1. Why do we use Running Records?
The Running Record
The Running Record is a record or errors, or
miscues, that readers make as they are reading.
Why do we use Running Records?
to evaluate text difficulty
to group together children with similar needs
to monitor progress of the reader
to allow different children to move through
different books at different speeds while
keeping track of (and records of)
individual progress.
to observe particular difficulties in particular children
to guide classroom instruction

2. The Running Record Information compiled and presented by
Mr. Ray Newton

3. Some Common Teachers’ Notations
Student’s Behavior Teacher’s Notation
Accurate Reading
Error SC
Text
Self Corrected
TTA
Try That Again R
Repetition
Repetition to a
Starting Point R
/ /
Hesitation

4. Substitutions
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of a
shark are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone.
special
some
That
fish

5. Omissions
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of
sharks are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone. - - - - - -

6. Insertions of
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of
sharks are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone.
very
big
hard

7. Repetitions R
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of
sharks are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone. R R R

8. Self Corrections Special SC
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of
sharks are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone.
some SC
make SC
truly SC

9. All Conventions
many _
There are more than 350 species of sharks. All sharks are alike in
many ways that are very different from other animals. The skeletons of
sharks are made totally of cartilage. This differs greatly from bony fishes
whose skeletons contain true bone.
sharks R
carting SC

10. Scoring the Record
Substitutions, Insertions, Omissions, Teacher-told responses
are scored as errors.
Repetitions are not scored as errors.
Corrected responses are scored as self-corrections. There
is no penalty for attempts that result in a correct response.
Multiple unsuccessful attempts at a word score as one error.
If the reader omits a line or lines, each word omitted is
counted as an error.
If the reader omits a page, deduct the number of words on the
page from the total word count.
It the reader repeatedly makes an error with a proper noun
count it as one error.

11. Scoring Running Records
Error Rate
1. Count the number of errors.
2. Compare this with the number of words in the passage.
3. Calculate the error rate.
Total number of words in the passage
Number of words
Example:
100 words, 5 errors = 20 = ratio 1:20

12. Scoring Running Records
Accuracy Rate
1. Subtract the number of errors from the total number of words
2. Divide by the number of words
Number of words minus errors
Number of words
Example:
100 words - 7 errors
Number of words 93
100 =
93% =

13. Scoring Running Records
Self Correction Rate
1. Add the number of errors and self corrections together.
2. Divide be the number of self corrections.
Number of errors and self corrections
Self corrections
Example:
= = ratio 1:3

14. Category description Accuracy rate
Assessment
Category description Accuracy rate
Easy enough for independent reading – 100%
Instructional level for use in guided reading session – 94%
Too difficult and will frustrate the reader % and below

15. You can use the Accuracy Rate to determine the following:
Categories
You can use the Accuracy Rate to determine the following:
Category Description Accuracy Rate Range
Easy Enough for Independent Reading %
Instructional level for use in guided reading %
Too difficult and will frustrate the reader % and below

16. Recording Observations
Record your observation of the strategy used by the child when
he/she self corrects.
Use this symbol when the child uses context clues,
pictures, to assist in reading he word or phrase. M
Use this symbol when the child uses the structure or
syntax of the language to assist in reading the word or
phrase S V
Use this symbol when the child uses phonics clues
to assist in the reading of the word or phrase

17. The Running Record Form
Student’s Name______________________ Date:___________
Title_________________Level______Number of Words______