What are common forms of assessment used to monitor literacy progress, and how should the data inform instruction?

• A. Running records, exit tickets, quick writes, performance tasks, portfolios; use data to group students, set goals, adjust instruction and supports.
• B. Only standardized tests.
• C. Informal classroom chatter.
• D. Assessment should be avoided.

Answer: (A)

Common forms of assessment used to monitor literacy progress include running records, exit tickets, quick writes, performance tasks, and portfolios. These are formative checks that give ongoing evidence of a student’s decoding, fluency, comprehension, and writing over time. The data from these tools should guide instruction by helping you group students for targeted practice, set specific learning goals for individuals and the class, and adjust teaching strategies and supports—such as guided reading, modeling, or providing different text levels—based on what students need next. Collecting multiple kinds of evidence also gives a fuller, more accurate picture of progress than relying on a single measure.