Conducting Running Records allows teachers to assess and analyse students reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension skill level. They provide the evidence we need to set individual goals and monitor progress.
Seeing the growth and development students make is easily recognisable when comparing Running Records as students progress through their schooling. Though, a frustration I have had with Running Records is the analysing of records at a later time. In the moment of recording students reading aloud we understand their inaccuracy and strategies they use to decode words to complete the text. When referring back to the notations for each student for each text, it can be quite difficult to remember the exact strategy each student made in their attempt to read the text.
To overcome these frustrations I now complete Running Records using OneNote. OneNote is a favourite tool of mine that allows users to type, ink, record audio, and insert documents and links. Specifically for Running Records the ability to insert a document, ink, and record audio are the functions that make OneNote the perfect tool to conduct Running Records.
At the beginning of the school year I set up a OneNote notebook specifically for Assessment with a section labelled Running Records. In this section I have an individual page for each student in my class where I complete their Running Records throughout the year.
OneNote allows me to;
- Insert student specific Running Record sheets for each student
- Ink directly over the top of the Running Record sheet with a Stylus to annotate student accuracy / inaccuracy
- Record audio of each student as they attempt to complete their Running Record.
The power of OneNote and the reason I love using it to complete Running Records is for its ability to record each student as they read. It is so valuable to be able to refer back to these audio recordings when I analyse each student’s ability. It demonstrates their development throughout the year and is a pivotal tool I refer back to leading into parent interviews and report writing.
Here is a short video demonstrating how it works.
Eleni Kyritsis is an award winning Year 3 Teacher and Leader of Curriculum & innovation from Melbourne, Australia. Eleni facilitates professional learning workshops around the world that focus on unleashing creativity and curiosity in classrooms.