What is the purpose of running records in EMC literacy instruction?

• A. To measure listening comprehension only.
• B. To monitor fluency, accuracy, self-correction, and reading behaviors, informing small-group instruction and differentiation.
• C. To assess handwriting skill.
• D. To evaluate students' behavior during independent work.

Answer: (B)

Running records are a formative tool used to observe how a student reads aloud and what happens during that reading. As the student reads, the teacher notes accuracy and errors, watches for self-corrections, and records reading behaviors such as phrasing, expression, pace, and use of strategies for monitoring meaning. This gives a clear picture of the reader’s current level in decoding, fluency, and strategic reading, as well as where they might need support.

With those observations, you can group students for targeted instruction and tailor activities to meet their needs. For instance, if a reader makes several decoding errors but self-corrects, you might emphasize decoding strategies and guided practice, while continuing to build prosody and fluency. If pacing is steady and the reader demonstrates good self-monitoring, you can challenge them with more complex text to grow fluency further. Importantly, running records track progress over time, informing ongoing differentiation and small-group planning.

They aren’t about handwriting, behavior, or listening comprehension alone; they focus on how a student reads text aloud and what that reveals about their reading development.