a piece of chart paper. As I wrote in my last post on infographics, I’m a big fan of using visuals to enhance a message. So rather than posting PD agendas in a boring old list, I’m now creating visual agendas. One benefit of creating visual agendas is that the experience provides me with a clear picture of where I intend to lead teachers. Additionally, this process helps me storyboard the entire professional development session. As I plan I am able to see possible gaps or misunderstandings prior to PD which allows me to sharpen the agenda and subsequently the teacher’s take-aways.

As a teacher attending professional development I appreciate when my interest is sparked and the learning is clear. Visual agendas help with this.

I’ve shared a few examples below. You can create them electronically or with good old butcher paper. Hopefully they will inspire you to use more visuals to enhance your instruction.

Thanks for reading!

Kristin

Click to enlarge

The Story of Guided Reading

Instructional Coaching, Teaching Tips

Guided reading is an approach to literacy instruction that teachers at our school have been working hard to understand and implement in their classrooms. We did a ton of work and thinking with this strategy last year in PD and continue to build on and refine our understandings this year.

Below is an infographic I created to summarize the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of guided reading in a visually friendly way. As an educator I’m all about using visuals to help make sense of tricky topics or ideas. Infographics allow you to “tell a story” with graphics and information. This happens to be my first one and I have to say it was super fun to make! I hope it helps you make sense of guided reading.

Below the infographic I have included a video of a guided reading lesson, accompanying lesson plan, and guided reading planning template.

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Kristin