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Analyzing and Scoring a Running Record Qualitative Analysis The qualitative analysis is based on observations that you make during the running record. It involves observing how the child uses the meaning (M), structural (S), and visual (V) cues to help him or her read. It also involves paying attention to fluency, intonation, and phrasing. Think back to the prompts you offered and how the child responded to the prompts. All of these things help you to form a picture of the child’s reading development. Scoring The information gathered while doing a running record is used to determine error, accuracy, and self-correction rates. Directions for calculating these rates are given below. The calculated rates, along with qualitative information and the child’s comprehension of the text, are used to determine a child’s reading level. Error Rate Error rate is expressed as a ratio and is calculated by dividing the total number of words read by the total number of errors made. Total words / total errors = Error rate TW / E = ER Example: 120 / 6 = 20 The ratio is expressed as 1:20. This means that for each error made, the child read 20 words correctly. Accuracy Rate Accuracy rate is expressed as a percentage. You can calculate the accuracy rate by using the following formula: (Total words read – total errors) / total words read x 100 = Accuracy rate. (TW - E) / TW x 100 = AR Example: (120 – 6) / 120 x 100 = Accuracy rate 114/120 x 100 = Accuracy rate .95 x 100 = 95% You can use accuracy rate to determine whether the text read is easy enough for independent reading, difficult enough to warrant instruction yet avoid frustration, or too difficult for the reader. The breakdown of these three categories is as follows:
Self-correction is expressed as a ratio and is calculated by using the following formula: (Errors + self-correction) / self-correction = Self-correction rate (E + SC) / SC = SC rate Example: (10 + 5) / 5 = SC 15 / 5 = SC 3 = SC The SC is expressed as 1:3. This means that the child corrects 1 out of every 3 errors. If a child is self-correcting at a rate of 1:3 or less, this indicates that she or he is self-monitoring her or his reading. After the Reading Retelling After the child reads the benchmark book and you record a running record, have the child do an oral retelling of the story. Ask the child to close the book and then tell you about the story in as much detail as she or he can remember. If the child has difficulty retelling parts of the story or remembering certain details, you can use prompts such as "Tell me more about (character x)" or "What happened after…." Analyze the retelling for information the child gives about the following:
Retelling Checklist
Student Talk
Assessing children’s reading progress is key to moving them along at the proper developmental rate. The combination of information gained from the analysis of a running record, qualitative analysis, and analysis of a child’s retelling will help you select the appropriate books for your children’s reading levels. Remember, it does the reader little good to be placed at a reading level that is too difficult for him or her. Running records will help you match children with the appropriate level of reading materials. |